One of my goals this year is to enter more competitions with my art quilts.  I am a little timid when it comes to being juried but did try it once in 2012 when I was juried into “The World Quilt Show” in New Hampshire. They picked 180 quilts from all over the world and  my “Idaho Pride” was one of them. It was very thrilling.  So this year I am entering three competitions, the Mid-Atlantic Quilt Festival XXV in Hampton, Virginia. The 2014 Fantastic Fibers show and the Sister’s show in Oregon.

I am sure a number of you have experienced the feeling of uncertainty when submitting you works of art.  Thoughts of, is it good enough, will someone else like it.  Did my pictures do it justice.  Is my description really telling the whole story.  These are all stumbling blocks to using this tool to grow in your quilt journey.  One of my friends who has been entering her quilts and wearable art for several years once told me that she will enter a completion 3 years in a row and if she isn’t juried in she goes to another competition.  She has won one of the Hoffman challenges and has had another piece in a traveling show.  Her philosophy is this:  When it comes to judging it is all about what the judges are looking for.  It can be a fantastic piece but if the judges of the competition didn’t like your color scheme or subject matter, well you won’t be juried in.  So usually this has nothing to do with your quality of work but most likely just an opinion of someone just like you.  I  try to  look at each time I enter an art quilt as  another opportunity to learn more about my art work and use it as constructive criticism to how to adapt to what will work and not work in the world of quilt competitions.  When my “Idaho Pride” was juried into the show the only comment by the judges when I got it back was not enough motif quilting.  So this time I designed a piece that I felt had a good balance of painted fabric and quilting designs to hopefully fit in better.  Anyway it is always unnerving to apply but the best part for me is waiting to hear if I was excepted.  There is nothing like that anticipation of checking your emails and snail mails to get that acceptance letter.

So the best advice would be is to put on your thickest skin and dive into the world of quilt competitions….by the way, my friend who has one the Hoffman Challenge is now learning to be a judge for quilt competitons ….Is that literally if you can’t beat them join them…..