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Sunday, December 18, 2016

The Dozen that Didn't

Since this blog is about my quilting journey......I should probably share the bad with the good.  There has been a frenzy over on Instagram this week with everyone sharing the joys of having their quilts accepted and the sorrows of having their quilts, for lack of a better word "rejected". In my opinion it's an emotional experience either way, having experienced both sides of the coin.

My strategy for Quilt Con 2017 may well have back fired. In the past, I submitted three at most with the hope that one just might make the cut. So my reasoning this time around was the more one submits the greater the chances of acceptance....right!!!! What I wasn't quite prepared for was TWELVE "thank you for entering......but" emails.

It doesn't change the value of the work. In my case it will motivate me to pursue different venues. For some strange reason it doesn't really effect my confidence as an artist. But in all honesty it's never easy. Difficult as it may be, it really is part of the process. I just hope that it doesn't stop anyone from trying again or seeking a different audience.  




Hey...I will admit I was a bit thrown by receiving that many "rejections" in one day.

BUT I AM STILL STANDING!!


43 comments:

  1. I don't think I could submit any of my piece, my self confidence as an artist is still too shaky to handle rejection. I am in awe of your courage.
    P.S. I love each and everyone of those quilts :)

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  2. Are you serious? (I really wanted to type that all in caps!) NONE of those 12 were accepted? I am absolutely GOBSMAKED. They are all gorgeous and creative and inventive and full of movement.

    Seriously.....I am just shaking my head in confusion. Who ARE these judges? Oh, I know, not everyone can be accepted but it will be very interesting to see the quilts that were accepted.

    Picture me shaking my head.

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  3. Wait a minute... wait a cotton picking mintue...not ONE of those gorgeous pieces got accepted???? Are they blind??? You are taking it well... I'd need a large glass of wine...probably the whole bottle to deal with this. Totally unbelievable scenario... also shaking my head....

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  4. Just for the record, I love your quilts. I do not understand why none of these quilts were accepted. I'm glad that you're sharing them! Thank you!!!

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  5. and just one more reason why I will never submit a quilt (and there are many) ... if you quilts don't make it in ... well, I will just quilt now ... you have got some of the most beautiful, modern and inspirational quilts out there in quilt land ...

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  6. rejection does leave a person wondering what the ... but i have found it didn't shake me from my work but it did make me look at the comments section and try to improve ... all in the growth experience i do suppose ... but for the record there are some great quilts in those 12 ... submit somewhere else ...

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  7. I think the MGQ organization and the Quilt Con judges have lost their way. I was dismayed to read their guidelines earlier this year on what could be entered and the damage to their credibility was done even though the they quickly revised the "rules" after the resulting firestorm. It is to your credit that you are so calm about this as your quilts are amazing.

    The rejection letters from Quilt Con only tell you about THEM and nothing about you or your work. I cannot imagine what they accepted given this though. Wow.

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  8. Seeing those 12 quilts rejected only justifies my serious doubts about the artists standards and qualifications of the Quilt Con judges.

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  9. I have seen some eye-popping, gorgeous quilts on the "reject list". You never know what a particular group of judges is looking for. I love your quilts!

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  10. I love all of your quilts. Not sure what they were looking for but I'm sure they will be accepted at other venues.

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  11. I commented over on Ig, but had to come see your quilts closer up. LOVE your work! Thanks for inspiring us all!

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  12. Wish I could find a blue ribbon emoji!! I love your quilts & get so much inspiration & encouragement to step out of the box. QCON17's loss!

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  13. Your work will always be inspiring to me regardless of whether they are in a show or not. Your attitude toward it all is also a great inspiration. Keep on making what you do . . . it's amazing!!

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  14. It is interesting every year what gets "chosen" and what gets "rejected". It will be interesting to see the "chosen" ones. I love your work and you are a great inspiration to me.

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  15. After two years of 8 and 9 rejection letters from QuiltCon, this year I only got 3 rejection letters. Interesting that one piece that was rejected last year went on to win a third place in a national show, was accepted to Houston and now is traveling to Chicago. I think my aesthetic must match other shows better and I think that is the case with your beautiful work as well. My guess is that they consider your quilts "art quilts" as opposed to their definition of "modern". Continue your beautiful work - your voice will be heard!

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  16. I am going to Savanah this year and I love seeing all the fabulous quilts and get so much inspiration. I have yet to dip my toes into an improv quilt but I am so inspired by your work I would have loved to see some of your quilts up front and close!

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  17. I can only echo all the rave reviews above. It's always a fun day when your latest pieces appear in my inbox. QuiltCon notwithstanding, your quilts are art. You go, girl!

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  18. I honestly thought for a moment that you were going to say they had all been accepted, had to re-read it - hard to believe, your work is first class.

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  19. I'm so sorry I won't be seeing those amazing quilts in Savannah! They look fantastic! It's hard to imagine what kinds of quilts they did take.

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  20. If you don't buy a ticket you will never win, at least you had twelve tries! I'm sure they will get the attention they and you deserve soon.

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  21. I think it is hard to know what a judge is looking for, and the goalposts change like the weather. You get my vote for what it's worth.

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  22. Thanks for posting this. I follow your blog because I think your quilts are wonderful. Mine were "rejected" too, so it's good to see who else is in the same boat. I plan to save my money and energy by submitting elsewhere in future, but probably never MQG again.

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  23. It is a part of the process, but it is hard to have your stuff rejected. I think your quilts look great!

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  24. Did they say why? Were there any specific suggestions that might encourage someone going forward? I'm afraid QuiltCon is beginning to sound/feel to me like a clique of high school girls with their favorites....glad to know we can look to them for a definition of favorite...maybe your's are too much like Sunbonnet Sue...she said sarcastically.

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  25. They are all fabulous and will fit other shows requirements beautifully. I hope to see some of them at Quilt Canada next summer?!

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  26. It's hard to believe all quilts were rejected, but then I have doubts as to what modern really is in terms of quilts. Keep on going as your work is absolutely wonderful and I'm sure you can submit and get accepted in the other big, nationally known sows. I always look forward to seeing your new work. Thanks

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  27. When I look through last year's winners I can see why yours were rejected. Your quilts are art. I feel like very few of the Quilt Con quilts are truly artistic. They fit the very narrowly defined aesthetic of "modern quilt" bit I don't find the Quilt Con quilts to be very artistic, or interesting, for that matter. I appreciate the "MQ" as a means of home decor but otherwise they do nothing for me. Your quilts, on the other hand, invite me to study the lines and interplay of color. There's a huge difference between your quilts and the Quilt Con quilts....IMHO.

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  28. I would rather see your work than most of what I see at QuiltCon. Your choices of color and work with perspective are fantastic. I think QuiltCon is a great venue for classes and meeting like minded quilters but I am always disappointed with the quilt awards.

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  29. Marianne your quilts are spectacular, QuiltCon is blind I can't find another reason.. you are truly an artist with outstanding skill and quilts!!

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  30. Dear Brave One...Remember Walt Disney filed for bankruptcy five times before he succeeded with Disney World...You go girl!! xxoo

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  37. Just for the record, I love your quilts. I do not understand why none of these quilts were accepted. I'm glad that you're sharing them! Thank you!!!

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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