QBI-The Quiet Beauty of the Imperfect
I completed this quilt months ago and it juried into QuiltCon 2016 in Pasadena in February. This is one of my all-time favorite quilts. Its beauty may not come off well in my photos but it is a quiet quilt. Quiet quilts do not tend to do well at shows or in competition.
This is probably my favorite quilt to hold in my hands. It is feather light and very drapey. The quilting gives it a texture that is delightful against the skin or to rub your fingers over. As I hold it in my hands it just simply delights me.
There is a message behind this quilt and its title: QBI (The Quiet Beauty of the Imperfect). It’s a personal message for me. I love the imperfect. It’s a preference. There is beauty in both the perfect and the imperfect. I love to hold things that are beautiful and revel in their imperfections.
There is a trend in the judged quilting world towards striving for perfection. It is rewarded by the judges. There is a lot of skill and art in that.
There is also a trend in the domestic sit-down machine (dsm) world to make our quilts mimic long-arm work. That is not for me. I will occasionally use a ruler if for some reason I want a dead-straight line. But I have no desire to do curved cross-hatching, perfectly straight lines, perfectly formed ovals or circles. Nope, not for me. At least right now…
Now hear me: Every quilter builds their own quilting world. I do. You do. In MY quilting world, dead-straight lines do not fill me with joy. I don’t want my work to look like it has been long-armed. I delight in the simple, quiet pleasure of my domestic sit-down machine. I do not hold a secret desire for a long-arm machine…even if I had the room…and the money, etc. That’s my world.
So QBI was hatched from my appreciation of imperfection. My design inspiration came from Yoshiko Jinjenzi’s book, “Quilt Artistry”. I was smitten by her white whole cloth baby quilt onto which she hand-quilted designs that mimic patchwork, and then added an adorable Prairie-Point edging. Such simple beauty.
From there I decided to create a white whole cloth quilt with 7″ squares with 1″ sashing in between each square. It’s an odd size, 7″, but that was the maximum size of block I could quilt relatively straight lines in. Any larger block would have had seriously wavy lines. And all of this was faux because it was whole cloth-there was no piecing. I wanted each square to be different, so I set about creating different designs for each of the 20 squares. Then I added a 5″ faux border with a more improvisational quilting plan.
A disturbing event occurred along the way to this quilt hanging in QuiltCon. I received my acceptance letter in December. QuiltCon is the most difficult of all quilt shows if you go by numbers-there were something like 1800 entries for less than 400 acceptances (if you have exact numbers, write me and I’ll correct it). I know that to be way more than Houston or Paducah. So I was accepted-whoop!
A month later, I’m teaching at Craft Napa and I open an email while on break titled “QuiltCon Entry Issue with QBI”. The email stated that there was a problem with my entry, as it was determined that my quilt was copied from a pattern. I needed to get permission from the artist and only then would QBI be allowed to hang!!! I was flabbergasted, insulted, angry, embarrassed, humiliated and indignant. I felt as though I were labeled a poser, a thief, a fraud. This is a MONTH after my acceptance!
I limped through the day and composed a short e-mail simply expressing my confusion with what had just happened. I received an email early the next day with this first line: “I made a mistake and sent you the incorrect email. Please disregard my previous email with the subject line “QuiltCon Entry Issues” and accept my sincerest apologies.” The rest of the email contained a form letter about how to send my quilt, dates, etc. No explanation. What happened? I’ll never know.
That was one of the worst feelings I have ever had in the quilt world. Someone thought I was copying someone else’s work and calling it my own!
One of the hardest of all things to do when quilting on a dsm is to quilt a straight line. So I knew my lines would have wobbles. I did mark some of the lines in each square or it truly would have been a mess. When I first started quilting this, I knew that initially I would be cringing over each bobble. But I also knew that as the imperfections grew, the more purposeful they would look and I would achieve that “perfectly imperfect” look.
So this is a quiet piece. You have to slow down to appreciate it. When you move it around you see different patterns of shadow. I love that. Also I love how the cotton shrank when it was washed, leaving randomly dispersed wrinkles. Hmmm, kinda reminds me of myself.
I haven’t had it professionally photographed yet so it’s not the best representation of the quilt. White is really hard to photograph, for me at least. Coincidentally I am driving to the Bay area tomorrow to try a new photographer. Wish me luck! I did not want to wait to post about this quilt as it has been a long time since I posted anything personal about my quilting world. I still have one or two more quilts that I have not yet written about.
Next week I will be teaching at the International Quilt Festival Chicago. My classes have filled up nicely with one completely full. After the show I will get to see my future daughter-in-law, and then my son and I will drive to central Illinois to visit with my Aunt. We will stop by my hometown to see an old high school friend before my son drops me off at O’Hare. I’m excited!!
I’ll be linking up with Nina-Marie’s Off the Wall Friday. If you haven’t checked it out you should-there are some excellent links every week.
Lovely! I have always felt as you do . I can see the beauty in imperfection as many others I don’t believe do so. I REALLY enjoy reading your post . I don’t alwYs have the time and very rarely comment. Thank you for taking the time to write them. It’s great to hear about another quilters. Journey.
Thank you for that lovely comment Lori. I do enjoy blogging and hearing from others quilters like yourself. It’s my journey and it’s fun to share. Thank you for following! It’s nice to hear that someone else truly appreciates teh imperfect.
A beautiful piece…a beautiful peace. Thank you.
Oh I like that-“beautiful peace”! Thank you Margaret!!
The letter you received put a lump in my throat! I can imagine how you felt that day. So glad it all smoothed out. It’s a knock-out quilt Jenny. Wishing you a great trip.
Can you imagine? I’m teaching and take a break to check e-mail and find that! But all that is in the past. Thank you for the well wishes. I am excited about this trip.
Dear Jenny, You are such an elegant lady!! This Imperfect quilt is wonderful as are almost all of your quilts. Have a wonderful time in Chicago with family and friends. Is it possible that you could still take “Best in Show”! Your admiring friend, Loretta.
Oh my thank you Loretta! Elegant is something I’m rarely called, giggle. I’m not in competition in Chicago, just teaching but I will probably enter QBI again somewhere. Thank you for the vote of confidence!
Gorgeous quilt and amazing story. It gives me permission to let me be myself and not be perfect. Thanks!
Oh PLEASE be imperfect and enjoy it Chris!! You want your quilting world to be one you created, that gives you joy. If imperfect gives you joy, go for it!
Thank you for this quiet moment.
Of course I’m left wondering what is perfect in your world, if this is “imperfect!”
But I accept what you say.
And I like your emphasis on the process – your world of the dsm.
Oh I’m glad you enjoyed a quiet moment Marty! It really is imperfect-lots and lots of bobbles and wavy lines. Really. Because it all blends in the eye does not focus but no matter where you look on the quilt you will see a bobble. Meh!
I absolutely love this quilt! You have caught a kind of Japanese feeling about it…lovely in its slight imperfections, but still clearly well executed. I also like slight imperfections and I think the drive to perfection has become way too extreme in the judging of competitions. In doing so, there has been a loss of appreciation for the beauty wrought by hand work, where “hand work” means someone makes the quilt and not a machine. It is only appreciated in antique quilts or quilts made entirely by hand apparently. It also seems to bypass the artistic passion that shows up in quilts like this one…a beautiful work indeed. Best wishes for your class in IQF next week. Cheers.
Thank you Betty Jo! I was inspired by Yoshiko Jinzenji and I love that beautiful, edited style. I do enjoy perfection too (or almost perfection) but I revel in the beauty of the imperfect. I am looking forward to Chicago!!
What a beautiful post about your ‘process’ The quilt is beautiful. Every quilt that is created is a winner. It’s a bonus when it’s accepted into such an amazing show. When friends ask if it’s ‘good enough’ to enter into a show, I always answer “Absolutely – you are sharing a beautiful gift with all the quilters who will get to see it”. Ribbons are wonderful, but judging is biased, no matter how objective they try to be. Quilters are such a supportive, generous community, and your post supports that feeling. Thank you for sharing the ups (and downs) with all of us. Very inspiring.
Oh I SO agree Diane! In my local guild there are many very talented, award-winning quilters. I will hear a beginning quilter say she won’t enter her quilt. I tell her I remember when I first started quilting and I would come to the show and be blown away. But I also reveled in and was encouraged by the normal, beautiful quilts too. I agree every completed quilt is a win. My message is “you build your own quilting world”. Thank you for the comment.
I couldn’t help but think how much a sight impaired person would enjoy your quilt. Its lightness and texture would add dimensions of delight. All too often show quilts give off a look but don’t touch vibe. Yours doesn’t. And it could be enjoyed in the dark.
Huh, never thought of it that way. What a thoughtful comment! I think there’s room for the exquisite, no-touch quilts too, just not my thang. Thank you so much for your comments Joanna!
I love the simplicity of this quilt! What batting and fabric combination did you use to make it so drapey? I suspect the regularity of the quilting contributed to the drapes effect, also.
By the way, I finally received my “Quilter’s Newsletter”. Congratulations on a well-written article. It was very easy to understand. I look forward to trying your technique.
Thank you Kay. I used wool batting and cotton sateen. And yes, the evenness of the quilting helped to make it drapey. I am glad you enjoyed my article! It was my first-wheee! It’s a fun, forgivable technique.
beautiful quilt, I really appreciate your sharing of your journey of quilting, you are so very clear and articulate. Question, what are the differences to be seen between long-arm and domestic quilting, I meant to ask last time you mentioned this…thanks.
You’re welcome Suzanne. I enjoy the conversation with other quilters. Long arm quilters use a more industrial machine and the quilt is mounted on rollers. The quilter moves the machine and the quilt stays stationary. I pulled a random YouTube that shows one working: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNSxs8WVCz8 You see him actually quilting at the 8 minute mark. And with a domestic sit down like I use, it’s a regular sewing machine and I move the quilt and the machine is stationary. Big difference! Thank you for commenting!
Hi Jenny and Suzanne,
In defense of Long Arm Quilters – not everyone uses the Pantographs shown in the video, though it is a tool some choose. I am a long arm quilter, but do all my work freehand. Some quilt designs are repeated all over the top, but I much prefer to do custom, which appears more similar to domestic machine work. There are also some LAers who use computerized designs. Not my personal choice, as I also prefer ‘less perfect’. I found I couldn’t manage to do larger quilts (anything much bigger than twins) on my domestic sewing machine. I know many domestic quilters can do a great job on even king quilts, but it was just too taxing for my body. Neither is ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ – it’s just a different technique – both take practice to get good results. Hope that adds a bit more clarification to Jenny’s response.
Oh Diane, I just googled long arm and that was the first video that showed up. I did not mean it to represent how most long armers do it. And panto have their place too of course because many quilters cannot afford custom work so pantos are great for them. And computerized designs-lot of skill there to get it to fit, choose or create a design compatible with the quilt, etc. I have respect and admiration for it all. I have my little quilting world and everyone else has theirs. Let’s kumbaya, giggle! Thank you for joining in on the conversation.
I believe there were about 360-380 entries accepted into Quiltcon but I may be wrong. I absolutely love your quilt, I’m a great believer in the imperfect also, I have that Yoshiko Jinzenji book and I enjoy looking at all the quilts in it, they are quite calming to look at.
In our quilt show this year we are promotion the concept “it is an exhibition NOT a competition” as we want everyone to feel they can enter their quilt no matter what their skill level.
I quilt on a sit-down machine as well and I feel the one great advantage that a long-arm machine has is that there is a better view of the quilt as you quilt it, whereas we who quilt on the sit-down machine are limited to the part of the quilt that is under the needle, of course we can take it out and look at it but I do envy the long armers occasionally :)
Thank you Pip-I’ll add that stat to the post. Sounds like you are a part of a great guild. Ribbons or not, I hope quilters understand that when they show their quilts, it adds beauty to the world. It’s not about the ribbons! And yes, sigh, sometimes I wish I could see what I was quilting a little bit better. Nice comments!
thanks for always being so open and sharing
You’re welcome LeeAnna-I appreciate that you continue to read my blog!
I find your thoughts calming and sane……..so unlike I would be after creating that beauty!
LOL! I have to say it was weird doing all straight lines. I got into it afterwhile. It actually became somewhat zen-like.
Jenny… this is a stunning effort on your behalf and you are right to be very proud. Mistakes happen and the Quilt Con folks should be more than apologetic for sending the “not really YOUR quilt” letter- and someone should have called you personally! I am surprised. I would love to see the quilt in person… wha a joy THAT would be! I have had fun exploring your blog archives and can certainly see many reasons to stay!
Many congrats, best wishes on the Blog Hop piece and I am now following your blog… really terrific all around!
Bethany in Kingston, ON
Thank you for your thoughtful comments Bethany. I let the QuiltCon thing go. I know sometimes you can be in a very awkward position when something like that happens. I suspect they really couldn’t explain what happened without raising even more questions so I think of it as a “sleeping-dogs-lie” kind of a situation. Glad you enjoy the blog-I’m just stumbling along in my own journey!
Yeah, that letter from QuiltCon in the middle of a teaching day–my stomach churns just thinking about it. I saw your quilt at QuiltCon, and I am usually very good about reading the labels, but somehow I missed that it was your work! I looked at it quite a long time, and really liked it. Thanks for sharing the back story–that same book has had a big influence on me, and now I need to get it back out and be inspired again!
Thank you Debby-I’m thrilled that you appreciated it and pondered it. It did not get a whole lot of traffic. I could see you being inspired by Yoshiko’s book!
Hi Jenny, I know exactly how you felt after getting that email. Years ago I sent a quilt to a magazine and they expressed delight in wanting to print it in their magazine, would I please send instructions how to make it etc etc. I was over the moon, then came ‘the letter’ It had been deemed by a member of their staff that I had copied ** work so they would not know be using my quilt. Like you I went through all the emotions, then wrote back that I had never even heard of ** that I had been doing this since way back when and sent them a date of when I first did this on one of my blogs.
Grovelling apology arrived and my quilt got printed and I got paid, but it left a nasty taste in my mouth that they couldn’t have checked with me first. I still don’t know this ** and I refuse to look at her books or advertising as it brings it all back. Whether we work the same, who knows?
Anyway Jenny many congrats on getting into that BIG show, I hope you knock their socks off. You deserve it,
jan mcelroy
Oh Janet that is awful! There really is a thing that I call “simultaneous creativity” meaning one person in one corner of the world and another person elsewhere are creating similar work but have not been influenced by the other. The funny thing about all of this is that when people see similarities, they assume that the name they may not have heard of is copying the famous one. I am so sorry that happened to you. It really does pierce the heart. I know it’s “just” a quilt, but our work is our heart and soul and when someone accuses us of copying, it is difficult to handle. Thank you for the comment and kind words. Keep on doing the beautiful thing that you do!!!!!