Saturday, August 18, 2018

Just Thinking Out Loud

I can't believe I'm staying up late to write this post, but here they are. All five of the quilts that I ended up putting in the NCW Quilt Show. I'll post later next week with pics of other quilts that caught my eye.
Scrappy Tulips
First of all, I went with a quiet but clearer mind this year. No 'comparison is the thief of joy' type of thoughts, 'not gonna nitpick the details', just a solid determination to enjoy. I'm a confident but filled with insecurities sort of gal and quilt shows can be difficult. The reason to do this is because nothing beats going to a quilt show and being inspired. By little ideas or big ones. Wonderful color and out of the box thinking. A saturation of the senses that is almost impossible to get strictly from pictures on the Net {especially when you're dealing with a camera-handicapped person like me!}.
Vintage Red
No ribbons this year which inexplicably made it all so much better. Wacko that I am, it was refreshing to know that none of my quilts stood out over any of the other ones I brought.*sigh  It's hard when people play favorites with our quilts! Scrappy Tulips {the first pic} almost didn't make the cut. The colors don't play nice in some lighting and it worried me. Turns out it was the one that absolutely shown under the lights at the quilt show. Totally melted my heart and I went back and stared at it several times. It looked sort of old timey, but sweet. Really, really sweet and dreamy. Why weren't more people staring at this quilt? lol

Vintage Red was one that I emphatically was not going to enter. Turns out I just couldn't resist seeing how it would look hanging up where I could see it full on. Oh my, did I love turning the corner and seeing that one. Totally vintage vibe going on which just made me smile so big. I totally nailed this idea! And well, I went ahead and looked at some of the other sewing details in others quilts. Uh huh. Maybe my mistakes aren't quite as horrible and blatantly obvious as I thought. Might have to rethink that one.
Quilty 365
I got a little jolt seeing Quilty 365 hanging up for the first time. That quiet looking stitching around every other block is a secret weapon. Can't see it in this pic at all, but all my concern over there not being enough stitching in this quilt were totally put to rest. I really, really loved seeing this one hanging out for others to peruse. I wished so hard it would have been where I could have stood back a long ways and looked at it from different distances. The colors/values do the dance thing. They really do. It wasn't just my imagination or wishful thinking.
Sunburst
I think Sunburst was in the poorest lighting overall. Yes, it's the brand new finish and looks so much better in proper lighting. I'll give it a post all its own next week so you can see how good the Baptist Fan stitching looks and sigh with me over the sweet look to it. Am I on a sweet kick? It seems to be so. There are lurking questions about this quilt, things I might have done different, but overall, it was a good one to umm, not compare to others. Not quite as complex as it appeared all the while I was hand sewing it. Funny how time and 'distance' change our perspectives.
Hills and Valleys
And Hills and Valleys was the other one that I wiffle, waffled about entering into the show. Turns out the lighting was fine for it, just not for me, the picture taker. Mostly I just wanted to look at the texture of this quilt in a hanging up presentation. Great idea as I just stood in front and sort of soaked it all in. Honestly, I'm super happy with this quilt, and yes, it looks tremendously better in person. It's kind of crazy that this quilt was made by me. 5 years ago, this wasn't in my wheelhouse at all--something to feel very good about today as I considered my growth as a quilter.

Don't worry if you're scratching your head over my enthusiasm, I can't see you and won't get my feelings hurt a bit. The thing I learned today is that I am completely, unabashedly making the sort of quilts that make my heart go pitter patter. Sometimes I worry at some of the squirrels that crop up, but a lot of these tangents lead to wonderful surprises and fabulous interpretations--things we might never have explored if we stick to the plan.  Every single time I turned the corner and saw one of my quilts, it was like 'Well, hello old friend'. Makes the effort and anxiety totally worthwhile. It's so good to get validation once in awhile that we do have a style, a look, or even a muse that is personal and custom fitted to us. And you know what?

This year being in the minority with that sort of thing didn't even bother me one little bit. So my quilts are softer, more simplistic, scrappy and naive looking. So what! I enjoyed the entire quilt show! All those sharp looking, fancy machine quilted quilts just got a different part of my attention. Maybe I'm finally reaching adulthood in my quilting journey? Please don't answer that. Thanks to NCW Quilty Guild for being so welcoming! I'll probably be back next year with another stack....

30 comments:

  1. very nice quilts and you were right to enter them...we all enjoy showing off our passion...i liked them all! and PS, i don't make blue ribbon quilts either...

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  2. My favorite of the quilts you entered is Hill and Valleys. Not the typical quilt I'd be drawn to but I love the colors. Then Quilty 365, yes I see colors dancing. Your quilts encourage me to make my own kind of quilts!

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  3. Congratulations! So many of your wonderful quilts in the show. This is my favorite post. I love where you are in your quilting journey, and that you share it with us.

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  4. I just get so inspired and jazzed up about quilting when I see yours!! Congratulations on entering them...gorgeous!

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  5. I love all of them but of course 365 stands out to me having made one myself as you encouraged us all to do! I have seen so many 365's over the past year or so and all so different

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  6. I love all of your quilts; truly ;))) I think our works tell us a lot about the makers...each of us has our own idea of what makes us happy with our creations. Blue ribbons are nice and all, but we have our own rating system that is so much more important in the long run...
    It must have been really fun to turn the corner and see your own quilts hanging up...hugs, Julierose

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  7. We make quilts that our heart tells us to. You have a definite style that you own and I love them all. Quirky or not, they are adorable!

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  8. Not every quilt in a show will grab our attention, but having the opportunity to see the works of others can motivate and inspire us to create our own style. That's exactly what you're doing. Your quilts look lovely, sweet, humble and proud all rolled together.

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  9. All five are stunners and it's great you entered them to share your passion and success. But don't forget how your vision can benefit other visitors too. The ones who are uninspired by lockstep patterns and current trends may find just the spark of encouragement they need when they see your unique creativity. Thank you for sharing it with all us.

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  10. I've been scrolling this post up and down and up and down, trying to decide which is my favorite. But I give up - they're ALL my favorite!
    And I agree with Anne above. You'll never know how much inspiration you've provided for other quilters, both through this show and through your blog. Thanks!

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  11. I love your quilts and I love that you've come into making quilts that are joyful for you. Would you consider showing us some older quilts of yours, and talking through some of the differences between 5 years ago (or so) and now? Discussion of evolution and CREATION of personal style would be so interesting. Thanks as always for sharing. xoxo

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  12. So happy to hear that you shared your quilts at the show!! I think Scrappy Tulips is my fave but if I saw them in person, I could have more favorites. :)
    Quilt shows today often lack much input from "softer, more simplistic, scrappy and naive" quilters. There's more to the quilt world than extensively longarmed masterpieces that so often take the center stage. Thank you for sharing your works.

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  13. Congrats on entering the show. It's fun to see a variety of quilts in shows and not just workshop results. I always love Scrappy Tulips. Every time I think the border is yoyos. They even look gathered in the center like yoyos. Ha. Love it!
    And then Quilty 365. I MUST get busy with mine. Just have serious doubts because I put multiple circles on some of the little blocks.
    And Sunburst has fabulous tulip trees. Love the perspective. Oh, I need to use that idea. Some day...

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  14. So glad you shared your quilts for lots to see, they are all beautiful. Hard to pick a favourite! Love your style, so different from mine, but that's the point isn't it? Inspiring!

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  15. You mention finding your voice as a quilter, and from where I'm sitting, you definitely have. A few weeks ago I was selectively clicking through my feed, saving the good posts for last like a kid eating a dinner that includes spinach, and I accidentally clicked on a post from you instead of one from a more traditional quilter. It was the scrap turquoise triangles with the yellow stripes and the red border and immediately I thought, that looks so much like an Audrey quilt in complete surprise. Then I scrolled back up to the title and realized my mistake and thought about adding some yellow to a stack of turquoise, red, and pink I already have pulled. My quilts are much more traditional, but you're also right about finding inspiration everywhere. Even in quilts we'd never feel comfortable making are elements or ideas that can inspire us. If all we ever saw was quilts exactly in our comfort zone, it would be like a plate full of spinach and no mashed potatoes.

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  16. Your quilts are so unique Audrey ! I'd love to see them in person one day. Exhibiting quilts is like showing a part of ourselves, isn't it ? I have mixed feelings and emotions each time I see one of my quilt at a show ...

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  17. It's so wonderful to see all of your works of art hung at this show. Seeing them all together you really get a feel for your style, and it's lovely - you must be tickled pink.

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  18. So happy you entered and enjoyed seeing your "old friends"!
    Where is this quilt show? Is it possible I'm close enough to attend next year?

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  19. Delayed reply until I had my full keyboard (v. iPad hunt and peck). I love your work and I agree that we need to work OUR way and not in a manner that suits others or quilt show judges/jurists. Your quilts are totally wonderful and I do so enjoy reading your process posts. I think many of us are at the point that we are making what WE want to make now and that is GRAND!

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  20. Oh how I love reading your posts! I always come out feeling refreshed and full of inspiration! Seeing so many of your quilts in one show - with NO ribbons - has started me thinking all over again about how quilts shows should have a separate category for "original designs". I know if this were a separate category each one of your quilts would have a ribbon. I get quite tired of seeing the same quilts at every show with big ribbons for longarm quilting when there are no points for design because it is from a published pattern. I think it would encourage more new quilters as well. Oh well, I'll get off my soapbox and re-read your post. That Vintage Red always makes me smile!!

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    1. My local guild has an annual challenge. Our past year ended in July with the challenge quilts. This time I convinced the committee to have two categories, one for "my own design" and one for "not my design." Unfortunately I had to miss that meeting, so I didn't get to see how things turned out. A lot of quilters say they could never design their own quilts (but I don't really believe them!)

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  21. I sat and demonstrated, stitched, opposite your tulip quilt. Loved it and sought out the other four. I was told that the quilt I was quilting with Pearl 8, reminded this lady of your quilts. I was flattered. I find the quilt that I most want to make later is not the award winners. When someone is inspired by one of my quilts, a chicken quilt I did a while ago, that is the most satisfying thing.

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    1. Thanks Doni for taking the time to stop by and leave a comment! Inspiration truly comes from many different styles and representations of ideas. Love that we can take that seed home and help it flourish a bit more!

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  22. I have loved reading and following along for several years. I love your quilt style and hearing about the joy each gives you as you create it. Keep it up! You have a following whether you realize it or not.

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  23. Your fresh and individual style draws me to your quilts...they look spontaneous (though I know that is far from true)...seeing them hanging must be a little thrill...thanks for keeping your blog going...

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  24. A great post and oh I’d love to see your quilts in person someday. There is so much to be said for original design and you definitely have a distinct voice as a quilter and I really love your style!! So many times at quilt shows my favorites haven’t gotten ribbons - it’s so subjective. I’m drawn to the quirky and homespun quilts. Yours are marvelous!

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  25. They are all winners if you ask me!

    You know I'm going to have to make some scrappy tulips one of these days!

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  26. I have seen that scrappy tulip quilt by others and love it and want to make one! Love all your quilts in the show! Beautiful! Thank you for sharing!

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  27. Love them all Audrey and love your words of wisdom on only making quilts which make your heart go pitter patter - a lesson for us all!

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Thanks for visiting! I love getting comments and always try to respond via email. Please leave an email in the comment to ensure a return reply! {Many of you are popping up as Anonymous for some reason, so I have no idea who it is.} Regardless, I appreciate all the comments and read every single one.