About a year ago I joined my first quilting guild, a relatively small country guild near my home. Prior to Covid changing my work schedule so dramatically, I was never able to make any meetings regularly so I only connected with other quilters online. Joining this local guild has been lots of fun, meeting new people. They have a quilt show once every two years so I decided to enter five of my quilts (many discussed in previous posts here). Well I was so thrilled to win ribbons on every applique quilt and one of them even won Judges choice. It was so amazing to walk in and see my quilt at the front of the room with that big ribbon. And even more fun to talk with people about the quilts.
My Christmas Frame quilt won a 2nd place ribbon and Judges Choice. The judge was extremely complementary, even going to far as to say she admired my work. Wow. And my quilting was Outstanding. Really? Didn't she see all the places were the beads weren't round or crossed over the line, or where the stitch in the ditch wobbled? Lesson learned - at least at this local show - perfection isn't required - even though sometimes I expect it of myself. Every stitch doesn't have to be exacting, the overall effect is what is important. Not saying I'm changing to the "back of a galloping horse" camp - I still like precision. And I always want to do my best. But sometimes things are good enough. I'm the only one putting my nose up to the quilting and expecting machine perfection. Ok, enough introspection.
My reverse applique won 3rd place. The looped binding was a big hit with the other quilters. Lots of discussion around the quilt, almost as much as the Christmas Frames. I got to explain how the loops were made and also how reverse applique works. This wonderful pattern is from Eye of the Beholder Quilts - they have so many wonderful patterns.
