What an inspirational message. Thank you for sharing.

I totally agree. I've been quilting for many years and I don't know if my quilts will win awards at shows, but my friends and family love them and use them up, and stand in line for new ones. That's a reward you can appreciate every day.

How can our art go wrong when so many wise people draw strength from it? A truly inspiring thread.

The quote is apt for everything we do in life. My quilts will never hang in quilt shows or be featured in magazines, but the joy they have brought to my family and friends is all that I will ever need. I make mistakes, get frustrated; but I've learned so much by taking time to learn new techniques and practicing over and over again. Thank you for passing that quote on and God bless your DH for his fantastic support.

Joyce what a wise husband you have , I feel the same way.

Another thought - comparison robs the soul of joy.

That is so true,so many people are discouraged from showing their own expression because they see perfection in others.We should be like children in many ways and just 'do' and enjoy .I always thought I was no good at art,then in my later years discovered patchwork and quilting,I am in no way an artist but have found an outlet in creativity.I see so many peoples work that is amazing but still through simple teaching have passed on the message that what you make can be unique.x

Keep this in mind...you will be neither bitter nor vain....

If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time. ― Max Ehrmann, Desiderata : A Poem for a Way of Life

I absolutely agree with that statement. I'll never be an award-winning quilter, but my friends and family admire my work, that makes me feel good and why I continue to quilt, plus quilting helps keep me sane (although sane is a relative term). LOL

Wonderfully said. I think everyone I know thinks this too.

I have been quilting for a very long time and I know my quilts would never win awards in a quilt show. I gift all my quilts to family and friends they are well loved and treasured by those I have gifted them to and that is enough for me. I am still learning and have learned a lot from the members of the board. I still make a practice block from any new pattern I use. I learned a long time ago I will never stop learning and getting better, just work at it , do your very best and practice anything new. And most of all have fun and enjoy the process.

I am so right there with you. I love to sew, and share I will never be a big award winner. However I need to be right where I am at sewing, quilting, sharing making new friends, since YES it feeds my soul and gives value and meaning to my life.

Most of us are not prize-winning quilters. We do what we do because we enjoy the process. That is what nourishes our souls and brings joy to those with whom we share our creations. We may never know what joy our quilts bring to others, but we keep on.

I make my quilts to share and for fun. I did realized this year that I am not really interested in my quilts being judged for prizes, but occasionally just to show what I can do. I was thinking about entering a show this year that has a judged and non-judged section, but then decided not to enter at all. Wasn't in the mood to rush. :)

No "wonderful speaker" should ever send you away feeling worse than you did before you heard the speech. She speech should have inspired you to keep on keeping on, just as Vonnegut suggested. I just don't understand why everything has to be a competition. I am reminded of the man who bought a cello and played just one note on it. His longsuffering wife finally suggested to him that other cellists move their fingers and bow differently. "Oh, yes," he answered. "They are looking for the perfect note. I have found it." If you are trying to make the perfect quilt you will probably dirive yourself and everyone around you crazy. froggyintexas

Great quote. Thanks for sharing!

Take great pride in whatever you accomplish as a quilter, painter, poet or whatever you choose to do or be because the famous ones started out just like you did.

One of our pastors yesterday stated that when we compare ourselves to others we either end up arrogant (feeling superior) or envious (feeling inferior). He was talking about truly loving others and not comparing ourselves to others accomplishments, etc. Think it pertains to quilting as well. I used to go to guild meetings but would leave feeling that my work was not as beautiful and well done as what I was seeing in trunk shows there. It is true, but I am okay with that now. I do the best I can and that is all I can do anyway. Blessings.

Well written. Thanks for the Vonnegut quote. I am dealing with health problems now and my quilting will never come up to my previous abilities, but I quilt some every time I can--not long and not very good, but my family loves what I do and that makes me happy.

I won't ever put a quilt in a show. I make quilts to suit myself. I give many away and they are very happily received.
I don't make heirloom quilts either, not really sure what they are.

Well said. Thanks for sharing, love the quote.

My quilts are never perfect. I have a friend who uses a small ruler to measure everything.ie, rolling back the cathedral window sections she measured to ensure exact.. When you are by hear it drives me batty. But the other day she was was making a back fixing a pocket on a bag and I realised that her rectangle 10 by 8 was the wrong way. She could not see the different lengths no wonder she has to measure. I'm trying to understand why she does it.

I have been quilting 20 years. I make very traditional, non spectacular quilts. I always think I have great ideas, then I go to a quilt show and come away feeling very humbled compared to the things I see displayed there. Then I remember the looks on the faces of my quilt recipients and the love that went into making those quilts. Friends have wept upon receiving them. That is when I realize the quilts I make are valuable beyond words. Your skills will grow over the years and you will be be pleased and proud about this but what you feel when giving a quilt make with love is invaluable.

thank you for sharing this quote!!

i'm in the planning phase of my first "real" quilt. it's going to be a gift for my DS. i was seriously thinking i would farm out some of the work so it could be as perfect as i could afford.

you made me realize that if he wanted perfection, he would have asked me to buy him one.
i will make the best quilt that my skill set will allow me. it will be made with all the love a mother can muster for her one-and-one child. i think he'll be very happy with it.

:)

About ten years ago, I attended a guild meeting in Monterey, Ca and the guest speaker showed her quilts which she made of donated silk kimonos. Honest to goodness, silk. I remember only her first name, Kitty and is from San Francisco. The theme of most of her quilts, cats. But here is the part most of us do not know of these well known quilters/designers. They do not make their own quilts!! As Kitty said, "I designed this quilt and "worked with my people" to get it made. What? Can you imagine, a quilter who doesn't touch a rotary cutter, doesn't select her own fabric? She never stated how many people she has working for her. And just like us, or those of us who can afford to send our quilts to LA'r, she does too. It is the practice of these well known quilters to seek out LA'rs throughout the country and send their quilts to them. So no, even though I haven't seen your quilts, I am sure they are beautiful.

Letty, I love your post but I have to drag out my soapbox for this sentence!

"I am in no way an artist..." Yes. You. ARE! The second half of your sentence proves it. "..but have found an outlet in creativity."

This is what being an artist is! You ARE an artist! Absolutely, 100%, and don't ever doubt it. We are all born natural artists, and I know you get what I'm saying from your comment about children!! Lots of us (most of us) at some point in our life are told we're not "good enough". Our artwork isn't precise, we didn't color within the lines, whatever it is....someone points out a flaw and we tell ourselves we aren't good enough, that we aren't really artists.

That is WRONG. We are ALL artists, and we can't HELP but be artists because (I believe) it is impossible to be human without being an artist. Professional artists? No, not most of us. But artists nonetheless. And don't let anyone ever convince you otherwise! Even if you can't draw a squiggly line without help, you're still an artist somewhere in your life.

At least, that's the way I see it! *putting away my soapbox*

(Letty, I hope you don't feel picked on, I really mean this to be a positive & supportive post but I'm worried my tone isn't coming through right - this is a topic I'm awfully passionate about and I hope I don't sound to aggressive about it....)

I agree with DebbE and luv TooQUILT. Years ago when I did anything in the craft world I worked on it till was perfect.that was in the 70's . I just thought I liked my crafts. I can truly say it is so much more relaxing, enjoyable now days, because I don't look to be perfect with my projects and what others think. Like y'all have said as long as the receipent likes it and uses it I'm happy.

I make quilts that make me happy. When they get a ribbon it is a bonus. But most don't even make it to a show. Not important. I love putting thread into fabric, it is my therapy, my outlet for creativity, my relaxation. Love the quote.

Love the quote! Thanks for sharing. I enter my quilts in my local show just so others can see it & say 'hey, I could do that!'.
I also have a quilt on my bed that had a huge, at the time, adjustment to a sashing around 1 block. The pattern instructions had an error. Now I have to hunt and hunt to find that particular block with the giant boo boo.

My thinking on quilts I make:

The art in my quilts is the art of love. For people I love, no one else can put my love into them. The only prize I ever hope to win is a genuine smile of appreciation.

Anything that I get after that smile is a bonus.

To give you another perspective: I was just lamenting the other day about how there are too many computer quilted quilts these days. Even Leah Day, the free motion quilting goddess is now selling her free motion designs -- as embroidery patterns. How ironic.

The imperfections in quilts make them interesting, make you want to stare at them all day, give you unexpected things to find, like the block that is accidentally upside down, the seams that are way off, the stitch in the ditch that missed, whatever. The perfection in the computerized quilts is just a tiny bit boring, all the way from the perfect stitch to the perfect circle or feather. They don't look human-made.

Figure it this way. You and I are preserving the lost art of the "hand-made" look. :thumbup:

One thing I noticed is that while Quilters' Newsletter and Quiltmaker are now loaded with "perfect" quilts, the art quilt magazines still feature the randomness of obviously hand-made textiles. The art world knows that imperfections make art better.

I'm not trying to put down those who make amazingly well-sewn quilts. I'm just saying that when beauty goes into a quilt, beauty will inevitably come out. And that is a function of the love and care, not the perfection of the seams, corners or quilting.

What a wonderful way to think about this - It makes our soul grow. a few years ago when my granddaughter was 8 she said Grandma you are an artist you make pretty quilts. WOW -

Right on. BrendaK