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Festival-Houston: one in, one not

The ways of jurors for big quilt shows mystify me……this year I entered Koi:
Koi450
and Fields of Gold:

FieldsOfGold425Full

In the annual World of Beauty contest at the International Quilt Festival in Houston. The good news is that after FIVE years of “sorry but….” letters (I got in the first time I applied and never since), I am in AGAIN!!!! HOORAY…

What baffles me is that I consider Koi, a 40×60-ish quilt, two sided, lots of good technique, great quilting, imposing, yet it was “declined” (OK…let’s be blunt: rejected! For the second year in a row!) and the lovely but small (about 16×20) Fields of Gold, which began as a 9×12 journal-type quilt as an illustration/project for my book, has been accepted! I will admit, I ADORE the wheat in the quilting (even if I did do it myself…), which is my favorite part of the quilt along with Lisa Walton’s fabric (visit her website Dyed and Gone to Heaven) which really made the piece. But still… whazzup?

At least Koi got in to Paducah (if my faltering memory serves me correctly) and then got featured to my great surprise in QuiltMania, in a photo spread on the AQS show. Weird. Don’t get me wrong… I’m thrilled the drought is over and that as I teach there for the first time this year, I will have a quilt in the juried show. Still, I’m happily baffled.

Maybe I’ll be able to use Koi as my teacher’s quilt LOL!

Addendum:  Suzanne Sanger and Terry Grant both had very astute observations (see the comments)….  that there have been other koi quilts by other people, but nothing like Fields of Gold…… I think they are on to something…..

13 Responses to “Festival-Houston: one in, one not”

  1. Vicki W Says:

    Do you think they may have been reviewed by different jury panels? I don’t have a clue how it works for that show so this might be a very stupid question.

  2. Suzanne Says:

    While I entirely agree that judges march to their own (HIDDEN) drummers, I have a theory about these two terrific pieces. Koi has been done. There is one by someone whose name I cannot remember that has been in one or more national shows, and that probably isn’t radically different from yours. I’ve done one Koi piece and have thoughts of another. I’m sure there are many others who could say the same. OTOH, your Fields of Gold piece is unique. I don’t remember any other that is similar to it. I think that one-of-a-kind angle is very important to judges. Just my theory, but it would explain this conundrum of yours. I love it’s composition with the small piece embedded in the large one. I’ll bet that if your Koi piece were similar in composition, it might have made it in. The apparently hand-dyed fabric, the quilted wheat, and the overall appearance make Fields new and exciting. Great job!

  3. Allie Says:

    I find that amazing too. I LOVE Fields of Gold, and do think it deserves to get in, but consider Koi a real masterpiece. I’m very surprised!

  4. terry grant Says:

    There is something very nicely original about “Fields of Gold” that will appeal to a lot of people–the quilting is great and different from most every other quilts I’ve ever seen. The “framing” with the beautiful hand-dyed fabric–also an unexpected, successful surprise. The Koi quilt is beautiful, but we have seen many beautiful Koi quilts. Not a criticism of the quilt in any way, just an observation.

    Just a guess, but I think if I were jurying, I’d be looking for something I hadn’t seen before.

  5. Valeri Says:

    Both are lovely but Koi has the edge for me though I can see what Terry and Suzanne are saying! Val

  6. Ginny Says:

    I agree — I think that judges look for something distinctive. I have a pieced quilt that was rejected from AQS and IQA/WoB, and I really couldn’t understand why. In retrospect, I realize it probably wasn’t different enough from other submissions for it to have stood out from the pack. (This made me realize that my applique quilts were being accepted but my pieced ones weren’t — so I stopped making pieced quilts.)

    Both of your quilts are beautiful. You should be very proud — and enter Koi in PIQF!

  7. A. Carole Grant Says:

    Sarah, I agree with Suzanne and Terry. Your fields of gold is wonderful and so very different.
    Congratulations on even entering!! And more so on the fat one….

  8. Patty Says:

    They are both beautiful but I can see why fields of gold made it in! It is stunning in its simplicity.

  9. Norma Schlager Says:

    Who knows what’s in the juror’s mind. I had a quilt rejected one year and accepted the following year to win a second place in it’s category. I was surprised that Koi was not accepted the first time. I think it’s a great quilt, as is Fields of Gold. Congrats on getting in.

  10. Sue Andrus Says:

    Congrats on getting the one in!!! It would be great if you can use your beautiful Koi for the teacher’s exhibit… then it could be there anyway 🙂

    Isn’t it great when a piece seems to “happen” and the outcome is so great! That wheat quilting really pulls things together.

  11. Diane D. Says:

    Congratulations, Sarah! Many kudos to you for getting into Houston, but also for having the perseverance to enter the Koi quilt again.

  12. Linda Teddlie Minton Says:

    Congratulations, Sarah! I love both of them, but I will agree with the judges that Fields of Gold is the more unique entry. Your “wheat” quilting is perfect … just enough and not too much. Yippee, I get to see it in person!

  13. Marie Says:

    They are right SB:
    Koi have been done – and more than once – which is not to say that yours is not special. The main thing is that a beautiful, original, best dang quilting ever, piece was accepted. You rock gal – as always! M