One of the most interesting assignments I had in a college writing class was to explain an item to an alien (sounds odd!). I took a firecracker and explained what it meant, not what it was. Example - the actual smell of gunpowder to me brought back smells of a full day bar-b-que, my grandmothers rose perfume, fresh apple pies. The bright lights in the sky made me think of everything this country meant to me, the sacrifices, the dreams, etc. It was a wonderful experience and well received. You might take that approach with a quilt - to some it is a collection of odd bits of fabric, but to others it is the warmth of a family hug, the mind expanding puzzle of pieces fitting accurately , the artistic blending of colors, tones and values. This type of thing would grab the attention of both quilters and non quilters. Who knows, you might even excite someone to try making one!