[quote=chamby]I went through three guilds before I settled on one. Some guilds have a few too many people who, like the cliques in high school, don't want new members. My present guild has a couple of folks like that, I just ignore them and enjoy the ones who enjoy me.

Joining a guild is sometimes like finding your handsome prince, You have to kiss a lot of frogs first.

I love your attitude!

I tell my students and friends that some of the best quilters in the world did not know 'the rules' when they started quilting, and they have produced award winning work. Also, there are no new mistakes, as I, and every other quilter I know, have made them all before. Besides, mistakes are just design challenges! Embrace them & learn from them.
And never listen to anybody who makes you feel your work isn't 'good enough.'

When I first started quilting, I did it for fun, I wasn't looking for prizes, fame or fortune. I mentioned to someone in the quilt guild I was attending at the time that my daughter (award-winning long-armer) was complaining because some of my blocks were 12", while others were 11-1/2" and 12-1/2". Another quilter said "But, your points won't match." My reply was "So." As you can see by my Avatar, I've since learned to match points, but only after I decided I wanted to get serious.

Im my own worst critic...i made a quilt for a friends daughter and he said wow its perfect and i showed him the not perfect...he said if you wouldnt have showed me i would have never know...

No quilt police here although sometimes a few people try to rock the boat. I tell them I am the Chief of Police and I will throw them out of the sewing room. I have learned lately that the reason so many people complain at my quilts is that they are unhappy with themselves because they have not finished something they are working on or are too lazy to even start. No one is perfect at anything and the one who is perfect took it upon himself to save us and no one can compare to him. (amen!!!!) All quilts are ribbon winners already just by the fact that you took the time to make it and went WOW. No negatives all quilts are a learning process and everyone has a different way of doing things what works for one may not for another we all have different taste of color texture etcs hey just like a quilt!!!

Nicely put. I totally agree with this statement. Amen and Amen!!!

Most definitely!