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!

Emerald Tapestry is Headed to MQX!

  The list was posted late last night - Emerald Tapestry is going to MQX Midwest in Springfiled, Illinois!  Woohoo!  I am thrilled!  I do not want to share the entire quilt until after judging...but here are a few snippets...