Stirring the pot with another discussion-- <VBG>

We've had some discussion at our Guild about changing the Machine Quilting category to 2 separate categories - Long Arm and regular machine. I don't think the 2 should compete against each other.

Cindy

I think that a professional anything should be someone who makes a living at doing something. I know I have thought about starting something and entering it into my local show, however, the talent level is more like a bell curve, and us mediocre quilters haven't a chance. There are many fine quilters that submit quilts just for fun, but only the top of the top ever win a ribbon. ~sigh~

The winners are beautiful and incredibly complicated.

".

How about just holding a guild show for the pleasure of sharing, and eliminating judging alltogether?? When our guild holds a show, we don't have any judging at all. Noone gets their panties in a knot about how things are judged, what the categories are, who will win, etc. Instead we just have fun.

Tracey in CT

Just my own opinion, of course..........

A "professional" quilter is someone who can meet three of the four following criteria: She/He can quilt for a living, has perhaps published books on the subject, teaches and/or designs quilts for others, and has the time and wherewithal to enter into competitions.

That said, some of us would qualify as professionals on one or two of the criteria but would never consider ourselves to be "pros."

My hat is off to anyone who is a true professional quilter, and I honestly don't think that amateurs need to worry about competing with them at quilt shows.

Now I want to read all the other answers. This should be an interesting thread!

Or, give the quilter the choice - do they want their quilt judged, or not? That's what some guilds do.

"We've had some discussion at our Guild about changing the Machine Quilting category to 2 separate categories - Long Arm and regular machine. I don't think the 2 should compete against each other."

What about the midarm machines? I have just purchased a Hinterberg Voyager 17 and a stretch frame. Just because someone has a long arm does not make them a professional I know of someone who owns a Gammill and I wouldn't think of letting her quilt one of my quilts. She is horrible. I do agree that you should let people decide if they want to be judged or not. Perhaps have an ability class. Of course you should have a class for first time showers. Just my 2 cents.

Michele in IL

My only real opinion in this is that I know I should not be a professional ;-) I lack the discipline (and patience, and time) to dedicate to quilting alone that it would require for me to become really good. I am satisfied for the most part, with my sometimes adequate skills and slowly improve as time goes on.

Being a "professional" is important at our local fair. The exhibits are supposed to be strictly amateur. They say a professional is someone who earns a "substantial" amount for their skill. I'll never be that. And clearly *quality* doesn't have to coincide with $$.

So many people "fageddabod" the quilting. It never occurrs to them that *paying* to get the quilting done means it can't be entered as strictly amateur work. The part about this that bothers me is that they place so little importance on the quilting part of the quilt that it disappears from their thoughts.

Actually, I think the fair has gone a bit nuts. They now say that if you put a copyright symbol on your work you are a professional! Now, I don't put one on mine; never occurred to me. But, I probably

susan kraterfield see my quilts: members.cox.net/kratersge

I'm so glad you asked, Pati. Every time we manage to go to a quilt show I wish they had another category. Certainly, I'm thrilled to see the quilts of exquisite skill and creativity. But - it would be such a pleasure if those who have something beautiful or fun, new technique or tried-and-true, joyous or totally out of the box would also show their quilts. Many quilt show attendees don't have a guild or bee where they can learn or laugh at show and tell, but . . . oh how we wish we did. I don't have my 'big girl' vocabulary going yet this morning and don't have a suggestion for the category name; certainly 'beginner' and 'amateur are a little insulting. Perhaps there is a way to welcome and display quilts that are not perfect by any standard but special in their own way - whatever that may be. Polly

"Debi Matlack" wrote in message news:n94ii.3075$ snipped-for-privacy@newsread3.news.pas.earthlink.net...

Our guild defines a professional as anyone who has taught, published (about sewing), or sewn for money in the last 12 months, or anyone who has won a cash prize of more than $100 for quilting in the last 12 months.

Personally, I think it's silly to have a professional and amateur categories -- it would make a lot more sense to have a "past champions" category (or something similar), for anyone who has won a ribbon in the last, say, 5 years. Why? Because at our guild adding the professional category solved nothing. In the amateur category, we still have the retired women who taught and sewed professionally for years -- because they haven't taught lately, they're in the amateur category, but they also have the time to put 3,000 hours into a quilt. In the professional category, we have people who've won prizes at Houston and Paducah. Someone like me, who is a professional quilter but works 70+ hours a week and can't put thousands of unpaid hours into my own quilts, doesn't stand a chance.

I do not care for the competition bit -- there are so many lovely quilts and frankly, some "winners" I've seen have certainly not been to my personal taste. I'd rather see a display for inspiration. Still, there are some that are truly wonderful. Just because I'm not going after a ribbon doesn't mean others should be deprived of the right to do so.

How about a Hall of Fame for the ribboned quilts, and an Inspiration Is Fun section for those that aren't competing? I suspect I'd find more to attempt to duplicate in the Inspiration section (less complicated perhaps?) than in the Hall of Fame area, though I'm sure I'd enjoy both!

No, I'm not nearly the quality of pro's but that doesn't mean I have less fun -- probably more because I'm doing this for fun. Are my stitches even? hahaha. Are they straight? (is that a trick question?!)

That said, I've only been to a few quilt shows. The ones I liked best were #1) Inexpensive to view (we are on a budget, and spending $10-plus to get in would not work for my personal budget. Yes, I realize most could/do afford a much larger budget, but we must live too. And I might add that the first quilt show I attended was free so there is no telling how much that "free" show cost over the years in supplies, books, patterns, fabrics and more

#2) LOTS of vendors, lots of goodies, lots of "little kits" to tempt me. First quilt show purchases included two books (Timeless Treasures by Nancy Johnson-Srebro, and Sensational Settings) plus a Cathedral Window miniature kit (4" block) and some little gizmos, i.e. thimble, pins, needles... But I was inspired and for that I'm grateful.

And I had never quilted -- no real interest either. Basically, the quilt show (in Coral Springs FL) was a free event mentioned in the Thursday newspaper. I liked free so we went. That I had two teenagers/ almost teens, and quilting involved sticking sharp objects in fabric was a bonus. (grin)

#3) No babies or children with parental units who do not supervise them. Specifically, if your rugrat behaves, fine. If he/she thinks running around is appropriate, take them home.

So, after I look at what to buy, I'm going to wander the exhibit hall. I want to be inspired! It would be nice to be allowed to take pictures too...

And I don't care if you're the best quilter in the region. Quilting to me is not about competition -- it's about creating love.

Around here it's anyone who makes money off quilting - whether making quilts, teaching classes, machine or hand quilting for customers, designing patterns and so forth.

It's hard for things like the county fair. I have to enter as a professional but just because I teach some techniques (and am good at those) were I to enter a quilt that used different techniques, well, my skill aren't so great. Just look at the art quilt I made! Ok, you can't because I tossed it, but you get the idea. Just because I'm a professional at some areas of quilting doesn't make me a pro in every area of quilting. Hard to divvy that up for show catagories though, so I understand why they lump us all together.

marcella

'Innovative' a category that might work Polly?

My guild does a small show and the only ribbons are by viewers choice. Except for the year the kleptomaniac woman stuffed the ballot box that it has worked fine. (this gal has to be watched at everything now)

Professional should be someone that makes money doing quilting. It is interesting to read how different groups define that. I do really enjoy seeing well made quilts in addition to those that have a 'homey' look. I think often what we are talking about with this kind of thing is guild politics and doesn't have as much to do with quilts themselves.

There is a reason I quilt for me! I'm only need to make me happy and not worry about ribbons. If everyone was like me though there would be few quilt shows.

Taria

Polly Esther wrote:

My guild's show uses a peoples choice voting system, with the winners announced just before the show closes. They do have one judged award, for hand quilting, that was in place before the two local guilds joined together for the show.

Out of curiosity, why don't you think the two should compete?

Ah, Kathy. You are the winner here at least daily and sometimes several times a day with your Baby Bumble Bee quilt. We'll be glad to send you a Best of Show ribbon if you'd like one. That's got to be the most loved quilt in the world. Polly

Too bad "amateur" lost its original meaning: someone who does something because s/he loves doing it. Roberta in D

"Polly Esther" schrieb im Newsbeitrag news: snipped-for-privacy@corp.supernews.com...

Thanks for nice words on a hectic and stressful day!