Grand Prize: Melissa Nash
Congratulations to Melissa Nash! Melissa says as soon as the contest was announced, she started planning her design. She then pieced and quilted a beautiful wall hanging as her submission to the contest.
The new barn quilt will be unveiled at the DCL100 Birthday Bash, July 19 at the Garrett County Fairgrounds, Noon to 10 pm! Stay tuned for more details about the new quilt once painted and it’s new location along Deep Creek Lake!
Melissa’s description of her design:
The large green triangle that makes up the upper left portion of the block represents the
triangular shape of Garrett County. The green chevrons within it represent our mountains and valleys and the lush green forests surrounding Deep Creek Lake.
The blue chevrons at the bottom represent the lake itself, with water lapping at the base of the surrounding mountains.
A tree on the right side of the block represents the importance of trees along the lake shoreline. A sailboat near the center of the block pays homage to the history of the Flying Scot and recreation on the lake. The blue sky and sun in the background represent pleasant, bright and happy days enjoying Deep Creek Lake!
2nd Place: Joan Lyon
Joan’s description of her design:
My quilt square consists of four traditional nine-patch blocks with
three diamonds and 12 triangles (either blocked in or appliqued on).
The elements represent what is most cherished about Deep Creek
Lake and Garrett County, starting in the center of the square moving
outward:
- Red and yellow square and diamond are the sun
- White diamond and background is snow
- Stacked green triangles are trees
- Blue squares are the lakes, rivers and streams
- Brown squares are the beautiful land
Youth 1st Place Winner: Neveah Guida Smith
Neveah’s description of her design:
I chose a pinecone design to identify the significance of nature we have here in Deep Creek Lake. The pine cone protects its seeds until they are ready for planting. The color palette I chose for the pine cone represents the lake and the woods that surround it. The yellow center represents the sun. I put a black border around the quilt with yellow corners for the black eyed Susan. The animal paw prints are the authentic animals at Deep Creek. I chose a brown background to include the natural colors of the animals that are represented, which are a bear, rabbit, turkey, deer, beaver, and fish. The wave on top is significant to the lake and I included DCL100 on top as well for the 100th anniversary of Deep Creek Lake.
The contest:
In honor of the 100th anniversary of Deep Creek Lake, the Barn Quilt Association of Garrett County, MD, held the Deep Creek Lake 100 Barn Quilt Design Contest. This creative competition invited artists, quilters, and community members to design a unique barn quilt square commemorating Deep Creek Lake’s rich history and deep-rooted connection to Garrett County. This contest is made possible by a Garrett County Arts Council Community Arts Development Grant with funds provided in part by the Maryland State Arts Council.
Barn Quilts are colorfully painted replicas of quilt squares, mounted on barns all around Garrett County. Over 50 barn quilts are on view from local, County, and State roads in all corners of the county.
The grand prize winner received $150, and their winning design will be painted as a 4’x4’ barn quilt, proudly displayed at the Deep Creek Lake Discovery Center. Additional prizes included $100 for second place and $50 for the top youth entry (under 18).
Contest Rules & Submission Guidelines
Participants created an original design that reflects the essence of Deep Creek Lake and Garrett County. The only permitted text or symbols in the design were “DCL100,” though it was not required. Designs had to be suitable for reproduction as a fabric quilt square and could not include copyrighted or trademarked elements.
Entrants provided a brief description of their design, explaining its elements and significance.
All submitted designs became the property of the Barn Quilt Association of Garrett County, MD, with winners receiving continued acknowledgment for their artistic contribution.
Deadline for submissions was Wednesday, June 25 at 4:00 PM
For more information, please contact garrettbqa@gmail.com
Contest made possible by:
