Just Me...

I don't enter quilts into shows, because frankly I don't care what the quilt police have to say about my not quilting something the way they would or choosing the colors that they would envision. I would much prefer entering quilts into a fair as the judging is more on the pleasure someone gets from viewing my work. I had a lady come into my shop once and ask about a wallhanging. I told her it was a free online pattern. (It was on the RJR site to showcase all 160 fabrics in the Jinny Beyer line.) She looked right at me and said, "Well, I guess you got what you paid for!" My feelings were hurt, and even though I had gotten many compliments on the wallhanging--I took it down for a while. Any and all of my quilts hanging in the shop are/were subject to many self-appointed members of the quilt police. So, the joke at the shop became--if the quilt wasn't exactly perfect--hang it HIGH! Sometimes we don't realize how hurtful off the collar comments can be. I'm sorry you had someone rain on your parade! Congrats on the ribbons!

coopah

That lady needs a serious reality check. You can enter anything you want in the fair. It has nothing to do with the guild. And maybe that's her problem. Because she does have a problem. I'd sure stay away from someone that negative. ICK!

Enjoy your win! How fun it is to get a ribbon.

Aurora

I have convinced several of my fellow guild members to enter the local fair. Getting a blue ribbon at a local fair is definitely a "HIGH". One has entered a quilt in our local Homemakers' Cultural Arts and gone on to win a ribbon at the Area Level and a ribbon at State. All because she entered the local fair. One has to start at some point. My guess would be that the individual who said this has entered, but did not win. SOUR GRAPES!

twinkie

Do we detect a little jealousy here? Our fair is quite large and 5 of our guild members entered items in the fair (some judges are affiliated with an LQS). The only reason I haven't done that is because I don't find they have much protection from the public putting their hands on the entries. (with the cotton candy, candied apples, drinks, etc.) Congrats on the ribbons.

brenwalt

I love county fairs!! I have won "Best of Show" two different times and both with quilts that the judges really didn't like at the large quilt show. The county fair is "my kind of quilt show!" Also there are categories for other types of needlework and quilting that just aren't available at the large quilt shows.....

carolynjo

Keep right on entering your quilts in the fair. A friend of mine had a quilt that went all to the huge state fair in NC. She was thrilled at the ribbons she won and we were thrilled for her. Don't pay any attention to the nay-sayers. They are maybe jealous of your efforts. Keep on entering and winning! How does your critic KNOW that the judges were merely housewives who knew nothing? NOT! We have an appraiser frequently at the quilt show as well as knowledgeable judges. My only worry would be security. Quilts today are disappearing at an alarming rate from cars and shows. That would make me more nervous.

Needles

Don't you just love people with 'airs'? Takes all kinds to make a world, even snobs. Years ago, I knitted a large afghan for a friend, she bought the yarn, gave me the something to do on winter nights. After we moved south a few years later, I got a letter from her and out of the envelope fell a Best of Show ribbon. She had entered her afghan, and it won and she said she had to send me the ribbon because it was my handiwork. To me, it meant how much she loved that knitted project. Oh, yes, it was a small fair, but because of the rural area, it still to this day has a huge participation and attendance. We attended the fair last year, so many beautiful quilts are still being displayed along with all kinds of knitted and crocheted works of love. Don't allow anyone to put you down.

hollyd

I enter in our local fair. I also work the fair and hear many comments on the quilts. People love to look at them. I have also been present when judged. True, not all of the judges know a lot, but some of them really know their stuff. The fair is an opportunity to showcase your work and for others to enjoy. If there were no quilts, people would not bother to show up. It also encourages others to enter their work - what ever it is - and find satisfaction that they can do things that are worth other people viewing.

Nona

I have never entered anything in a fair or quilt show. It is just not something I am interested in. My quilting and any other handwork has always been my stress relief. Other than quilts I have made for my grandchildren (and now my future great grands) no one has ever seen my work which is fine by me. All of the other quilts I have made have been charity quilts and I finish two to three a month. I think that it is fine to enter competitions if that's what you want to do, but it doesn't float my boat.

katesnanna

Firstly, Congratulations to you & your friend. Enjoy your feelings of excitement.

Don't let this rude person spoil your excitement. She's entitled to her opinion no matter how wrong it may be but she should keep it to herself. It always seem the person with the most negative opinion speak the loudest. Ignore her.