Best of Show!

I got an exciting call from Quiltfest in Jacksonville the other night.  They were calling to say that my quilt, Arabian Mystery had been named Best of Show.  To say that I was excited would be an understatement.  And then, they told me that my other quilt, Say It With Flowers, had also received a First Place Ribbon.  Whew!  How much can one heart stand?  Well, I managed--and floated on air the rest of the evening.

The only "downer" for me was that I wasn't able to go to the show this year (which I usually do every year).  We have a family medical issue this year so it just wasn't possible but last night, my friend Janice called me and said that she was standing in front of a beautiful quilt that had a Best of Show ribbon on it and that she was telling everyone there that she knew the quilter who made it.  I tell you, it was almost as good as actually being there!  And so thoughtful of her.

Both of these quilts are my original designs.  So often, people ask me if I draw out the entire design and then start working on it.  I wish that I could say that I was that organized or insightful.  But the truth is that I'm never quite sure where it's going to end up when I begin.  I change placement, colors and designs, take off parts, add others, pick out inches and inches of close quilting.  I just keep at it until it tells me it's done--and hope I'm hearing the right message.  Sometmes, it works like I had hoped it would and sometimes I learn a LOT of lessons about what not to do and what to do next time.  It's a great adventure, isn't it?