McCalls Design Challenge Winners

Hi everyone, what a great day... I wanted to let you all know that I did not win the final round of the McCalls Design Star challenge.

But, I also want to let you all know that I feel like a winner anyway.

I challenged myself in this contest. I never thought I could draw let alone create any realistic looking works. I allowed something inside me to let go and so, I did acheive that goal.

I also wanted to become more comfortable showing my work in a larger setting. It is very hard to let others look at and critique the work that comes from inside your heart. And I have always had a pretty thin skin. So this was a big deal for me.

I never thought I would get past the first entry round, and so, was very pleasantly surprised when I did. I was just as surprised each time I advanced. I made a new friend during this process and that makes me very happy too. Im a winner all the way around.

Now, I also want to say, that I am not a big fan of popularity contests. They do not usually produce good results. And true to form this one, especially in the ameteur category, missed the mark.

Dont get me wrong, all the contestants are skilled and did wonderful work. But due to the process, especially in the Ameteur category, there are much better representations of creativity, quality and design that were not recognized.

I posted this comment on the McCalls website as a desire to see a better process. My comments were moderated and deleted. I find this most disturbing.

I read several comments in the artist comments sections that were personal attacks on the artist, and these comments were allowed to stand. So, I dont get why process improvement comments on the main page were deleted. I suppose, in re-reading it, they may have found my comments to be negative towards the winner, which they are NOT intended to be. But like I said, there were much worse allowed directed specifically to the artists. So, I will have my say here and move on.

Only some of the artists were showcased on the blog page...what's that all about. I thought mine may have been left off due to arriving a day late. But it wasn't just me. So, we will just have to take that in stride and move on. It's not a big deal to me, just an indication of something amiss.  Most likely it is a time management issue, but who knows.

The contest page says there were over 70,000 votes and that some people left mulitple comments for their favorite to try to give the impression of exagerated excitement. This was the statement by the contest, not me.

  But just so the more exceptional artists do not get completely passed over, go have a look at two in the ameteur category that I feel are superior works in creativity, construction and design. I voted for both of them throughout because I could not chose between them.. Go have a look for yourself and let me know what you think..

This one is very deep in meaning and the construction and quilting is superb..
http://www.mccallsquilting.com/mccallsquilting/articles/Quilt_Design_Star_2012_Finalist_Trisch_Price

and this one is so touching, read through the comments and you will find more that meets the eye.. http://www.mccallsquilting.com/mccallsquilting/articles/Quilt_Design_Star_2012_Finalist_Donna_Schipper_Moyer

And finally, I want to thank all of you who encouraged and supported me throughout this process. I could not have done this without you. You are all the greatest!

Elvis in the Army

I quilted this quilt and just delivered it to my customer on Friday and she gave her permission for me to share it with you.

This fabric came out a few years ago and is now out of print.  The photo blocks were originally a panel and all the fabric in the quilt is coordinating Elvis themed fabric.

My customer was very happy with the results of my work and it is always fun to recieve such positive feedback.

I work for quilters all over the country and even overseas. I do custom sewing, quilt restoration and long arm quilting.  Feel free to contact me at any time for a quote on your sewing needs.

Enjoy!

In The News

The local newspaper came to interview me and to take pictures of the quilts I have made for the McCall's  Quilt Design Star 2012 challenge. 

Here is a link to the article:

http://www.basehorinfo.com/news/2012/oct/03/quilter-competes-national-title/

I am so pleased that the local paper took interest in my efforts.  The young woman who came to visit seemed genuinely interested and happily viewed the quilt entries.

I am not usually happy with my picture, but this time, she did get a nice looking shot. Well, as nice I am capable of looking on film anyways.

It has been a very good experience for me to have entered this challenge.  I am not confident in showing my efforts and my work. I usually share to a narrow group of friends that I know pretty well.  I wanted to push myself a bit and to reach out to a wider audience.  So, this challenge has accomplished, beyond my expectations, both of those goals.

I really did not think I had a large enough network of friends and family to make it very far.  But, they all came to support me by voting and sharing the links.  I was humbled by the support that allowed me to advance to the first challenge.  Then to the second.  And now to the final challenge.

Each time, I was not sure my work was up to the level of competition in my category.  And now, I am very excited and proud to have been able to achieve a reasonable entry into this final round.  I am happy that the support continues to grow and expand.

So, of course, I would love to win this final round. 

But here is the thing:  I am so pleased to have made it this far. Whether my quilt wins the final or not, I truly feel that I am already a winner.  I have more than achieved my goals. I have pushed myself beyond what I thought I was capable of, I have realized the support of my family, and I have made some very dear new friends along the way.

We are still weeks away from knowing the results, but I would like to say Thank You to all of you who have and are still voting.  I want to say Thank You to those who have left such meaningful comments on the voting page.  I want to say Thank You to all of you who have shared links with your friends and families.  And most of all, I want to say Thank You to those of you who have been there every step of the way with personal support and encouragement.  I could not have done this without you!

I am one of nine finalists in the McCalls Design Star Challenge 2012.

I have just finished my quilt.

This round's instructions were to design, create, quilt and bind a quilt based on the theme "Opposites Attract". This quilt is inspired by a photograph taken of my Grandfather's first meeting with my Daughter when she was one week of age. She is the only Great Grandchild that he ever met. The title of my quilt is "Love of the Ages" and, of course, the opposite is young and old. The attraction between the young and old seems stronger the more years there are between them.

The actual work on this quilt was started on Sept. 10 and finished on Sept 29. I also find it appropriate the my Daughter's birthday fell within that time frame.

The shirt is machine pieced and all the parts are applied to the background by hand applique. The background is hand quilted, the rest is machine quilted.

Voting starts Oct 2 and runs through Oct 21.

You can vote once a day from each computer and smart phone.

Please share the link with your friends.. I would love to win this round for my birthday!

http://ck.upickem.net/engine/Details.aspx?p=V&c=54018&s=24495550&i=4&m=X&sort=SORTORDER&#SD

Judy