When you’ve walked through a quilt show and admired the work of others, maybe you’ve had a variety of feelings, as I have.
- You’re in awe. Thoroughly gobsmacked.
- You’re inspired and can’t wait to get back to your machine.
- You’re discouraged (because your own skills don’t come close).
I had an interesting conversation with another quilter about five years ago at the Georgia Quilt Show, as we both stood in front of America, Let It Shine by Sherry Reynolds, which had won Best of Show. (The quilt had also won at Pacific International Quilt Festival in 2011 and at Houston’s International Quilt Festival in 2012.)
America, Let It Shine by Sherry Reynolds
There in Atlanta, the other quilter remarked, “You know, this is amazing. Just stunning. But I’m really more interested in the ‘normal’ quilts. I like the ones that I could actually do.”
As we chatted about the Reynolds quilt, and quilt shows in general, and our own skills in particular, I realized that the “normal” quilts in any show may be the most important ones.
They’re the quilts that makers can see themselves creating. They make us sit up and take notice and think, “I’m going to try that.” What more can you ask of a quilt?
Eternal Beauty by Sherry Reynolds
If the name Sherry Reynolds sounds familiar, you may remember that she also won in Houston this year with Eternal Beauty. She earned the Handi Quilter Best of Show Award and $10,000 in prize money. Until you’ve seen this kind of work in person, you can hardly imagine the detail.
The sheer fortitude required to complete this is something I can’t comprehend. Eternal Beauty has also taken top honors at Indiana Heritage Quilt Show and at Pacific International Quilt Festival. (There may be others.)
I have never forgotten the conversation with the quilter in Atlanta. When I see a show, whether it’s a huge and widely-acclaimed event or a local gig with a handful of quilts, I remember that even the most humble of entries can inspire someone to begin. Even a quilt made from a kit or a project that’s been repeated by thousands of quilters who all bought the same pattern—each kind of quilt has its place.
Even the most awful workmanship could spur someone to say:
- I think I could do better than that.
- I would probably be neater.
- I believe I’d have a better sense of color.
I was teaching at QuiltNebraska in 2012 when perhaps the highest (and lowest) moment of my quilting life occurred, simultaneously. All of the teachers had been asked to bring one quilt for an exhibit of teachers’ work, which is pretty standard. It gives everyone a chance to see work by all of the instructors at an event, even those whose classes or lectures they couldn’t attend.
I walked into a large banquet room where the teacher quilts were hung. There was All Drezzed Up, my silly, humble, run-of-the-mill experiment hanging next to Sharon Schamber’s jaw-dropping masterpiece, Crimson Promises. In case you’re not aware, Sharon Schamber makes prize-winning quilts right up there with Sherry Reynolds. She wins at big shows.
Crimson Promises by Sharon Schamber
When my quilt hung next to hers, I wasn’t sure what I felt. At first, I think “sheepish” might have described my frame of mind. Then I felt amused. I mean, seriously. My quilt was hanging next to Sharon Schamber’s!
All Drezzed Up by Diane Harris
In the course of the weekend, I felt embarrassed, proud, elated, humiliated, smug and more. It was weird. Later I wrote a blog post about it for Quiltmaker. Some images are missing, my byline is gone and the date is incorrect, but you’ll get the idea.
All of this is to say that I think every quilt has its place. The big winners by the big names and the small achievements by ordinary makers: as long as the quilts are satisfying the quilter’s need to make something beautiful and perhaps warm someone’s heart or soul or body in the process, it’s all good.
All Drezzed Up is a wonderful quilt…very scrappy and whimsical. It probably didn’t help that they chose to hang it with cheap plastic hangers…they could have made sure you knew it would be hung and needed a sleeve. I liked this article and your many emotions. You should be proud of this quilt that people can say, “I think I want to make a quilt like this one!”. Quilt On Diane Harris!
Thank you, Janet. I appreciate your kind words.
This kind of experience makes me think just what you did…..it’s all good. Those gorgeous pieces in quilt shows are what I consider to be art quilts, pretty to look at but not something I would attempt or even want in my home. Unfortunately, quilt shows do have the wrong effect on “ordinary” quilters like me who just want to make something that will be loved and treasured….they discourage us to ever think of entering a quilt in a show. When I make one, I think of the recipient and what the quilt will be used for, not how many errors I’m making or if those seams are just perfect. Our treasured grandmothers quilts, tattered, stained and much loved are the ones we need to be proud of. Yours is lovely and fun and I bet will be loved for generations. Never compare yourself with others…..your work is what should make you happy!
I looked at All Drezzed Up which had caught my eye first before I read the article. It struck a chord with me and my immediate thought was ‘what a lovely quilt – I could make one like that’ and now intend to do something similar. I love it! Thank you for showing it. I am now inspired to make something beautiful and a little out of my comfort zone.
Thank you, I make what I call ‘functional’ quilts that the quilt police would have a hay day over all the errors. The people that get them don’t seem to notice. These quilts are made with unwashed fabrics, are quilted on my domestic machine and washed in warm water at the laundromat. I do laugh at them sometimes.
Thank you. You have expressed many of my own thoughts and feelings when I’m at a quilt show. I admire the complexity and skills required to make the “Winners” but it does overwhelm me sometimes to see them and think, “I’m not that talented.” I enjoy seeing quilts that I know I could make or with some new skills and practice, could make and they inspire me to continue making quilts way more than the “Winners” do.
Hello Diane, You are right, we can become quite smug with our quilts. We might think they are great, and we can have an obnoxious attitude about others work. But we must remember that everyone’s efforts must be respected. Every quilt has something great about it. Sometimes its the tremendous effort in making something ‘ordinary’ for some one else.