I am very excited to be attending QuiltCon West in Pasadena in February. Besides only being 2 hours away (in non-existent traffic, but still…), I will be a super volunteer to help get the show set up. I am also looking forward to staying at a bed and breakfast with my mom and my friend Renee @Quilts of a Feather. We plan to have a sew in day on Saturday which should be fun. Beyond the excitement leading up to QuiltCon, we have less than a month to the deadline until the Call for Entries for the quilt show closes.
The deadlines for entry is Nov. 30, and we’ll notify selected quilters by Dec. 30. You can get all the details on the rules and regulations at the official Call for Entries webpage, but here is an excerpt of the categories open for submissions:
Entrants can choose where their quilt will be placed in the following categories:
- Applique – Quilt includes either machine or hand layering of fabric where the quilt’s primary focus is applique.
- Handwork – Quilt includes at least one element of handwork including, but not limited to: hand piecing, hand quilting, embroidery, redwork, cross stitch, crewel, etc. Hand stitched binding does not qualify as handwork.
- Improvisation – Quilt top includes the majority of piecing that was improvised i.e. without the use of a defined pattern or templates.
- Minimalist Design – The design of the quilt emphasizes extreme simplification of content and form to achieve maximum visual impact.
- Use of Negative Space – Quilt design incorporates a creative or significant use of negative space which is integrated into and/or organizes the composition of the quilt.
- Piecing – Quilts that are machine pieced and reflect a particularly strong or innovative use of piecing.
- Modern Traditionalism – Quilt design incorporates the use of an identifiable traditional block pattern and redesigns it by applying modern design elements such as alternate grid work, asymmetry, color, scale, etc.
Please note: QuiltCon retains the right to change the category your quilt was submitted to if it thinks the quilt will be more successful in a different category.
I have already submitted 3 quilts, and I plan on submitting 3 more to the show. Before I make my last submission (up to 3 quilts can be entered at a time for $30, so it seems worthwhile to round out and submit in sets of 3), I was hoping for a bit of reader feedback. Choosing the right category for these quilts will help me determine the way I write the description for the quilt in the submission as well, and I would really value any of your thoughts and input to help me decide where to place these quilts.
Red Herring
For Red Herring, I guess I am leaning toward entering it in the modern traditionalism category. It might also fit in the piecing category, but I think it would be a stronger piecing category quilt if I had pieced the arrowheads as flying geese instead of the HSTs that I did use. Thoughts?
AppliqueHandworkImprovisationMinimalist DesignUse of Negative Space- Piecing – Quilts that are machine pieced and reflect a particularly strong or innovative use of piecing.
- Modern Traditionalism – Quilt design incorporates the use of an identifiable traditional block pattern and redesigns it by applying modern design elements such as alternate grid work, asymmetry, color, scale, etc.
Lucent
I think that Lucent would be strongest in Modern Traditionalism as it is a re-invisioned block that stands on the shoulders of the traditional Star of Magi block and the more recent adaptation, the Swoon block. The design is modified from the Swoon in that it is pieced via Y-Seams to keep each fabric whole and un-pieced. It could also possible work in the piecing and minimalist design categories.
AppliqueHandworkImprovisation- Minimalist Design – The design of the quilt emphasizes extreme simplification of content and form to achieve maximum visual impact.
Use of Negative Space- Piecing – Quilts that are machine pieced and reflect a particularly strong or innovative use of piecing.
- Modern Traditionalism – Quilt design incorporates the use of an identifiable traditional block pattern and redesigns it by applying modern design elements such as alternate grid work, asymmetry, color, scale, etc.
Triangle Transparency
And finally, Triangle Transparency seems to settle between minimalist design and piecing.
AppliqueHandworkImprovisation- Minimalist Design – The design of the quilt emphasizes extreme simplification of content and form to achieve maximum visual impact.
Use of Negative Space- Piecing – Quilts that are machine pieced and reflect a particularly strong or innovative use of piecing.
Modern Traditionalism
I hope that you are thinking about what quilts you will submit or working to put the finishing touches on any quilts you have in work that you would like to submit. And if I can return the favor and think about the category selection for your quilt(s), please let me know. 🙂
Deciding on a category for submissions is always the hardest part for me and don’t even get me started on descriptions 😉 I think Red Herring fits best in the Modern Traditionalism category. Due to the techniques you used, I would definitely put Lucent in the Piecing category. As for Triangle Transparency, I think it falls squarely in the Minimalist category. For what it’s worth, that’s my two cents 😉
Good luck with your submissions! It sounds like you are going to have a fabulous time!! The Saturday sew in sounds wonderful!!
I think spot on for Red Herring and Lucent could fit in either but Modern Traditionalism feels more right and I think minimalist for Triangle Transparency too!
I have no idea about categories, but I think these are three great choices for submission.
I would say Modern Traditionalism, Piecing, and Piecing. I don’t think the last two are minimalist considering the other quilts I’ve seen in that category before. If anything, the last quilt *might* be minimalist. That’s just my opinion!
Well I’m glad they are letting the quilter choose this year! Is there any policy about them accepting only one quilt per category–that has been a factor in other shows, but I don’t remember if it is in QC’s. If it is the case, I’d have only one in “pieced” and use it for “Red Herring.”Also, as I recall from last year, “Pieced” was the largest category, so when possible I’d aim for another category. “Lucent” is most clearly in “Modern Traditional,” deriving from a familiar block. I agree on “Minimalist” for “Triangle Transparency.”
Yvonne, Red Herring in my opinion would be best in Modern Traditionalism, just like you have chosen. It is a modern take on a traditional block plus your choice of straight line close together quilting really emphases the modern and asymmetrical which really make this quilt stand out and your choice of adding the red arrow also fits into the description category. I love to look at this quilt! Your Lucent quilt, I feel it should be in the Minimalist category. It is a gorgeous quilt created by simplifying the Y seams and enlarging the pattern to make it stand apart and be the true focus on the quilt. Another beautiful quilt that could go in either category. For your Triangle Transparency quilt, I would chose Minimalist Design, the fabric choices and layout put it far above the Piecing category. As a quilter, when I look at this quilt I begin at a glance the whole quilt, then I quickly go to each outside corner and slowly let my eyes wander to the center. Asking myself questions about the fabric choices, how long did it take you to chose these fabrics, did you design this yourself…the list of course continues. My point is that it is far to impressive to be in the pieced category. I hope that this has helped. I know I get long winded, but I truly enjoy all of your quilt creations and not being a modern quilter or designer myself, I get lost in questions about your choices. They are always spectacular quilts. Thank you for sharing, best of luck and have a wonderful creative day!
I would think: Minimalist for Red Herring and Piecing for the others. Hoping all goes well with your submissions!
Red Herring and Triangle Transparency would be Minimalist for me. And Lucent Modern Traditionalism. They are all amazing!!
You are going to have so much fun in Pasedena! I so wish I could go but will have to wait until Savannah. I think you are spot on for the category of each quilt. Yes, Lucent and Triangle Transparency could definitely be in the Piecing category, but I feel that they fit better in the other categories you are considering.