In-person comments are easier to make than on-line. A while back, at a show and tell, someone displayed their WIP and was met with the usual oohs and ahas. As she folded the quilt and placed it back in her bag, I could tell by her expression that something wasn't right.
Later, I approached her, (with some trepidation, I might add, we were strangers). I asked if I could have another look at her quilt. We pulled it out and spread it over a couple of tables. She said that something wasn't right, but couldn't figure it out. I found a couple of blocks that didn't look quite right, but wasn't sure why. She pointed out a couple more. I learned that she was using a block of the month pattern from a chain store. We discussed color batches, and slight differences in the design. She had been picking them up from time-to-time, and at different stores when they were on sale or she had coupons. I speculated they were different patterns, just vary similar.
A couple of months later, she pulled out the finished quilt. The odd-ball blocks were missing. Aside, she told me that she had studied the packages, and had different kit pieces. She found the correct pieces on e-bay, and finished it properly. They were so similar, that she figured no one would really know but her, but it made her feel better that we had studied it together and had identified the problem. Now she had a quilt that she was proud of.
Did anyone notice? We don't know. The only thing I had noticed was her facial expression. She was looking for opinions on her WIP, but didn't know how to ask, and no one offered anything but praise. I cried when I went home, because I felt her joy, and knew that I may have contributed part of her solution.
Perhaps that is what many of the previous thread comments lead to - someone is asking for an opinion, but don't necessarily know how to ask. A PM is stepping to the back table for a closer examination, and quiet conversation. Yet some people accuse a PM as a snide comment from the QP. It is indeed a gray area. I guess we need to learn to read between the lines to find those facial expressions.
Thanks to everyone who says nothing at all, rather than cut down progress. Thanks to those who give their honest opinion when asked. Thanks to everyone who finds that silver lining in the quilted cloud, and offers a positive comment. Thanks to those who dare to post their efforts, for we all learn from each other. Thanks to the administrators and moderators (the quilt board police) for allowing us to have these meaningful opportunities to share opinions. These are the values of this QuiltingBoard.