Is a machine quilted quilt the finest example of machine technique and style mastery in the show? Are the quilting stitches and patterning on a hand quilted quilt the best done by hand in the show? When quilts of differing styles are competing for “Best of Show” top honors, much weight is given to whether each quilt is a better and more masterfully executed example within it’s own style and technique than the others. It’s not the actually techniques or style that’s compared, it’s the artist’s mastery of the technique or style. I would say a point system makes this assessment easier for the judges to make that final call.

Even understanding how it all works, I have never wanted to be a quilt judge, nor do I envy them their task.

Perhaps the biggest problem crazy quilters face is the same one that art quilters faced years ago: basic acceptance that their work is actually “quilts.” I’m not sure that the CQ community wouldn’t be better served by doing what the art quilt community has done, and start dedicated CQ shows, if there aren’t any out there already (not being a CQ’er, maybe I missed it and there already is one).

I know there is a huge vendor section at Houston each year called Embellishment (or was? now that I’m looking for it, I can’t see that they’re doing that this year. ) . I think it would be great to have that show stand on it’s own, with a judged show just for crazy quilts and related art. Having said all that, there will always be quilters and artists producing art that is not mainstream, and tends to get short shrift or fall through the cracks in the average quilt show or contest.

Thanks for stopping by Pat! Your comments were thought provoking, obviously. Good luck with your crazy quilts, and your book. You do beautiful work!