Stepping up!

This dropped through the letter box last week.



It is the magazine I receive for being a member of the Quilters Guild of Great Britain.

Whilst browsing through it I found the usual call for entries to this years Festival of Quilts. I usually ignore such requests, but for some reason, this time it got me thinking. I love to go to the festival and look at what is on offer but if it wasn't for the people who took the time and trouble to enter quilts, there would be no festival, and maybe it is time to give something back.



Now I know those of you who have followed this blog for a while will be saying "what are you talking about...you entered last year!" but the truth is I didn't. I was asked to submit a piece which is an entirely different thing. I was thrilled to be asked, but I probably wouldn't have done so otherwise.



At this time, I am just committing myself to registering (which has to be done by 27th April) and for the cost of £8.00 I can register in any or all categories. And unlike last year, when I start having a crisis of confidence and mini meltdown (yes, that did happen) I will be able to pull out without letting anyone down, should the need arise.


My dilemma now is which one.


These are the categories, and more details available here.

1.The Quilter's Guild Challenge this year is Britain. I can think of lots of things that I would like to say about Britain at this time(!), but would that be reflecting the style that I think I am working on at the moment.


 
2. Art Quilts
Quilts for walls, where the emphasis includes
original design concepts, ideas or emotions
balanced by quality of execution and visual
impact.
Yes, a distinct possiblilty.

3. Contempoary Quilts

For quilts made from ideas derived from
the traditions of quilt-making, but given a
new approach. Use of original designs and
contemporary fabrics, using any technique or
combination of techniques, to include quilting
(hand, machine or combination).
Maybe. I definitely have some ideas that would take me in this direction. but it is not something I have fully worked out yet.

4. Traditional Quilts

Quilts may be wholecloth, pieced and quilted,
appliqué and quilted, or a combination of
piecing, appliqué and quilting. Quilting may be
hand, machine or a combination.
Definitely not! For me this would be the hardest category to enter and I am completly in awe of the work of the people who do!






Apologies for indulging myself and showing these pictures again but I guess I am trying to live by the sentiments of the poem I so diligently put here last year.
(And maybe the fact that I have also just been told that this quilt will appear in the 2013 Quilter's Guild calender has helped give me the push!)

Anyone going to join me?

Comments

  1. I'm glad you're entering! I'm looking at calls for entry too for this year. :)

    My friend Jenny is entering this as well (she does most years); and we've been teasing her telling our Canadian version of what "Britain" means to us. Number one was Colin Firth. ;)

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  2. Deborah, I love your art quilt and the little poem. It is one of those synchronicitous finds because I have just been pondering the difference between want/need, chores/fun projects.

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  3. ... and maybe it's even time you get some of that wonderful, amazing thrill: people will look at your work and LOVE it. Maybe you'll even hear somebody saying so - believe me, that's one the best things that can happen to you ;-)) Looking forward to see your quilt (and you !!) at Birmingham !!

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  4. Your quilt definitely fits the requirements for art pieces, I truly love the piece and the emotion behind it.

    Debbie

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  5. Such a beautiful quilt. No wonder it will be in the calendar. This is my first visit to your blog.

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  6. I have so loved seeing more photos of one of my all time favourite quilts. I would love to see you enter one of your quilts made with more of your fabric. I would happily march around there again next summer, refusing to give up until I found it. It could be my tradition at the FOQ - finding your quilts year after year!

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  7. you should defo enter deborah - your pieces are beautiful - they're emotive - and that's what it's all about. we're getting alot of ads here, 'inviting' us to come to britain (jamie oliver is one of the invitees) which i would love to do...maybe next year :)

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  8. I hope you do enter. Your work is really great. One of the posts on my blog from in November 2011 included a quote about the health benefits of art:

    "The...November 2011 Good Housekeeping magazine (page 45) comments on research done in Norway on more than 50,000 people that found that "engaging in arts and culture--watching as well as doing--was linked with higher self-scores of physical and emotional health". Think about it... not only are we (people who enjoy creating art) benefiting our own physical and emotional health when we engage in our chosen form of art, but we are also contributing to the improved health of our viewing audience! Wow. That is, to me, the ultimate of 'win-win' and a strong motivator to keep creating and putting my art out for other people to see."

    Deborah, think about the benefit you'll be bringing to others if you submit one of your quilted pieces in the Festival of Quilts!! All the best. :)

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