I don’t know why I’m not capable of being better prepared and organized and significantly more prompt at doing things like this, but I am, just now, finally ready to mail my quilt show entries to MQX. The deadline is January 15th. Actually, to be completely honest, this is early for me, as in past years I have been known to express my entry forms the day or 2 before the deadline. I’m sure the quilt show organizers just hate people like me. (But I suspect that I’m not alone).
Remember the top secret project I was referring to in a previous post? Well: it was one of my quilt show entries. This year, MQX is using a jury process to select quilts for the show, so quilts have to be complete in order to be entered (as opposed to a partially quilted piece or a glimmer in the maker’s eye…).
I started the quilt Monday morning, and the goal was to piece, quilt and bind this baby in time to mail my entry today. The fact that I’m telling you about it means that I accomplished this goal. (Well, the hanging sleeve still needs to be finished, but they didn’t need pictures of that…). It was a breeze to make: the piecing went well, the quilting was a dream (only 2 thread breaks on the whole thing!), and the tension is perfection.
If I hadn’t accomplished this goal, I wouldn’t have told you about it, because I didn’t want to look like a complete idiot for even trying. It’s not a huge quilt — 60 by 69, and we aren’t talking about a quilt that is going to take Best of Show. Because that’s not the kind of quilting I do. I really struggle with myself a little bit about this topic. When I’m at the machine quilting shows and they are announcing the ribbon winners (and yes, I’ve been one of them), I find myself really wanting to win one of the BIG ribbons, for the really amazing quilting.
The fact of the matter is this: I would hate to actually do that kind of quilting. Yes, I quilt quite well, and I do the best job I know how to do, but I can’t compete with the kind of quilting that is winning the big awards. I don’t WANT to compete. I don’t want to spend 80 hours quilting one quilt until I go blind. Don’t get me wrong, I like to LOOK at those quilts, and I have a lot of respect for the quilters that can dedicate themselves to that kind of quilting.
I also have to admit that I’m not too keen on entering more quilts in more shows because I find that I really despise filling out quilt entry forms.
I suppose you think I ought to show you a picture of this quilt, and I’d really love to, but: I want to keep it a secret it a little while longer. I find myself becoming interested in trying to write (and hopefully sell…) quilt patterns, and I think this might be a good candidate for that. A few hints, it uses the above fabric, and my favorite quilt block.
I also want to keep the quilting itself a little bit of a secret for the time being. I have some more machine quilting design ideas floating around, and I want to see if they all congeal themselves into another self-published book or not.
I’d better get my entry off to the post office. Hope you are having a great Friday!
Suzanne
I don’t care what the pattern is – I’d love anything in those fabrics!
oh! what a tease you are! i love the fabrics though.
I have been lucky enough to see this quilt. I happen to be the chief paisley aficionado in this family and it’s really cool. But it would also be cool with non-paisley fabrics. haha
I am also lucky enough to have one of Suzanne’s twins for the night. On the menu — grilled cheese sandwiches — that’s the only meal eaten at Gramma’s house by the boys. Well maybe pancakes and scrambled eggs for breakfast.
Oh, I think I owe Mom some of that red paisley fabric. I think I promised to let her have a fat quarter of it, since I was rude enough to buy the last that the quilt store had….
And oddly enough, the twin that is left at my house is ALSO eating grilled cheese for supper. His parents are going to eat a frozen pizza that is really garlicky, and not liked by the boys. Crazies.
Mmmm, grilled cheese! How’s your ankle, Mary Ann?
You woman of mystery, you, Suzanne! I can’t wait to see the unveiling of this most splendiforous quilt!
Yes, I do recall that I was to receive a bit of the paisley. And it doesn’t have to be a whole fat quarter. I really do need to get a move on the all paisley quilt that I have been collecting for.
Thanks for asking about the ankle! The boys have been asking me about the pain level because there’s a chart at the doctor’s office — from smiley face to frowny face. It pretty much hurts all the time, but in the last day or so it’s gone from sort of frowny to a more tolerable sort of smile. I’m moving faster, still wearing the unattractive foot apparel aka walking boot and dread possible black ice outside — doesn’t everyone!
Suzanne, I have struggled with the entry questions, too. We are on the same page. While I really, really admire those fabulous ribbon winners, it is not what I do (or want to do)…………I am thinking of entering an e-to-e at MQS……….
TerriW
I, too, admire the ribbon winners. However, when I look at one of them I can’t help but think of the trade offs involved. Spend six months, a year, two years making one really marvelous quilt, including ripping out seams and quilting when they aren’t utterly perfect? Or spend a couple of weeks fulfilling my current creative urge?
I suppose part of it may depend upon where one is in life.
oooooooo, Suzanne, I LOVE that fabric! Who is it by? It looks a lot like Vera Bradley. Yummy!
If I remember correctly, the fabric is designed by Anna Griffin. I wish I had about 10 more yards of both pieces………
Great fabric! Looking forward to seeing the quilt…which I’m sure is fabulous!
I love that fabric. I can’t wait to see the quilt! I know what you mean about the time & dedication it takes to quilt the big winners…I can’t imagine doing that, at least at this time in my life. Maybe later, when I get to retire….and then again, probably not…lol.