Quilt Show Lately? If you haven't maybe you should!!

Many of our guild members had quilts in the show last weekend at the

 Emerald Coast Quilt Retreat and Show

I even submitted the quilt 'Cosmos' 

I was asked four things from my experience of having a quilt in a show -

what were my fears, why did I enter, what did I expect and what was the reality of it all in the end.

Since it's so hard for me to translate my emotions into words I did a word game - you know, make a list using one word answers to describe your feelings in each category  Using the topics 'fear', 'why', 'expectations' and 'reality', I came up with these answers answers.

Fear

• opinions- I am scare of others opinions of me, and the quilt only shows one side of who I am
• judgement- if the quilt is a failure and a horrible example of quilting
• criticism- what if no one likes it or worse what if they hate the quilt
• negativity- could my quilt put a negative spin on the modern quilting movement

Why

• experience- to have the experience of actually having a quilt in a show
• group- if not for the ECMQG I would have never had the confidence to show a quilt
• share- spread the word about modern quilting and the wonderful community of quilters
• voice- to have a voice or show what I can do 
• represent- again to show how wonderful the world of modern quilting is by being an example

Expectations

• feedback- to get feedback from the judges 
• skills- learn what skills I need to work on and what skills I have accomplished
• learn- from this and be a better quilter and share with others what I have learned
• interest- to build interest in ECMQG and modern quilting

Reality

• good- none of the fears I had became fact, I was silly to even think them!
• pride- in oneself and as a quilter, and with our quilting community
• community- our diverse quilting community is open and welcoming, not at all judgmental
• interest- we received lots of interest in the guild and modern quilting
• accomplishment- a general sense of accomplishment that I plowed through my fears and came out in the end just a little be better! 

So if you've been afraid to take the plunge and enter a quilt in a show, I say DO IT!

You won't be disappointed!!

Cindy's Wonky Stars

Melanie's Awesome Quilt

There were even more great quilts from our guild - but my computer is not cooperating with me today. Our wonderful members- Cindy, Marcy, Wendi, Kelly, Melanie, Leslie and all the members that made a block for the Modern BOM Charity quilt (who didn't even realize they had their works in the show) you did a wonderful job!!!!!

For more pictures and to see all the quilts in the show click here

a wonderful experience

Can you tell from this picture that all the fear was gone and nothing but sheer delight was to be had Saturday!

        

Lost Dreams and Goals, maybe?

I have a great number of quilting/textile art blogs that I enjoy reading and those bloggers inspire me when working with fabrics. I feel proud to even have good friends that have had great success in the quilting world. But today I was reflecting back on my life and the goals and dreams in my youth; thinking that most of those goals and dreams never came to fruition. I felt a little sad, like maybe I didn't try harder or wasn't dedicated enough or maybe I just don't really have 'talent'.

Then my cousin posted a quote on facebook  "Today, may there be peace within. May you trust that you are exactly where you are meant to be -unknown"

pics to help with my wordy post

It made me reflect on why and how I came to be where I am today. A mother, a wife and a friend; who loves to play in her sewing room without limits and deadlines and free to experiment to my hearts desire. And yes, maybe I have to work full time in a field that has nothing to do with quilting or fabrics, but it helps pay for them!

blocks for Grannies gone wild swap

And you know maybe I didn't become a well known textile artist in my younger days, and it's ok that I didn't get to run that fabric dying business I always planned on, and waiting until my late 40's to have a quilt in a quilt show isn't so bad after all!

blocks for Grannies gone wild swap

Aging doesn't normally bother me and the thought of getting older actually seems somewhat enjoyable - thinking of the future and new experiences. Dreams and goals change and evolve, even some are no-longer desirable just as I change and evolve into the person I will become.

You just never know, I might have different dreams now and maybe they just might come true!


PS: thanks coz, I love ya girl!!

Out of white fabric

Back to working on the guild challenge (madrona road) this weekend.

I have it pieced to this point, but have ran out of Kona white fabric and I sooooo want to add borders to this mini quilt I am at a stopping point.

I used Silly BooDilly's tutorial but changed the block dimensions and added a smaller off center star in the negative space. I think I want to name this mini quilt 'Star Light, Star Bright' as the larger star seems to shine brighter than the little one. Until I can get to the LQS - which will more than likely but Tuesday as my work scheduled tomorrow is crammed full of excitement (not) - I will have to set this aside.

This just might give me the time I need to finish the LOVe pillow I started in the demo at the last guild meeting. 

Sneak Peek: What I'm working on right now.

What a mess

Trying to get organized. Using comic book cards to create mini fabric bolts, see here at Smashed Peas And Carrots blog.

More later on my wonky Stars mini quilt and LOVe pillow..

I am in morning or is that mourning...

So I am weird, that's well known!  I am in that state of mourning - ' a period of time during which signs of grief are shown'. You know wearing black, depressed, dark under eye circles, and want to sleep all day - oh wait that's all the time...

I guess I am the only sad lonely person on this earth that has nothing better to do than watch a creepy, futuristic, weird, fantasy, what the heck TV show........... Fringe

I've put off and waited, cause I just wasn't ready. Always saying 'maybe tonight I'll watch it.'. No couldn't handle it, but now it's just been far to long, I have to face up to it. OK, you at least gotta say Joshua Jackson is not so hard on the eyes. And John Noble soooooo reminds me of a modern Vincent Price!

I have held on to the last two episodes of Fringe until tonight and I am soulful watching them now, oh my :(