MQS Categories

[LorrieMN]

The first quilt I entered was just for show, it didn't meet the size requirements for competition. To my surprise it won viewers choice. And the local newspaper did a half a page article on it... The next two quilts I entered were for competition. Nothing. Recently six regional quilt shops held a challenge. When I saw the competition, I didn't think I had a chance. I took first. Would I have a chance at MQS, probably not. Would I enter? The right quilt, yes. One never knows... If I didn't enjoy what I was doing, I wouldn't be doing it.

[Myrna Ficken]

First off i will admit I have not had time to read this entire thread yet but i do have a question

I don't understand this

What i would think about is, why and how "cracks" are able entering quilts into those categories where they are sure to win???

what is a "crack"

PS: there were many beautiful, fantastic , awesome quilts in the show. Winners and not. I was so bummed I didn't have one there and plan on it next year .....winner or not it is so cool to walk up and see your quilt hanging there for all to see and yes a bit scary

[Mary Beth]

Originally posted by Myrna Ficken

what is a "crack"

Thank you...I thought I was just out of the loop...guess you are too

[Bonnie]

No....idea what a "Crack" is here either.... A crackshot, a crackpot, a firecracker..... Someone please explain this term.

[Susanne.Hughes]

What Claudia means is "First Class" as he is a "crack" shot!

[Guest Linda S]

After thinking about this more and more, I'd like to say I'd rather run with the big dogs and get no ribbon than be sent to sit at the kiddie table in the midst of the feast. If you catch my drift. If there are 400 quilts at a show and there are 15 entry categories and three ribbons in each category, that means 355 quilts go home with not ribbons on them. Should those quilt makers or quilters be ashamed? NO!! The excellence of the quilts at these shows is what pushes me to do my very best.

Linda

[ClaudiaPfeil]

for the confusion;)....my funny english, you know!:cool:

Here in Germany we are thinking of "cracks" as the best ones:-) ....the specialists! I thought it would have been the same in te US:D

Have a great day.....

Claudia

[dnice]

I agree with Linda on her viewpoint. Just look at the reality shows of American Idol and Dancing with the Stars.

Originally posted by Linda S

After thinking about this more and more, I'd like to say I'd rather run with the big dogs and get no ribbon than be sent to sit at the kiddie table in the midst of the feast. If you catch my drift. If there are 400 quilts at a show and there are 15 entry categories and three ribbons in each category, that means 355 quilts go home with not ribbons on them. Should those quilt makers or quilters be ashamed? NO!! The excellence of the quilts at these shows is what pushes me to do my very best.

Linda

[Mary Beth]

Originally posted by ClaudiaPfeil

for the confusion;)....my funny english, you know!:cool:

Here in Germany we are thinking of "cracks" as the best ones:-) ....the specialists! I thought it would have been the same in te US:D

Have a great day.....

Claudia

Claudia,

Thank you for the translation!! I should have went back to see who said, "cracks", then I could have put some more thought into it and figured it out Your English is fine, we just have to do some thinking sometimes to figure out what you are saying

[hollyc]

I know a few "cracked" quilters, don't you?

[Mary Hibbs]

This chat has been very interesting and informative and I appreciate all the thoughts on this subject. One perspective that has not been mentioned much is one that I hear from attendees each year for the past few years and that is to ask more quilters to enter the MQS quilt show with quilts they quilt for their customers or for themselves- not just the art quilts. Quilters are looking for ideas they can use for their customer quilts that are "fresh". This is why we originally started the Bread and Butter category. If you have suggestions for quilt designs and patterns to use in this category, please send them to the board. I know that at different times we as quilters get MANY of the same quilt top patterns and need new ideas for them. We are all our own worst critic when it comes to our own work, but if only one other person looks at our quilt in a show and receives inspiration and/or pleasure, it is a winner. So, Mary Beth, I'll be looking for your quilts in the show next year. I've seen your quilts hang in shows in this area. Didn't one take viewer's choice???? They definitely need to hang in MQS! Please email a board member with your ideas so we can look at all possibilities and make a decision. The only possibilities we don't consider are the ones we don't receive. Whatever decision we make will come from the information we have, the sponsors for them, suggestions we receive from attendees and making the show the best possible for the most possible. Thanks for your suggestions and I look forward to hearing from you. Mary

[Neher-in-law5]

Just a thought from the small county fair that I have entered a few quilts in just for the pleasure of sharing. The last couple of years they have come home with the note on the entry tag, "too much competition"!!!! How is that for a downer? There was no indication of any judging happening with them, not a comment on the quilting, design, binding, piecing, anything. I am ready to let them know that if any entries (mine or others) have the "too much competition" note on them instead of a critique comment, it will be the last time that any of my quilts are entered for sharing. The same has happened with my husbands entered photos.

It would be nice to at least know if it was red level work, white, or blue. Nothing doesn't give me anything for me to critique myself and work to improve.

[Mary Beth]

Originally posted by Mary Hibbs

This chat has been very interesting and informative and I appreciate all the thoughts on this subject. One perspective that has not been mentioned much is one that I hear from attendees each year for the past few years and that is to ask more quilters to enter the MQS quilt show with quilts they quilt for their customers or for themselves- not just the art quilts. Quilters are looking for ideas they can use for their customer quilts that are "fresh". This is why we originally started the Bread and Butter category. If you have suggestions for quilt designs and patterns to use in this category, please send them to the board. I know that at different times we as quilters get MANY of the same quilt top patterns and need new ideas for them. We are all our own worst critic when it comes to our own work, but if only one other person looks at our quilt in a show and receives inspiration and/or pleasure, it is a winner. So, Mary Beth, I'll be looking for your quilts in the show next year. I've seen your quilts hang in shows in this area. Didn't one take viewer's choice???? They definitely need to hang in MQS! Please email a board member with your ideas so we can look at all possibilities and make a decision. The only possibilities we don't consider are the ones we don't receive. Whatever decision we make will come from the information we have, the sponsors for them, suggestions we receive from attendees and making the show the best possible for the most possible. Thanks for your suggestions and I look forward to hearing from you. Mary

Mary, thank you, that was very inspiring. And yes, it did take first place and then went to Paducah. So that was a huge honor that I never expected in a million years. I do have plans to enter next year...but it gives me butterflies the size of elephants just thinking about it

[quiltmonkey]

Originally posted by Mary Beth

.......... I do have plans to enter next year...but it gives me butterflies the size of elephants just thinking about it

Mary Beth, for someone like me, who is just starting out in my beginning years of quilting, I put my rookie quilts from 2008 in this year for the same exact reason why I put my quilts in my local fair. Because I want to share, because people like to see the quilts, and because I want the judge's critique so I could get a baseline measurement on my quilting skills. Simple as that. I had no expectations whatsoever, except to share my work, let others see what I have done and to get the judging. The three quilts I entered were made 100% by me, start to finish, from choosing the fabric, piecing and sewing on the binding. Each quilt included completely different techniques and new skills I learned (had never done before). One was a wholecloth with cutaway trapunto, one was an e2e freehand feathers on my big king sized bed quilt and the other was an abstract glacier quilt using all types of metallic threads and hotfix crystals. Each quilt pushed me and dared me (and while quilting these, I had some moments when I was scared, yes) But through the experience, all of it was wonderful. I am so glad I did this. I learned things in the process of making these quilts, trying my best using new techniques I'd not done before, and just going for it. Debbi Treusch was my inspiration. She told me to go for it so I did. I probably would not have if she didn't tell me to. And in the big scheme of things of life, these quilts do not define me as a person. If I don't get a ribbon that doesn't mean I'm a loser or a bad person. I love quilting but it is not my entire life. I have so many blessings and loved ones in my life that matter much more. I told myself all through my learning process (repeatedly) "Shana, it's just a quilt... it's just a quilt." and I had no expectations. But guess what, ribbon or not, it was well worth the experience. I benefited more from this than I ever imagined. The people in this quilting industry at the quilt shows (the teachers, our mentors, our peers, our wannabees) are very supportive and always positive. I guess it all boils down to this: Me, Shana, I wanted to be part of this supportive and positive, fun and creative world. So I want to tell everyone who hesitates to enter, please don't hesitate. Let's all celebrate and share what we love. It's all good. You are only surrounded by good people who want to help and only support you. This includes the judges, too, who are also quilters, and are judges because they have the deepest love of quilting and only want help by supporting and perpetuating excellence and creativity in quilting.

What Claudia said sums it up nicely:

Originally posted by ClaudiaPfeil

.....The show lives about and with having quilts of YOU!!!!...

Yes, thank you, Claudia.

[Mary Beth]

And she thinks her English is bad

[Judi]

Originally posted by mskazooli

Ok, I'm new to this whole longarm process and I just have to pipe up. You all do such beautiful work and you all deserve ribbons. I hope to someday feel like I could enter one of these shows. I did (way long ago) enter quilts (hand-quilting) in several shows and was lucky to be accepted into several major shows. I didn't win but I did learn a lot. I learned that I want to be able to show my work for the sheer appreciation of my hard labor. I love making quilts! I want to share that with everyone. But I felt judged (appropriately) and I had to develop a thick skin. It helped me to realize that not everyone enters for the same reason. I'd enter for the joy of seeing my work hanging where others could appreciate it. Life is too short to want to win everything. Life is to enjoy the journey.

So I will continue to practice and learn and admire the work of others who got here before me. I am so impressed with all of you! Thank you for teaching all of us. . .

I just read through this again and wanted to bring it back to the top.... I love what she says here!! I need to remind myself of it now and then. I love quilting and do not want to loose that joy or fun.... It may be my job too, but if it seems like "work" it isn't as much fun!!!

My husband (who is a GREAT supporter of mine!) has said that "If you have a quilt entered into a show - WE will go see it hang there!" :cool::cool:

Love that idea!!!! It does NOT have to have a ribbon, just BE there!! And he will come too!! Now - - when is "Road to CA??" Not sure that he meant "every show", but I know that he is just trying to push me to enter and have the confidence to do so. I think that once I do it, and get over that first fear of mailing off my quilts into neverland, it will get easier.

Personally, I can NOT imagine spending a whole YEAR (or more) on ONE quilt!!! In that time I would either loose interest, see something else I HAD to try, find some great fabric and get a new idea or just get stuck on some aspect of the quilt. I am always thinking ahead as to how I am going to quilt this quilt.... my Cherry project was sitting for over a year due to this reason.... Now I have solved that problem and hope to get back to it soon. (As soon as I FIND it!!! All of my blocks are made and over 300 yo-yo's and such.....) ;) Can you say UFO's???

Love the quilts made by the "Masters" and the great ideas we always get from looking at them - Keep them coming!!!

Now - the theme for the next MQS is "South of the Border" I would hope that everyone is thinking of some sort of idea - I do know from another post that some of you are already making sketches - that's great!!! Let's try and push ourselves and encourage each other to enter something at MQS next year!!!

There were empty places where a quilt could have been hanging - - I would rather see more quilts than vendors!!! ;)

As for me, I am going to find my old show book and see what the requirements for this catagory are..... I would think they would be similar??

[Judi]

Oh - just an afterthought - - I wanted to add that I am glad I am NOT a judge in these shows!! I love ALL of the quilts, even the ones that are just not my style or fabrics colors..... I would have a hard time choosing, and staying impartial.

If I were - all of the winning quilts would probably be PURPLE!!! My color of choice!!! I would have pinned a BIG Ol' Ribbon on the "Banana Peel" quilt before you could bat an eye!!! LOVED it!!