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!

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.

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!

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.

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.....

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

I entered three of my quilts at a local fair that was not even actually a fair! I won three 2nd place ribbons which thrilled me to death even though there were only a total of 10 quilts entered!!! LOL Those ribbons mean so much to me. I've only been quilting three years, so I was tickled pink!

Congratulations!

I would just ignore her and her rude comment because you know she stands a lone because you are the one holding the ribbon.

Well Poo-Poo on her for raining on your parade! The old saying if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all. My first full size quilt I did (my avitar) I entered into our local county fair and I won a Blue Ribbon for best pieced catagory. You would have thought I won a million $$$ in the lottery! I was so thrilled! Since then, I have entered quilts and wall hangings every year.

At this point I continue to do not so much for the thrill of winning, but more entries in ALL judging events is dwendling every year. Less people entering canning, cooking, crafts, photography etc..... Even less livestock!
So if people don't enter their crafts, we will lose a great part of local small town fairs.

So Please continue to create quilts and enter! There is nothing that says "who" should of shouldn't enter!
Congrats on your win! Be proud and loud about it! I know I brag on my wins! lol

Enter in the spirit of fun. If you win, wonderful, if not it's okay. At least people got a chance to see what you do and enjoy it. The judges can be decent or lousy, if the critique applies, learn from it, if not laugh it off and quilt on. Don't let a poor judge or a "professional" quilter rain on your parade!

There is alway someone who finds the need to rain on someones parade. Enjoy your ribbon and take pride in it.

I've entered several quilted items in the fair, I love to see the ribbons after the judging. Don't let that snooty woman "rain on your parade". Stand tall, be proud of your work.

Well said--I totally agree!

She must be a SNOB.
Go for it.
It is your quilt.
J J

I cannot imagine anyone poo-pooing anyone that entered a quilt into a fair and winning. How sad for that person. It is great that you won. Keep up the good work, and congrats:thumbup:

I don't know if I want to enter anything I make into a "fair" because my technique simply isn't good. But I make some really fun and interesting quilts and when I entered a couple in a quilt show a few years back they took "viewers choice" awards (everyone was given a piece of paper when they paid to go in and got to mark favorites). Mine won in best original art quilt (1st and 2nd place) and first in over all viewers favorite. I'm telling you this because there was apparently no other prizes beyond the viewers' choice. So, if your technique won't get past the quilt police, look for this kind of show. I suspect they seperated it from the county fair because they hold it at the fair grounds and it takes up 3 huge barms!

My problem now (we moved) is that when I go on line to find an upcoming fair (like 2 or 3 months away) I have not been able to find the form or info that tells HOW to enter. I tried with one show and, after it was over, someone gave me an address to apply, and it was NOT the address of the group or the show name! aaaaagh, it's hard getting old and not understanding these new ways of communicating.

Anyone who thinks entering shows or fairs is low class should loosen up and LIVE LOVE LAUGH!

I would encourage every one to enter there quilts in a local fair, it is a wonderful way to learn more and get positive feedback on what you can learn to do better. I was a 4-H member and then when I had my own family I entered things in the fair. All entries are judged on the Danish judging system that is why all entries get ribbons that you see. As a quilt judge I have refused to judge a couple of quilts since they smelled like old ash trays and I couldn't get near them. I have enjoyed judging and observing the growth in the local quilters that enter the fair I judge at. I still enter quilts in my local fair (not the one I judge at) and enjoy reading the comments the judges give. That is where you can learn and improve your quilting. Those women who made rude comments to you probably are jealous since you most likely got better ribbons than they ever did. Kudos for you and keep up the good work! By the way Judges are trained and have to show a superior knowledge of the subject that is being judged.

About every other year I enter a quilt in our local fair. Sometimes I win and sometimes I loose. It is fun and we meet a lot of new people from different areas. Do not listen to that woman, she is a QUILT POLICE!! Ignore her.

I love to go look at the exhibits, but personally I don't want everyone picking up and touching my quilts. At our county fair, they are laid on a table so everyone going by can put their hands on it.

It would be an honor for me to win a ribbon anywhere, be it a big state fair or a small one. I try to live by the if you can't say something nice don't say anything. I think when someone makes a snide remark that the person is needing to feel self-important. So I consider it to be their problem not mine. There will always be someone who wants to rain on your parade, so grab an umbrella!

Bravo for you! Getting a ribbon for your work is thrilling! Ignore the snobs of the world and enjoy the recognition that you have received is what I say. Not all of us are ready or even want to enter our creations in a competition that is on a grand scale. And I bet that those "farm wives" could teach the snobs some great tricks if they were receptive!

Some of those old farm wives are beautiful quilters.

So why do they have these show for if it is POOPOO to enter in them. would be a boeing fair to alot of people that enjoy coming to see whats out there.

If people don't enter local & county fairs they will be no more. I've entered our county fair off and on since my 4H years (I'm now 66!). Have won a few blue ribbons over the years for canned goods & jellies as well as sewing and quilting. This year I shared with DH that I secretly hoped for a Best of Show just once in my lifetime. I entered 5 quilts and all won blue ribbons, but this year I had not one but 3 Best of Shows! I was thrilled and walked on cloud nine for quite awhile. I plan to frame my silver trays and big rosette ribbons and hang them proudly in my sewing room.
Enter - don't let anyone deter you or put you down. Never give up - learn and improve - keep trying. My great niece has asked me to teach her how to quilt and is working on a doll quilt. She wants to enter in the 2013 fair in the Young Exhibitor category. Quilt on!

Go For It!
 

I say, "Go For It!" It is fun, and it is also fun to see what others enter at the fair. That is why a lot of people go to the fair. I have entered before and won ribbons as well. It's just a good experience for all involved.

Have to agree with all the quilter above stated. Follow your own heart and ignore the uppity ones, they may just be jealous that you re having such a good time.

My advice: Sew and enter, sew and enter, sew and enter. Or in your case, quilt and enter. Our local county fair is the best and I always enter everything that I have worked on during the previous year--our fair rules. And I always enter with the idea in mind of winning, and am disappointed when I don't win. We had so many good entries that I was just lost in the maze. Next year, though...... Congratulations, and I am like you, I would have felt real bad if someone had said something like that to me. Keep on keeping on, You go girl.....

I agree...these ladies are being snooty...I was going to enter a quilt in our local fair...but didn't get it done in time. You have to start somewhere, right? Fairs are a good test to see if you like the process. Judged quilt shows will probably get you some feedback, even if the quilt is not accepted...they will tell you why it wasn't...Not sure I care for that....so I will start with a local fair, lol....no one needs to tell me where I goofed anyhows...I probably already know!

Congrat to the both of you.I have never entered any fairs,but do very much enjoy seeing the variety at faires ect.

Don't pay any attention to that "lady" in your guild....keep on doing what makes YOU feel good.

If you are proud of what you did...enter it! Obviously the poo-poo lady has her nose so far up in the air it isn't worth giving her a second thought. I think fairs are a great opportunity to see what others are doing as well and get ideas. Keep entering!!

We have 2 local fairs near my house; a county fair and a harvest fair. The county fair has a LOT more quilts and they display them hung from rafters (kind of far away but at least you can see the whole quilt); the harvest fair (which I just went to today!) only had about 4 quilts and they were displayed all folded up! Boo! They did have some smaller wall-hanging size quilts hung, though.

I'm sort of new to quilting but I'm determined to put something into both fairs next year. I don't care who judges, I don't care if I win...the point is for me to have a goal and to put myself out there and let people besides my friends and immediate family see what I'm doing. It's about me "doing" rather than me "winning". If I win a ribbon I'll be thrilled but I'm certainly not counting on anything other than entering.

BUT, I'll get to go to the fair for free if I enter something. So I'll "win" at least $10 both times! LOL

Congrats on putting yourself out there and winning a ribbon! I think it's awesome and it's good for the community to show that there are local artists under every rock and behind every corner. :)

Are you really going to let someone upset you because "they" thought it was beneath you? You got a ribbon and you should be happy. Maybe she is jealous. Do your own thing and don't let others tell you what to do. It's your quilt and your choice.

There's nothing wrong with it...it's participating in your local community. It makes the fair better and inspires others to see lovely work! What if all the good quilters turned their noses up at entering their work in the fair? There would be nothing interesting to look at and the fair would be all the poorer for it. Your stuck up friend wasn't very community-minded!

i have entered quilts in our state fair for years i enjoy it and dont take to heart what some of the comments are from the judges , because i dont believe there are "set" rules for making a quilt , i have won a few ribbons and enjoy looking at all the entries , something a lot of people go to the fair just to see the exhibits !!