Monday 5 May 2014

The Big Reveal and a call from the Delightful Angela

A couple of weeks ago I related how the 'delightful Angela' had designed The British Quilt and Stitch show entry process to cater for the likes of me who get the dates muddled up and are in consequence late with their entry. I gave a sneak preview of my quilt 'Square Spiral' and promised to reveal the whole after the show.

So here it is!

Square Spiral

Sorry, not a great photo. I had to hold the camera above my head to get it all in and I couldn't see what I was doing! I did plan to try again before this post, but I haven't had the quilt back yet.

The great news is that I have had a phone call from the to-my-mind-now-even-more-delightful Angela to say that I had won second place in the wall hanging category! So, now I am awaiting not just the return of the quilt, but my first rosette too!

As you can see it is a whole cloth, quilted in black and white. It is done in the style of a log cabin and if I've counted correctly, it has 58 different original fmq designs. I did mark the boxes for each design, but they are stitched free hand without a ruler. Close up, the lines look a lot more wobbly! The boxes vary in width - a 1/4,  1/2,  3/4 of and inch, 1 inch and the widest is 11/2 inches. This alters the density of the design and gives the impression of darker and lighter lines.

Here are a couple more photos.

award winning show quilt Brisith Quilt and Stitch Village 2nd Prize Wall haning 2014 Free motion quilting black on white
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I had a comment asking why I entered quilt shows and wondering about the impact of criticism from judges. For me, the reason is simple - to get known outside of local. I have had local exhibitions, sold in local galleries, demonstrated and given talks to local groups but never beyond. It is time to spread my wings! This blog also has that aim, but people have to find you first, and quilt shows seem like a good way to get seen.

My first attempt (a few months ago) came back with judges comments that my design was interesting and quilting good, and everything else 'satisfactory'. I have to say I did find that word most unsatisfactory! It felt like 'not bad enough to complain about, but beyond that...' There has to be a more encouraging descriptor - maybe 'shows promise'? 

Anyway, it didn't put me off, but it did mean I wasn't expecting to get anywhere this time. I was all the more surprised and thrilled to win second prize for my second show. As long as that relationship - i.e. third prize for third show, fourth for fourth... does not continue!!

award winning show quilt Brisith Quilt and Stitch Village 2nd Prize Wall haning 2014 Free motion quilting black on white



Thanks for dropping by...

Hilary Florence

Please find below a list of linky parties. I may not link with all of the every week, but with some of them most weeks. Please go and have a look at some of the other wonderful quilts and quilters there.
Anything goes Mondays @ http://marelize-ries.blogspot.co.uk/
Linky Tuesday at Free motion by  the river­­­­ @ http://www.conniekresin.com/
Fabric Tuesday @http://quiltstory.blogspot.co.uk/    
Sew cute Tuesday @ http://www.blossomheartquilts.com/ 
Show and tell Tuesday @ http://ihavetosay.typepad.com/randi/
WIP Wednesday at freshly pieced   @   http://www.freshlypieced.com/
WOW = WIPs on Wednesdays  @ http://www.estheraliu.blogspot.co.uk/  
WIP Wednesday at TN + TN  @ http://needleandthreadnetwork.blogspot.ca
I Quilt Thursdays @ http://prettybobbins.com/
Really Random Thursdays @ http://www.liveacolorfullife.net/
Needle and Thread Thursday @ http://myquiltinfatuation.blogspot.co.uk/
Off the wall Fridays @ http://ninamariesayre.blogspot.co.uk/

30 comments:

  1. Congratulations on the ribbon! Your quilting is beautiful, and I think it's wonderful you are entering shows. I'm trying hard to finish a couple quilts to enter for the first time this fall, and it's fun and scary at the same time. Thanks for linking up to Anything Goes Monday!

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  2. Beautiful quilt! Congratulations!

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  3. Gorgeous work and well deserved placing :D

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  4. Congratulations, such beautiful work.

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  5. Kudos on your big win, well deserved. It is stunning!

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  6. Congratulations! You already know that I'm a huge fan of your work so...no surprise here....I love it.!!!!! Just don't ask me to pick a favourite pattern. A good judge will give you comments that will help you grow. You didn't get that with your first show and I'm glad you weren't easily discouraged. It's an amazing feeling to set a goal and achieve it. This is just the first of many goals that you will achieve, beautifully.

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  7. Gorgeous! I love that you changed the design at each turn. (I recognized a few from your last months' posts.) Very creative and daring. Doing it with a black thread on white cloth is even more daring, in my point of view. But the result is simply gorgeous and artistic. No wonder you won a prize. Félicitations!

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  8. Awesome quilt! Congratulations!!

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  9. that's amazing! congrats!

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  10. Congratulation! It is a beautiful quilt!

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  11. The quilting on this piece is lovely. Congrats on the ribbon. I hope this one comes back with more useful notes.

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  12. Congratulations! There is definitely a way to give feedback that encourages rather than deflates. I think a rosette definitely well earned!

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  13. I am so excited for you. This quilt looks amazing, and you totally deserved that award.

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  14. Congratulations! That's an impressive amount of quilting, and I like to alternation between black and white thread. Very bold. :0

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  15. Wow, this is gorgeous! Makes me think I need to really practice my stitches :P.

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  16. oh my goodness!!! Wow! When I first saw the thumbnail, I thought this was a computer generated drawing of quilting- then I clicked on it and realized it's the real deal! Amazing, intricate detail!

    Thanks so much for sharing at Needle and Thread Thursday!

    :) Kelly @ My Quilt Infatuation

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  17. Congratulations!!! That's wonderful! Thanks for sharing a photo with us. I love the texture of quilting, and your work is loaded with it, soo...love it! What a neat concept you have going with your black and white stitching and wholecloth approach.

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  18. Was this entered at Quilt and Stitch Village in Uttoxeter? I'm sure I saw it there! It's fabulous

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  19. That was a dull comment; I can't imagine anything you do being merely "satisfactory." I'm glad your next entry found a more appreciative audience; cheers for the second placing! It will be fun to see if the first submission meets a more favorable reception sometime.

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  20. Love the close ups! And congratulations on your placing! Well, if your quilting is merely satisfactory??? What does that mean for the rest of us?!!! Ha, ha! Water off a duck's back, Hilary. Keep on Quilting on, cause you do it sew well!

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  21. judging is so subjective. this quilt is just beautiful. love it.

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  22. Beautiful quilting, and congratulations on the win!! Whoop whoop for you!

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  23. LOVE LOVE LOVE this and CONGRATULATIONS!!! It's a beautiful piece and a terrific exercise! Love your work!!

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  24. How exciting and congratulations. I would be so intimidated. I think I'll enter a quilt some where sometime, just for kicks. You've inspired me. LOVE this. So remarkable and unusual. Very pretty.

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  25. What a great success for this wonderful quilt. It is adorable. Congratulations and I am looking forward to seeing your next quilt for a show.

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  26. Congratulations! You did a beautiful job--your quilting really blows me away! :)

    Thank you for linking up to Fabric Frenzy Friday!
    -Lindsey
    Fabric Frenzy Friday

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