So.....

My photo
New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada
Welcome to my world where I try to figure out what I'm going to do next! These days, it is mostly quilting, but you never know what it might be... come find out with me!

Saturday, May 18, 2013

State of shock!

The last few days I've been at the Canadian Quilters Association(CQA) annual quilt show and conference in Penticton, BC.  Being that it was so close by, a friend and I, Terry Aske, scooted up to take in the National Juried Show (NJS) - see some quilts, and be inspired. We both had entries in the show, and were curious to see how they looked.

Flowers for Cynthia


We arrived mid afternoon on Thursday and were chatting with Jackie White, a blogging buddy, at the registration desk.  I was flipping through the booklet they produce of all the quilts in the show, looking to see how mine looked in print, when Jackie, seeing which was mine, said "Oh!  You weren't here last night.  You'd better go look at your quilt!".  Wednesday night was the awards night, and I really had no expectations of winning anything, and so had not gone up to take them in.  Based on Jackie's comments, with heart in throat we went into the show, quickly scanning the quilts looking for mine.

I really didn't know what to expect - this was my first time entering the NJS, and it was with my Flowers for Cynthia quilt which had gone down to Quilt Con and had received some less than encouraging comments from the judges there.  I was really only expecting to get the Canadian judges critique of my quilt, just to get a second opinion.  Imagine my surprise to see a ribbon, and then to realize it wasn't a third place or an Honourable Mention, which would have floored me, but an Award of Excellence!  I swear my jaw must have hit the floor - I was dumbfounded!  The lovely docent came over and suggested I go check to see what I had won.  Won?  The ribbon was thrilling enough!  I had no idea what the category or award was that I won - it just said "excellence" on the ribbon.  My second shock came when they told me that I had won the "Excellence in Workmanship for Domestic Machine Quilting" and that it was a two product prize, and directed me to the letter to see what I'd won.  Third shock - I had won a new sewing machine from Pfaff - an Expression 3.2, a thread prize from Wonderful Network of Wonderfil Thread, and there was even a cheque enclosed!

I was shaking!  We went back into the show,  to see if I could get a picture of me, my quilt and the ribbon.  Unfortunately, no pictures are allowed to be taken in the show, so I'm going to have to wait until I get my quilt and ribbon back to get one taken.  To try and calm down, we started looking at all of the other quilts - there was some amazing pieces - we definitely were inspired!  Oh the amazing work we saw - traditional and art quilts - all gorgeous. And to add to the thrill for us, we rounded a corner and found another of our friends from the Vancouver Modern Guild had won a ribbon for her quilt - way to go Stacey!  It turns out that Stacey was there on Wednesday and got a preview of the show before it opened to the public on Thursday, as well as being able to take some pictures.  See her and her beautiful quilt on her blog.  As an added bonus, she did get a picture of my quilt with it's ribbon, and that is also on her blog!




The pictures that I'm showing on the blog today are earlier pictures I took of my progress on this quilt and it's end result - I can't wait to get some new pictures with it's ribbon!

Now, to go checkout my new machine!
Happy quilting!

edited:  the award winning quilts are now posted on the CQA - NJS  page.  see them here

36 comments:

M-R Charbonneau said...

Wow, that's so awesome and so deserved! Congratulations! Woo hoo!

Beverly said...

Way to go, Janet, that is fantastic! Since I've always thought your quilting is gorgeous, I think this is a well deserved award. And a new sewing machine to boot!

Jo Ann said...

Congratulations! It is an outstanding quilt! Yay!

MariQuilts said...

Congrats....how fabulous for you...your quilt is fabulous!!

Holly said...

Congrats, Janet! What a perfect category for you - you're an absolutely amazing quilter on your home machine!

Happy Turtle said...

That is fantastic!!! Your quilting is great and I'm a sucker for these stories! Yaay! :) Congratulations!
Carol

Marlene said...

CONGRATULATIONS, I can feel your excitement. Well deserved-the quilt looks fantastic. I don't know how you managed to concentrate to look at all the other quilts.

heartsease54 said...

Congratulations! I couldn't be more thrilled for you! The quilt is beautiful and certainly deserved this award.

Renate said...

I knew it was a winner when I saw it! Congratulations! It was well deserved.

Barbie Mills said...

Congratulations! How well deserved. =) What a lovely surprise!

felicity said...

I am so very thrilled for you, Janet!! Congratulations and wow what a prize!!

trudys_person said...

Congratulations Janet! I saw Stacey's post a couple of days ago ... what an achievement, and great that you could go to the show to see your quilt with a ribbon hanging on it!

Arita said...

Congrats Janet. You are so deserving of the ribbon and cool prizes.

Christina said...

Hooray! You deserve it! Your work is artful and inspired. Enjoy your thrilling prizes!

dutchcomfort said...

Congratulations Janet, your work is beyond exquisit! Can’t imagine you did the quilting on a home sewing machien!
So glad you entered after the QuiltCon experience. I can only conclude that the Jury of the NJS has better knowledge of how to appreciate and comment a quilt!
Enjoy the sewing machine, threads and the thrill!

Maggi said...

This is so well deserved, many congratulations. Fantastic prizes too. Just goes to show how different judged react to a piece but we all know that your quilting is stunning.

Linda said...

How wonderful! You certainly deserve to win. Your work is the best.

Mary said...

Congratulations Janet! Fantastic work, and then prizes! Wow!

elle said...

That is absolutely fantastic! congratulations. Goes to show how subjective judging is.

Kristie said...

'Well, that's more like it!! It is a gorgeous quilt, deserving of first prize for sure. Incredible!!! So happy for you!! Enjoy your prizes :)

Heather said...

Congrats to you on such an exciting win! Enjoy.

Beth said...

Congrats Janet!!! I always thought you were an award winning quilter.And YOU ARE!!! I am so excited for you.
Enjoy your great prizes.

sherry said...

congrats janet...well done...wow wow wow...

Gina said...

Congratulations Janet! Your quilting is absolutely gorgeous, what a well deserved award. And wow, what prizes! I've so often looked at the Pfaff Expression with it's big quilting space.

Leanne said...

Congratulations, your quilt is stunning, it is so nice that you won.

Patsy said...

Congratulations to you!!! Your quilting is so beautiful and you have earned all your accolades. Really, just a wonderful job.

quiltmania said...

Wow! Congrats on the well deserved win!

Poppyprint said...

Janet, I am so incredibly excited for you, and for modern quilting in Canada. Thank goodness the judges recognized your amazing talent and outstanding work at CQA! Bravo!!!!

Krista Withers said...

I'm so proud of you! Such a well deserved ribbon for you. It's so encouraging when a show really recognizes a true talent. Bravo and congratulations! xoxoxoxoxo

Terry Aske Art Quilts said...

I was with Janet at the show when she first saw the ribbon on her quilt, and I can confirm that she was flabbergasted - but thrilled.

Janet - it was great to be there to share your excitement!

rtquilter said...

Wow!! Well done you! What DOES come next? Where do you go from here? Congratulations Janet.

rtquilter said...

Wow!! Well done you! What DOES come next? Where do you go from here? Congratulations Janet.

Amy @ Amy's FMQ Adventures said...

That is fabulous! Congratulations!

JB said...

A well deserved award for your excellent quilting. Congratulations, I am thrilled for you.

Barb said...

Wow, congratulations Janet! Such a well deserved award...I know from the Doll Quilt you made me, that your quilting is exceptional.

Unknown said...

Congratulations Janet! It ws nice to meet you with Terry at the show. I'd love to know more about the Modern Quilt Guild and whether members can belong from a bit of a distance. Cheers! Brandy Lynn
infoatexplorefibredotcom