"Our" MQX Blue Ribbon Winner!

I spent most of yesterday floating on cloud nine...I have a ton of work today so it's back to reality.  But I DO have some wonderful and exciting news to share...
Remember this quilt I worked on last fall that ribboned at the 2015 Tuscon Quilt Fiesta guild show?  Well it won FIRST place in the Quilts Among Friends category at MQX East!!!

"Better Than Prozac" by Barbara Moran (quilted by me!)

Woohoo way to go Barbara!  That's a mighty fine BLUE ribbon!

I am OVER THE MOON to say the least.  The very best part for this long arm quilter?  MQX is one of the few shows that also awards a ribbon to the quilter as well as the piecer!  I only saw one hanging on the quilt at the show and often times you'll see both hanging right on the quilt...so I double checked with Janet-Lee and she confirmed that I indeed will get a ribbon.  I can't tell you what a big deal that is to me!  It is just so rare to get any recognition as the quilter at all outside of a mention in passing on the description card...and I passionately believe it should be the standard at all shows.  I do a lot of quilting on quilts intended for show, and knowing just how HARD you work as the quilter to likely never see it again...that ribbon is a really stinking big deal to me!

I just finished up an intense custom that if I can I will try and share a few sneaks of.  It's kind of a hush hush quilt so I cannot share full photos.  I'm also finishing up a baby quilt today and have two more really amazing quilts lined up that I'm anxious to share.

WHEEW!  What a busy week!  I'm thrilled to share this exciting news and hope all of you out in blog land are doing well!  It's starting to feel like SPRING!  :)

It's here! My very first Ribbon!

Well if you follow me on Instagram or Facebook - I'm going to apologize ahead of time.  I'm posting yet ANOTHER photo of my ribbon!  I know a lot of my quilting pals have won countless ribbons so it might not be the same thrill...but this is my first ribbon won all with my very own work and I'm pretty proud!  Not to mention it's from a well known national show - a show most of you know and love as much as I do...I mean, I think I might pee....it's from MQX!!!  LOL  Ok ok ok, TMI....but I'm really stinking happy!!!!

I mean, is that a ribbon or is that a ribbon?  I don't even care if it's 3rd place...IT'S A PLACE!!!  Icing on the cake?  I had no idea that this category won a monetary prize - inside of my box was a check from Janet-Lee and Mary for $100!!!!!!!!!  OH MY GAWSH!  I'm over the moon.  I just feel like a million bucks.  :)  :)  :)  Because I'm a quilting girl on a budget and I try to spend my pennies wisely, that $ is going right back into sending another quilt or two off to another show.  Maybe if I'm super lucky my very first ribbon will get a pal to hang out with!

In other news while I'm waiting on a box of quilts to work on from Monica I've been getting the house all ready for fall.  I have had oranges and apples in the oven for the past 11 hours dehydrating for decoration.  I found a few little crafty ideas I'm cleaning up the sewing room so I can get started on - I'll share more tomorrow if all goes well.  I hope all of my pals out in blogland are having a wonderful start to the "eat all things pumpkin" season!!!

- Valerie

My Stockings Won 3rd Place at MQX!!!!!

Woohoo!!  My family and I just came home late last night from an amazing week at Walt Disney World!  We had just the most wonderful time and were able to accomplish just about everything that had set out to do while visiting...and the icing on the cake?  While in Disney I discovered my Heirloom Stockings won 3rd place in the Wearable Accessories category at MQX Midwest!  YAY!!!!!!!!!!  I am so excited!!!!!!  This is the first ribbon I've won for a project that is entirely my own, and to win at MQX is such a huge deal for me.  Not only is it a national level show, but it's one that I've dreamed of participating in.  So many of my quilting idols are regulars at this show - and teach there too!  So it was just surreal to see photos of a ribbon hanging by my stockings!!

I cannot thank the amazing Janet Stone enough (best of show winner I might add!!!) for taking these photos from the show for me...so that I may share with you all!

Below is a shot of Emerald Tapestry - I'm SO bummed that it got such a deep wrinkle in it from shipping!  I'm still new to sending these out, and still trying to find the best way to send them for good presentation.  Same with the stockings...I think in the future I may send them stuffed so they aren't SO flat when they arrive...still, I'm pretty happy!  Emerald Tapestry did not place in the small whole cloth category but I'm still excited that it was accepted and in such amazing company with well known talented quilters.

Here are some of the photos I have shared on this blog in the past of the stockings to give you an idea of what they actually look like.  Sometimes with the lighting and angle of straight on photos you lose some of the detail that makes these quilts so amazing!

I am beyond thrilled to have won my very first ribbon at my very favorite quilt show!  All week after each day of Disney craziness I was dreaming about the current quilt I'm working on and hoping to have ready for MQX East...eeeeep!

I'm still recovering from our week of fun so I'll share photos of our trip on my next post.  Happy quilting!