You have just voiced something I didn't realize was holding me back from joining my local quilt guild. Their quilts are so gorgious it's intimidating ( I see them at the quilt shows). I quilt alone. :-(

:thumbup: Welcome Judy from CA. BrendaK

I'm going to go out on a limb and say that we are all artists - and there aren't any mistakes in art. That is according to Sesame Street. If it's good enough for our kids it's good enough for me.

:D Right on. Ditto on what those of the board have said. The only person we have to please is ourself. I like to make other people happy. They can look at my quilts and see how much better they are and that makes them happy. The quilts I make keep my people warm. That warms me. Win Win. BrendaK

I feel the same way I feel that a quilt doesnt have to be perfect and the parts that arnt only give it its unique character

A lot of what you said resonated with me. I'm the same age as you, and I do feel that pressure to make impressive quilts. I think part of that pressure comes from within, I push myself to keep getting better. The other part is feeling that if a quilt isn't super complicated then it doesn't have worth. I struggle with wanting to prove myself too. To me, quilting isn't just a hobby, it's an expression of caring and my artistic expression too.

I do think simple can be just as pretty as complicated. Some of the quilts I have enjoyed making the most are really simple. I think all quilters have gifts in different areas, and the fact we make something with so much love and thought is what makes it special. :-)

Sorta like “If Mamma ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy.”

Don't share your unhappiness with me. Thank you.

This is the biggest reason I do not join anything and teach myself to make what I like. I don't pay lots of money for fabrics. I have never made an heirloom quilt and at 66 I don't ever plan to. I give away lots of my quilts, my choice of colors, who gets one and what pattern. I try to always please myself and don't care what anyone else thinks and just keep sewing. Everyone loves the one or ones they get. Quilting is now all the hobby type thing I do and I'm not changing a thing. So glad you finally learned all this.

Lovely quilt & pretty colors. When I started, every quilt had to be a learning experience,a knock them out beauty & there's not an artistic bone in my body.
Eventually I came to realize,it's my colors & piecing.If it suits me....that's what I spend money for,what I sit & sew for & nobody else has a say.In my sewing room,I rule the roost :)...I only make what I feel like making,using colors of my choice......so liberating.
There are many quilts I admire, but have no interest in making.

"Let me see if I can find a picture.."

Wow! sounds like you've surrounded yourself with the worst that the quilt police force has to offer. I'm glad to see that you're turning over a new leaf. It'll make your time that you can spend creating so much more enjoyable. You're right - you ARE an artist - and no one else gets to determine whether you're qualified for that title or not.

YOU GO GIRL!!! :thumbup:

Quit stressing and start enjoying your quilting.....beginning today!