Originally Posted by
JENNR8R
Thank you 'ube quilting' for posting this!
I was able to speak with one of the judges at the show. (I knew this vendor was a judge. She gave me a Judge's Choice ribbon for my Maypole Dance quilt last year.) She graciously let me know why this quilt did not deserve a ribbon and even took me to the Best of Show quilt to point out what the judges liked about it. Really invaluable information!
It's funny... the things that I thought I would be judged off for she didn't even notice! The main reason it did not get a ribbon is because the "ghost" trees and houses on the outside of the heart were not filled with trapunto. She suggested adding "colored" batting to these areas after I get it back. I don't know about colored batting. I want the center to be the focal point. But maybe I'll try adding white yarn to these areas and see if it will ribbon in the next show.
I'm really proud that this quilt was juried into the show, but have to admit that I am disappointed with no ribbon. It is completely understandable if you saw all of the beautiful quilts it was competing against that did not get a ribbon either.
Which is exactly the reason I personally have never enter judged shows. It offends me that quilters/artists can be so hurt by the 'erratic' (as in just-their-own-opinion) "judging" at so many of these shows: I feel for them. And it also seems to me that judging is widely affected by fads more than technical skills. I came into
this strong feeling back in the very early 90s when "Mother Earth/spirit woman/feminism/bash-the-establishment" and especially snake symbols started showing up in artsy quilts at Houston and seemed, the more gaudy they were, to win awards. "What's up with that"??
Yeah, I get that not all judges fit this description; thankfully. But, too many do it seems.
Jan in VA