Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Festival wrap up.


There's my quilt! The one washed out, in the middle!  My quilt LACE was juried into the World of Beauty Show at the International Quilt Festival in Houston this year, in the Traditional Category. 
I'm very pleased to have had this quilt in the show.


 I rarely enter quilts into shows. (I have entered Houston,  the Minnesota quilters show ( to show support of my MN quilting roots), and Quiltcon. That's it to date)
I have always submitted to Houston, as I had a goal years ago, to be good enough to have a quilt in the show. 
This of course is not every one's idea of a goal, but it is mine to my own standards... it's a personal journey.

It took me three years to achieve that goal. I was rejected three years running,  now,  I have had quilts in the Houston International Quilt Festival show, the past three years...

My goal is to learn something new each year by looking at the others...( I don't "make" for you, or for judges , only for me).  I like honing my skills, pushing my own limits, learning something new, and making something that I am proud of.  I'm always happy for the winners, but a ribbon doesn't make me feel less then. I was proud to announce a few winners though, this year at the awards ceremony! It feels good to make some one's day!

This quilt above,  was not made to be a show quilt.
I am not a show quilter. I don't set out to make a quilt saying, "this is going to be a show quilt." 
I have a very hard work ethic, and I am the hardest on myself and own skill set.  

I made this quilt in my obsession/curiosity of the pattern, to make and tell my story through the double wedding rings. This was inspired by a lace doily made by my grandmother... It was very challenging for me to work with white, shades of pastels, and all the crazy piecing, and incorporate details of my grandmother's lace work into the secondary design of my double wedding ring pattern. 

It feels so good to have made it, and I am proud of my work. Making a quilt is my voice, I like to tell stories or share my past through my quilts.

I make quilts(or anything creatively) because I have too, it's a part of who I am....
to fulfill my own desire to create.

Regarding judging: Having gone to Art School, I appreciate a good critique... I can also take it or leave the opinions, I can decide if their critique is part of my reality or not... ultimately I do not let the judging critique sway my feelings for my own work. Everyone has their vision/opinion/idea, and I can decide if it's valid or not, it does not crush me when or if you don't like my quilt.

Believe me, people either love or hate my Double Edged Love quilt, and people were very vocal about it, when it won at QuiltCon... It makes no difference to me... That quilt changed me and my process and made me grow/heal/reignite my passion for creating... All good.

Having "LACE"quilt hang in Houston, is my ribbon. (quilted by Lisa Sipes)
I am very proud of my quilt. It's near and dear to me, holds very special meaning to me, 
and I have grown personally for having made it.
Personal growth, family connections, telling my story... that is why I make quilts.

Thank you International Quilt Festival for allowing me to hang my quilt 
with so many other beautiful quilts, and meet other amazing creative people.

I am one happy camper.


What I loved at Festival:

Seeing a whole body of work by Yvonne...
Yvonne Porcella is a woman I admire greatly, and I am proud to call her a friend. Her work was on display this year. And each one is magical. She has a story to tell...  Amazing work, amazing woman! Her work has meaning. It's more then just some pretty fabrics sewn together well, her voice is heard in her work. I admire that.



What else did I love at Festival? 

This Tristan and Isolde quilt. remade of one of the earliest surviving quilts in history, which is at the V&A museum.
The workmanship, and detail is out of this world... it gave me goosebumps... the cording trapunto, and hand stitching, better then anything I've seen...Tells me I have so much more to learn.

More images can be seen here of the original



ANOTHER Great exhibit at Festival:

Seeing the Fiestas Tradicionales de Mexico exhibit  was a pure JOY as well. Seeing quilts made focusing on tradition and the culture.. Moving and exciting work.  These quilts had a power all their own, which you could feel when you walked by them.


Festival is eye candy, with hundreds of beautiful quilts to soak in... 

If you ever get to go, please look with your own eyes, and find what moves you.   
Quilts without ribbons are just as spectacular as the ones with ribbons.  
It's all good work, because it was all made by amazing women and men, and we are all quilters.


I am a QUILTER.
(no other labels requited)



Make what YOU LOVE. 
Make because it floats your own boat.
Quilts are documenting history...
Tell you story.

Use your creative voice.



44 comments:

  1. I readyyour blog every day but, I'm sorry to say, I rarely comment. Today I wanted to make sure I commented to tell you how much I enjoyed this post. Reading about what inspire you and why you make the quilts you make was very interesting. You shared some great advice without really giving advice!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for your comment today! I really do appreciate them! I'm thrilled with my quilt, and it looked fantastic hanging with the others, with or without ribbons!

      Delete
  2. It's a lovely quilt, and I hope I can see all the details up close sometime. My goal is just to go to Houston sometime, lol!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Going is a really good goal! It really is so much fun to see the beautiful work!

      Delete
  3. You are a wise woman, indeed! You follow your heart and spread joy wherever you go. Ribbons are not the only rewards given for the outstanding contributions you make to the world of quilting. Keep on "Keepin' On"....

    ReplyDelete
  4. Loved you post today...love your blog And your quilts....your blog is part of my little start the day positive and happy routine. Now you've given me an impossible dream, to make a quilt that will be accepted at PIQF and/or Houston....Thanks a bunch.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Even if it's not accepted, make your best work. ;-) the rest is all a bonus!

      Delete
  5. Love when you speak from your heart ... thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  6. What a beautiful, heartfelt post VFW! It's an honor to call you a friend of mine!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was so nice to see you in Houston! I love that your parents came along! I hope they enjoyed Houston too!

      Delete
  7. What a great perspective on judging and ribbons and entering shows. I needed that! Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I have read this post a few times today, so much of what you wrote is how I feel….
    I quilt because its my passion. I love fabric. Love cutting it up into lots of pieces and turning it into something…. love the line quilting is my voice….
    Well said Victoria

    great post. maybe its time to enter a quilt show…..
    just for me.
    Kathie

    ReplyDelete
  9. The joy , the journey, for self, for family. FOR LOVE. You've said it all

    ReplyDelete
  10. Very powerful post! It is important to be passionate.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Great post- how true about following our own vision and voice when making a quilt!

    ReplyDelete
  12. you said this so well - lovely quilt. We all just need to quilt to satisfy ourselves don't we and if others do not like them, well they do not like them

    ReplyDelete
  13. Thank you for your thoughts. I appreciate them. I went to Houston the first time this year and was uber overwhelmed by the volume of quilts and quality and styles. My quilts are not showpieces, but I make them for people to use and exercise my desire to create. Judging is a funny animal. I think too much hangs on it. With all the beautiful creations there, the top cash prize winner always had a line to photo it. I can get something out of anyone's work, I don't have to love it to appreciate it. Thanks again.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I was so happy to see you inHouston! I hope you found JOY seeing all those quilts! I know it's exhausting and overwhelming! But, You make beautiful quilts too! Be inspired!

      Delete
  14. Congratulations!! Your quilt is stunning.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Your quilt is beautiful and I totally agree that it is not about the ribbons! I love hearing more about the story behind your quilt too.

    ReplyDelete
  16. What a tremendous post today! Inspirational words which were amazing and I shall read this post over again! Love your quilts!

    ReplyDelete
  17. You are such an inspiration to me, I'm so glad our paths have crossed. I'm so happy for your successes and for many more to come. Congrats!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Congratulations for having a quilt in the show!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Congratulations Victoria,
    I LOVE your quilt and I love your post about it. It is absolutely a highlight to have a quilt in the show of Houston!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Love this post, for ever so many reasons!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Congratulations on having your quilt in the show. It still boggles me with the number of quilts you make! Great post as well.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Loved reading your wrap up. Getting a quilt in the official Houston show is one of my goals too. Need to enter again, I guess. I had a quilt hanging there in the Beatles special exhibit and have had several others hang in special exhibits there in the past. So glad I got to see your wonderful exhibit in Wisconsin!

    ReplyDelete
  23. What a great post! I appreciate that you can take or leave the criticisms - I believe that is the true making of an artist! Go quilters! And thank you for your message.

    ReplyDelete
  24. I love what you said about being a quilter. I came to your blog from Kathie's Inspired by Antique Quilts. I wish I could see a close up picture of your quilt. It looks awesome! I actually had a quilt hanging at the Houston festival as well - amazingly! It was in an exhibit of Texas guild members who won ribbons for a traditional quilt at quilt shows in Texas. I was so excited that it was accepted to hang there, but didn't get to go see it. We had just moved to Oregon and were in VA for our son's promotion in the Air Force. (Too much going on). I have only been to the Houston festival once - a year ago - and would love to go back to it someday. Thanks for your encouraging words to quilters!

    ReplyDelete
  25. I have taken on this quilt as a challenge this year. I took a class from a Local Teacher/Designer using the 10 degree ruler to make the rings. Your quilt is awesome and Congrats on having quilts at Houston 3 years running. Houston is on my Bucket list too!

    ReplyDelete
  26. Great post and your quilt is stunning! I think if your work provokes extreme emotions one way or another it just means you've bridged craft to fine art:)

    ReplyDelete
  27. Thank you so much for sharing your eloquently expressed memories of the Houston experience. Your quilt is gorgeous! It's part of your journey as an artist. I love your 15 Minutes of Play. I visited the International Quilt Studies Center last month and it was the happy souvenir I bought myself! You are an inspiration! Keep up the wonderful work and thank you again for taking the time to share with us. I am a quilter, too, and learned from my sweet grandmother, my Nannie and my Mom! All the best!

    ReplyDelete

Hi! Thanks for leaving me a comment!
I appreciate your taking the time to say hi!
Have a fabulous day!