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Wednesday, December 16, 2015

The Sting of Rejection....part of the process

It's always tough to receive that email.  You know the one.  Thanks for entering but...well, you know the rest. But alas.....it's all part of the process. It's important NOT to let this process devalue your work, especially in your own eyes.

I submitted three quilts to Quilt Con this year and not a one made it in. The quilts I submitted are very dear to my heart....in actuality, part of a series of Grief Quilts. Accepted or rejected....does not change the fact that they played and still play an important part In my personal journey of loss.


Picking up the Pieces 2015


Shards of Glass 2015


Finding My Way Home 2015

In all honesty, it's disappointing but all part of the process.




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36 comments:

  1. StephieDecember 17, 2015 at 1:41 AM

    Sometimes these things can be so hard to accept and the feeling of rejection always stings. The truth is we don't know the full selection criteria, we don't know what mood the judges were in, no idea how many of the 100's of quilts they'd already seen when they got to yours...it really is just a lottery. These are wonderful quilts, profound and moving - and I'm sure I'm not the only one to think so. Don't let this one experience put you off, there will be other opportunities - in the mean time, keep on keeping on! You have an amazing and unique talent, and don't forget it!

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  2. Sew SurprisingDecember 17, 2015 at 3:08 AM

    I always hang on to the thought, Nothing is ever by chance, there is a reason as hard as it is to see perhaps, but something far better and noteworthy will be just around the corner, I will wager my rotary cutter on it :)

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  3. doloresDecember 17, 2015 at 6:06 AM

    Knowing the story I think you should enter these in the Sacred Threads Exhibition!
    http://www.sacredthreadsquilts.com/

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  4. BethDecember 17, 2015 at 6:19 AM

    Three beautiful pieces

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  5. LeanneDecember 17, 2015 at 6:21 AM

    Your quilts are stunning!

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  6. JulieroseDecember 17, 2015 at 7:15 AM

    Just lovely quilts--and they helped along the way through your grief---they are winners in my book....hugs Julierose

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  7. Sewing Up A StormDecember 17, 2015 at 7:35 AM

    The first comment kinda said what I wanted to. You entered a HUGE show with Many, many, many entries and who knows what the judges wanted this time around. Your work is very innovative and awesome. Enter them somewhere else. I have had one piece be rejected to have a really nice ribbon in another show..........it is not a reflection on your work but what the judges are looking at.

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  8. Pamela ArbourDecember 17, 2015 at 7:36 AM

    I am sorry they didn't accept your quilts. I remember the day when all entries were accepted. I am proud of you for entering. My workmanship is very good, but I won't even consider entering. I learned years ago, that even the quilts that are accepted and judged are still subject to the eye of the judges' likes and dislikes as well. So maybe you are just not the style for the group this year. You might enter next year and even win!

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  9. DebbieDecember 17, 2015 at 7:43 AM

    Your work is indeed beautiful and innovative and though I don't understand why none were, the fact that they weren't accepted into THIS show doesn't devalue them one iota. Thanks for your honest, yet gracious words...

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  10. RZDecember 17, 2015 at 8:12 AM

    These Quilts are absolutely gorgeous. They represent you the your process of loss, grief, and recovery and shouldn't be subject to being judged..by judges or anyone else. I think you as well as these magnificent are going to be part of a much bigger story (someone suggested that in one of the comments). These are special, sacred Quilts and perhaps meant for a different audience. All of us love your work, however whats important is these Quilts express a period of your life and the process of creating them is your personal journey...and not for others to evaluate, or judge. No ribbon in this world could validate your journey. I think your generosity of spirit in sharing these Quilts,is admirable. Thank you for letting us see the beautiful work you create even in the darkest of times.

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  11. MaryDecember 17, 2015 at 9:06 AM

    Thank you for your post. Mine didn't make it either, and I think yours are wonderful, so now I feel better about my rejection.

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    Replies
    1. MariQuiltsDecember 19, 2015 at 4:44 PM

      I'm glad it helped...it's part of the reason I posted. It's all part of the journey.

      Delete
  12. UnknownDecember 17, 2015 at 9:21 AM

    All of them are amazingly beautiful. Thank you for sharing them with us.

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  13. ArianeDecember 17, 2015 at 10:42 AM

    Your quilts are beautiful!!!

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  14. elizabethdeeDecember 17, 2015 at 11:35 AM

    I love them.

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  15. LyndaDecember 17, 2015 at 11:41 AM

    I love your quilts. It is a shame that quiltcon attendees will not be able to see them in person.

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  16. QuilterBeeDecember 17, 2015 at 4:09 PM

    Considering that QuiltCon allowed and that "Fuck" quilt to be allowed in and then hung was ridiculous a couple years ago, I think your quilts are too good to be associated with them. Your quilts are over the top gorgeous!!

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  17. UnknownDecember 17, 2015 at 5:38 PM

    I Love Your Quilts!!!
    Thanks for being such a wonderful Inspiration!!!

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  18. HospiceNPDecember 17, 2015 at 7:08 PM

    I think it takes a great deal of courage to enter a piece at all. I entered a cross stitch that I had worked on for a YEAR and had lots of detail, still one of my best pieces, and when it didn't win anything I was so crushed. I don't think I will ever enter anything again, whether needle work or quilting. Your quilts are meaningful to you and to those who know something of your journey, and that is all that matters.

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    Replies
    1. MariQuiltsDecember 19, 2015 at 4:49 PM

      I am sorry to hear that.....it is difficult but it really part of a process. I have had a first place quilt from one show rejected in another....so it's mystery.

      Delete
  19. DebbieDecember 17, 2015 at 7:17 PM

    I love them all, but especially shards of glass. I rarely enter anything but if I do it is not in a judged show. I don't care what anyone thinks about my quilts, I make them for myself but sometimes I like to see them hanging.

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  20. CharlottaDecember 17, 2015 at 7:37 PM

    I've always thought that judging quilts was an incredibly arbitrary process and I've certainly never understood it. I've never submitted wuilts to shows and never thought I'd be one to do so. I make quilts for people to use on their beds, and I've always been happy with that. But I was actually tempted for quite a while to submit a quilt to QuiltCon. Now I'm really glad I didn't. I remember again and am reaffirmed that I don't want to be a part of that arbitrary competition. I'll love to look at the quilts in the show, I just don't want to be involved in it myself. That's not why I make quilts. I know it'll not make me happier to put myself in it.

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  21. CharlottaDecember 17, 2015 at 7:38 PM

    So sorry, of course I meant to say that I think your auilts are incredible and I'm really sorry I won't be seeing them, especially I think, the first two, in Pasadena.

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  22. Mary KeaslerDecember 18, 2015 at 6:11 AM

    Of course, I am shocked that your quilts we're not accepted. They are exquisite, as is everything you create. I, too, entered three quilts and none were accepted. I wasn't surprised that mine were not chosen, but I will keep trying. Wouldn't it be super to have a show with all the quilts that were not accepted into QuiltCon. I'll just bet it would be a breathtaking event!

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  23. artsycraftsyivyDecember 18, 2015 at 8:50 AM

    I love your quilts. They're stunning. Don't stop at Quiltcon, though. Try for other shows. Quilcon's not the only game in town for modern quilts, you know? Someone said something on this thread about it being a lottery and up to the judge's moods and, who knows, maybe a bit of a popularity contest, too. So I wouldn't let the rejection get to you. At least don't take it personally. It's not. xo.

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  24. em's scrapbagDecember 18, 2015 at 1:04 PM

    Each quilt is beautiful. It is hard to have a rejection but you are right it does not devalue the quilts.

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  25. DebbieDecember 18, 2015 at 2:17 PM

    I love your quilts and your process that you so generously share with everyone. I check your blog often and if you don't post for awhile, I'm disappointed because I love your quilting style and love to see pictures of your beautiful quilts. I just got home from work and sat down and was scrolling through bloglovin and it looks like there is a lot of disappointment in blogland today because of the rejections. I'm not quite understanding all this. You can't win all the time if you did, then when you do win it wouldn't be anything special. I don't ever find sadness in rejection. Sometimes I might think " your loss" but mostly I think that is was presented to me so I can learn something. The adventure to improve and figure that out keeps me growing and interesting.
    On the other hand, I think not only are your quilts beautiful but they can be created by anyone and that fact alone should have earned you a spot. You aren't sending yours out to a longarm quilter to finish. These quilts are yours from start to finish. You should be very proud of them. I'm proud of them for you and I'm grateful to your giving nature to share how to make them myself. Thank you.

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  26. Josie's Colourful JourneyDecember 18, 2015 at 3:57 PM

    I rarely make comments on blogs, but I could not pass this up. First of all I have been a big fan of your quilts/style for many years. It's really too bad the visitors to Quilt Con next year won't get the chance to see such breath taking quilts. Don't ever be discouraged as your work is fabulous and as someone said earlier, something bigger is just around the corner for you.

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    Replies
    1. MariQuiltsDecember 19, 2015 at 4:42 PM

      Thanks so much Josie.....this might just push me to start entering a few other places...who knows.

      Delete
  27. Empress Charlotte HandmadesDecember 18, 2015 at 10:26 PM

    Rejection stinks - especially when it's a "black box". I find your quilts are beautiful and moving!

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  28. LynnePDecember 19, 2015 at 12:42 PM

    These quilts are absolutely stunning!!! And whether or not they made it into a show does not detract from their wonderfulness!
    I am sorry that you have had a rough year filled with loss. Selfishly, I am glad to see that you are blogging again as I very much enjoy reading your posts.

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Thanks so much for stopping by and taking the time to comment. I try to respond to all of your wonderful comments....if you are not getting any response from me it's because you are set up as a no-reply blogger. In order to receive a response you can change your status in your blogger profile. I'm no longer accepting anonymous comments.

Thanks again for all your wonderful comments
Marianne