First Rejection

Wow. I got my first show rejection today, ever....from a quilt show. My first reaction was a deep intake of breath and then I thought, why not me for a show rejection. I'm grossly over due for one let a lone two at one time. I tend to make quilts that need to be entered in a category that is generally plum full of many entries. Too many entries to allow for everyone being able to compete. I've entered shows that allow 50 entries in an art quilt category because they have the space to show them, but what you may not realise is there may have been 200 or 400 people that tried to get in also. That makes for quite a few people for every show that get "the letter".

So the thoughts that go thru my mind are, is it too dark, too dull, too bright, too much contrast, too much junk on it, not enough junk on it, did they see something I missed? And I've gotta say, you can go nuts trying to figure this out. I say DON'T SWEAT IT! It could be anything or nothing. You can't get an answer for this so let it go and enter another show or ten shows. Not every show is the right show for a quilt. Some focus on art, traditional, unusual or ordinary. Some shows focus on the quilting and some more on construction.

Don't make a quilt for a particular show, make it for you. I love my art quilts and I make them for me. I make them very well, and consider them the best I can do each time I make one. I don't cut corners, and I don't use inferior materials. So my quilts are to my taste and not the norm. They also appraise extremely high for their size. So, do I care if I get accepted, of course I do, but I'm not going to lose any sleep over it.

I have a friend that has had enough of those rejections and she has let it get her down too often. She got an acceptance to the same show, Road 2 California. I'm super proud and happy for her, and I look forward to seeing her quilt at the show and taking a picture for her with it hanging. Her quilt art has grown so much this past year and she has made many beautiful pieces that she should be proud of. Wish her lots of luck with me.