I love submitting my quilts to my local fair. This year, dropoff for the quilts was this past Sunday, which just happened to be the day my husband and I finished driving home from being out of town for Babsie’s funeral and taking a much needed break and visit with family. Unfortunately, I just could not be in two places at once, so I was not able to drop off my quilts for display this year. Instead, I thought I’d share the quilts that I was going to take to the fair here and give an honest assessment of them.
Wayward Transparency
I submitted Wayward Transparency in the Original pattern category.
Wayward Transparency – Detail
I learned a lot about quilting a diagonal cross-hatch on my longarm when I quilted this first version of Wayward Transparency. On the first pass of quilting, I did not fill the empty triangular corners with scrap batting and I caused the quilt to shift a bit as I quilted, which I did not notice until I rotated the quilt and quilted it the second direction; there are a few areas where the second pass of quilting pushed the quilt top over. Lesson learned, though: I know to add batting in the corners for the next time I want to quilt like this so that I can avoid that kind of shifting!
Transparent Ribbons in Modern Marks
I also submitted Transparent Ribbons (in Modern Marks) to the Original Design category.
Transparent Ribbons in Modern Marks – Detail
I really love how this quilt top came together. I paid special attention to the directional prints to keep everything going in the same direction.
Skydust
Skydust is my version of Stephanie from Late Night Quilter‘s third Quilt Theory collection pattern.
Skydust
It was my first flange binding, and I think the ghost shapes I quilted lead the eye into the negative space of the design. Overall I was hoping that this quilt might appeal to the judges this year. The more modern quilts are not typically as prominent but I thought this one had a chance to speak to them in a different way!
Refraction in Issue 59 of Love, Patchwork & Quilting (photo courtesy of LP&Q)
I submitted Refraction in the Small Quilt category, and as it was also machine quilted at home (their category for domestic machine quilted), I thought it was likely to do well in the category. If I could change anything about this quilt, the lightest green stands out a bit more prominently and I think a substitution would unify the design a bit more.
Murrina
I also submitted Murrina, my make from Kelly from My Quilt Infatuation‘s Stash Statement book. I was looking forward to seeing if the judges commented on the improv piecing.
Murrina
I think changing the thread colors to blend with the piecing helps the piecing to be what you see when you look at the quilt.
Have you entered your quilts into a local fair? I’m a bit sad I won’t be viewing my quilts when I go to the fair later this month, but life just had other plans this year.
I have not yet entered any of my quilts in a local fair. Maybe someday. It looks like Quilt Theory is no longer selling patterns. Do you know if Stephanie’s Skydust pattern is available anywhere? Thanks, Mary.
Each of these quilts is just wonderful! I’ve not yet entered a quilt into the NC state fair – not yet anyway!
Skydust is lovely as are all of your other quilts!
You and Blue! There is something wondrous about the color no doubt. Our local quilt shop has a rotating quilt show in their very large and airy bathroom. Sounds weird but it works! One month is was blue and white quilts and the effect was indescribable a feeling of coolness and peace permeated the space. Although my bedroom is blue I never felt the effect of blue so dramatically as in that bathroom. Although my husband and I own a plant nursery our signature color is blue and not the standard green. It’s amazing the effect that a blue fence has on the foliage of plants, When I first painted the fence blue our customers thoughts the plants looked greener and healthier, many didn’t even notice the blue fence in the background.
I missed my county fair this year, but next year I hope to enter some quilts in our quilt show and then maybe the county fair. Then I’ll consider the state fair. Several are encouraging me to enter Wayward into the state fair 🙂 You have made some fantastic quilts this year, Yvonne. I like each one of them. I’m sorry you couldn’t enter them this year too!
I loved seeing these quilts again and I really liked how you shared your learnings from each. We do not have a local fair here that has quilts showcased.
We don’t have a local fair, so I don’t submit, and my last submission to a show discouraged me. Mostly, I haven’t been working with submitting in mind, but as I am working on more of my own things – I may reconsider my position on submitting quilts. I think you did a great job critiquing your work, although maybe a little too harsh on some accounts – they are all beauties!
Your quilts are all stunning, but Wayward Transparency and Transparent Ribbons are my favorite! I’ve never entered a quilt into a show. Can you explain a bit more about the scrap batting triangle under Wayward Transparency that you were talking about? I haven’t yet tried to load a quilt diagonally, and I have no idea how it works.
I love them all! They are beautiful. I love the dimension that each of them have.
Thank you for a look at your quilts. I love each of them but think my favorite is skydust. I didn’t realize the ghost images were quilted. I thought they were done with shaded fabric. I admire your willingness to put your quilt in the fair knowing that non-traditional quilts are not as well received. I’m sorry they won’t be hanging there this year.
I entered in the state fair and made honorable mention in Fiber Art Wall Hanging. Lawd knows it certainly wasn’t for the quilting – my trusty Brother was down and I quilted it all on a 457 Singer Stylist that skittered all over the place. Seems the look for modern quilts is matchstick quilting, the same finish I did for my piece.
The Mr. was miffed that I didn’t enter it in the county fair but prolly 5 people would have seen it *grins* – not a large fair.
Of yours, Wayward Transparence is my fav.
Hello Yvonne; You should know that I am not a person to ask to judge your quilts, due to the fact that I love each and every one of the quilts that you make! I am always honest when I write my comments as you share each and every post about your quilts though! Your straight line quilting has always fascinated me due to its perfection. At least that is the way it looks up close and even farther away and it just takes my fascination on a journey, trying to go back and forth each line and seeing how you can manage that. Plus, I hope you know how amazed and delighted I am with each of your beautiful Transparency Patterns that you designed, of course all of your other quilt designs also! Basically, I would give you top honors, no questions asked!! You are a magnificent quilt designer and quilter! Have a fabulous day!
Well, I’ve just had a wonderful quilt show, all due to Life’s Scheduling Errors! I enjoy reading about your quilts and things that you’ve observed about each. I didn’t see your bedroom’s really blue quilt, which I love, which I think — given it’s design and vibrant colors — would be a winner. I can’t quite understand what you mean about “batting in the corner” but I don’t think I really need to. I think all the quilts are wonderful!
I remember you saying last year that there are fewer modern quilts at your LQS, so it’s a shame this lovely bunch won’t be there for people to enjoy, though that’s the way it goes sometimes. I hope the funeral went okay.
I really liked Refracion and didn’t recall seeing it before this posting. I love the sharp lines and color changes. One of my guilds has the option to have your quilts judged and I have done so. I have learned from the experience and will do so again.
I’m sorry you missed the entry date this year but thank you for sharing them with us again. I *love* those ghost shapes you quilted in Skydust. I think that type of quilting is always so interesting. So for Wayward Transparency, am I correct in reading that you loaded it on the diagonal? I’ve wondered about doing that to one of my own quilts, just didn’t know how it would work. Thanks for sharing the tip about adding batting to the corners.
I love entering our Mountain Regional State Fair every year. So sorry you didn’t have time to have a friend take them in for you. Can you show them next year since they didn’t get shown this year?
I still haven’t entered the local fair. Maybe next year or the year after when I semi retire. It’s too bad you didn’t get to enter these beautiful quilts but I’m glad you shared them with us. I really like your version of Stephanies quilt and the ghost quilting you used on it.
What a shame you didn’t get to enter your quilts but sometimes other things need to take priority. I sometimes think I’d like to enter my quilts in a show, but the ones I’m thinking of are all still in my head! I’m a huge fan of transparent ribbons in those prints!
Sorry you were unable to submit these. I always enjoy reading about your experiences at the fair. Such a beautiful collection of quilts.
I will miss seeing your quilts this year. I am putting two of mine in this year for the first time. I am looking forward to the judges comments. Your quilts will be missed as they are always stunning.
I’m sorry you missed out this year. They are all fantastic. I have only had one quilt in the county fair and it got a blue ribbon. We went yesterday and looked at the quilts this year. It was a bit sad for me. It reminded me of how little I was able to accomplish this year. I’d really hoped to get at least one entered. Hopefully next year!
Bonjour je voudrais avoir les explications du modèle Skydust . Pouvez vous m’aider S’il vous plait . Merci de me répondre Amicalement Joëlle
Your quilts would do well at my local fair! I used to submit mine and get ribbons but no longer. I’ve been one of the judges for the past four years now so I don’t think it’s fair to submit and judge my own.