Urban Inspirations Quilt Show — 2009

Urban Inspirations Quilt Show

March 21 – 22, 2009

Fashion Institute of Technology (F.I.T.)
28th Street at Seventh Avenue
New York City

Quilt Entry

On this page you will find information about submitting quilts for the show — including submission categories, judging criteria and details about the submission process.

You must be a member of Empire Quilters to enter a quilt in the show. For information about becoming a member, please visit the Membership page. If you are not (yet!) a member, we hope you will join us. We will welcome your participation in the guild and in the Urban Inspirations 2009 show!

Quilt Categories

Empire Quilters members should be working on their quilts. We encourage members to plan to submit quilt to the show. The more quilts from members, the better our show! Details on the entry rules and submission process can be found further down on this page. Here are some general guidelines for quilts:

SUBMISSION CATEGORIES:
• Hand quilted: pieced, appliqué, mixed, pictorial
• (Self) Machine quilted: pieced, appliqué, mixed, pictorial
• Professionally quilted: pieced, appliqué, mixed, pictorial
• Other Techniques — including, but not limited to, yo-yo quilts, fabric manipulations, whole cloth, cathedral windows, painted cloth, crazy patchwork, nontraditional fused appliqué
• Group Quilts — including, but not limited to, round robin quilts, quilts made by one person and quilted by another. To be eligible for a prize all work must be done by current members Empire Quilters. All members of the Group must be named on the submission form.
• President's Quilt Challenge (details below)

QUILT SIZES:
• Any Quilt submitted must not exceed 93 inches wide by 100 inches high (roughly queen size) For judging, quilts will be grouped into the following size categories:
• Large quilts: 60–90 inches (width) by 80–100 inches (height)
• Small quilts: 25–60 inches (width) by 25–80 inches (height)
• Miniature quilts: 24 inches maximum (width) by 24 inches maximum (height)
• Group quilts: up to 93 inches (width) by 100 inches (height). All Group quilts will be judged together regardless of size.
• Other Techniques: up to 93 inches (width) by 100 inches (height). All Other Techniques quilts will be judged together regardless of size.

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President's Challenge — Color My World

In keeping with the bright colors of our 2009 Show Quilt — Broadway Jane — I’m proposing a colorful challenge for the members for the 2009 Show that I hope will bring our a child-like enthusiasm and sense of possibilities.

Select a color from a box of crayons. Then use this as the focal point for your quilt. You could chose to use the color as the principal color in your quilt, or use the name of the color as a theme. The title of your quilt must include the crayon color name.

GENERAL GUIDELINES:
• Quilt Size: not to exceed 22 inches on any side.
• Media: any media — but this must be a quilted item.

— Jennifer Bigelow
president@empirequilters.net

SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS:
• The President's Challenge Quilt Entry Form is due at the January 10, 2009 guild meeting: ›› President's Challenge Quilt Entry Form (PDF)
• If you want your quilt entered in the competition for the President’s Challenge Prize, bring your finished quilt — along with a good color photograph of your quilt — to the March 7, 2009 guild meeting.
• If you do not want your quilt entered in the competition for the President’s Challenge Prize, bring a good color photograph of your quilt to the March 7, 2009 guild meeting so the quilt show lay-out committee can plan where to hang your quilt in the show.
• Your color photograph of the presentation side of the quilt should be marked on the back with the quilter’s name, quilt title, contact phone number, as well as the quilt’s width by length in inches. Please indicate which side of the quilt hangs at the top. Photographs will not be returned. If you do not have a good photo, please bring your quilt to the March 7, 2009 guild meeting and we will take one.
• Refer to the Quilt Entry Rules & Submission Process section (below) for additional information.

The President's Challenge Quilt Entry Form (required for participation in this challenge) will be distributed to guild members at the September 13, 2008 guild meeting. It can also be downloaded here: ›› President's Challenge Quilt Entry Form (PDF)

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Submitting A Quilt: Entry Rules and Submission Process

Your judging committee has worked hard to make this submission process easy and clear. These guidelines are available in print at guild meetings or can be downloaded here in PDF Format. If you have any questions about the quilt entry rules, quilt categories, or quilt submission process, contact one of the members of the judging committee: Joan Hellmann, Marilyn Korn, or Jennifer Bigelow. You can email the committee at info@empirequilters.net.

›› Quilt Entry Rules and Submission Process (PDF)
›› Quilt Entry Form (PDF)

GENERAL INFORMATION:

1. Empire Quilters members in good standing as of January 10, 2009 are qualified to submit quilts for presentation in the show. We welcome new members! See the Membership page for a membership application form.
2. Each qualified member may submit a President’s Challenge quilt entry.
3. Each qualified member may submit up to 2 other quilts for the show. As the presentation space is limited, only one of the quilts submitted might be displayed. The member should use Section A on the Entry Form for the quilt they prefer if only one can be displayed, and Section B of the Entry Form for the second quilt.
4. Each member who submits a quilt must volunteer a minimum of 4 hours in support of the show. Barbara Feinstein and Emily Klainberg will be scheduling volunteers for all tasks needed. Volunteer duties and times must be scheduled by March 7, 2009, or the member’s quilt(s) will not be hung in the show. Members who do not fulfill their scheduled volunteer duties will be disqualified from submitting a quilt in the subsequent guild quilt show.
5. Any quilt submitted can have been made at any time.
6. Quilts that have appeared in previous Empire Quilters quilt shows may not be submitted to this show.
7. Incomplete, torn or soiled items will not qualify for entry.
8. Any quilt submitted must not exceed 93 inches (width) by 100 inches (length). This is roughly Queen-size.
9. Each quilt must have a 4-inch wide hanging sleeve attached on the back, and must have a label with quilt title, quilter’s name and other pertinent information.
10. Quilters may choose whether or not to have the quilt judged for the show.
11. Quilts must be hand or machine quilted. Tied quilts or comforters, and pre-quilted fabrics will not be considered.
12. By entering the show, photographic permission is granted to Empire Quilters and its designated photographer(s) for publications, advertisements, or promotional material, in printed and/or electronic format. Additionally visitors are granted permission to photograph works for their personal use only.
13. On-site security will be provided in the exhibit area from Friday, March 20 through Sunday, March 22, 2009 as well as on quilt judging weekend, Saturday March 7 and Sunday March 8, 2009, however insurance will be the responsibility of the quilt owner; be sure to check your Homeowner’s Insurance Policy.

QUILT ENTRY FORM:

Quilt Entry Forms are required, and are due at the January 10, 2009 guild meeting, or may be mailed in with a postmark no later than January 12, 2009. Entry forms are available at guild meetings, or can be downloaded here: ›› Quilt Entry Form (PDF)

Instructions for completing the form are included in the Quilt Entry Rules document, which can be picked up at guild meetings or downloaded here:

›› Quilt Entry Rules and Submission Process (PDF)

SUBMISSION PROCEDURE AND SCHEDULE:

1. A good color photograph of the presentation side of the quilt, marked on the back with the quilter’s name, quilt title, contact phone number, as well as the quilt’s width by length in inches, must accompany each entry form. Please indicate which side of the quilt hangs at the top. Photographs will not be returned. If you do not have a good photo, please bring your quilt with your submission form and we will take one.
2. The non-refundable entry fee for either one or two quilts is $20. There is no entry fee for the President’s Challenge quilt.
3. Completed forms, photographs, and the $20 entry fee are to be handed in at the January 10, 2009 Empire Quilters guild meeting, or mailed to: Empire Quilters, Old Chelsea Station, P.O. Box 1293, New York, NY 10113. Mailed entry forms must have a postmark date no later than January 12, 2009.
4. Quilts will be judged during the Saturday, March 7, 2009 monthly Empire Quilters guild meeting in our normal meeting location: Fashion Institute of Technology (F.I.T.), David Dubinsky Student Center (Building “A”), 8th Floor, 27th Street near 8th Avenue, New York City.
   • Quilts to be judged must be brought on site by 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 7, 2009. Quilters will receive receipts for their quilts.
   • Judged quilts should be picked up on Sunday, March 8, 2009 between 1:00 and 3:00 p.m. You will need your receipt in order to pick up your quilt.
   • Empire Quilters guild will not be responsible for any loss or damage if judged quilts are not retrieved on Sunday, March 8, 2009.
5. For quilt show display: Quilts must be delivered to the show venue on Friday March 20, 2009 between 8:00 and 10:00 a.m. The entrance to the show venue is on 28th Street just west of Seventh Avenue. The building is marked Conference Center.
6. After the show: Quilts need to be picked up Sunday, March 22, 2009 between 6:00 and 7:00 p.m. Quilters must bring their receipts in order pick up their quilts. Empire Quilters guild will not be responsible for any loss or damage if quilts are not retrieved on Sunday, March 22, 2009.

›› Quilt Entry Rules and Submission Process (PDF)
›› Quilt Entry Form (PDF)

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Show Judges

We are delighted to have the participation of two highly-praised and knowledgeable National Quilting Association (NQA) certified quilt judges for our Urban Inspirations 2009 quilt show.

Sandra Dorrbecker

Sandra Dorrbecker is an NQA (National Quilting Association) certified teacher and quilt judge with extensive experience in judging quilt shows and garment competitions. In 2006 Sandra was a member of the first judging team for the $100,000 Quilt Challenge. She is an award winning quilter in both hand and machine work, and has been active in several quilt organizations. Sandra has been teaching and lecturing on quilting topics since 1989, and her work has been seen in Traditional Quilter, Threads, Country Living, Patchwork Quilt Senka (Japan), Quilting International, Quilters Newsletter and Quiltmaker Magazine.

Mary Walter

Mary Walter has had a fascination with fabric as a medium of artistic creativity all of her life. She is currently the curator of the New England Quilt Museum in Lowell, Massachusetts. Mary is an award-winning quilter and designer who has published dozens of original patterns. She has curated several quilt exhibits, and was the owner-operator of A Quilter's Garden in Southborough, Massachusetts, for ten years. Mary was a founding member of Women Who Run With Scissors, a group of contemporary art quilters, and is also a member of the New England Fiber Collective in Boston, Massachusetts. Mary is also an NQA (National Quilting Association) certified quilt judge.

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Judging and Awards

Awards

Judging will be done using a point system that requires quilts to receive a certain number of points in order to be considered for an award. One First Place (blue), one Second Place (red) and one Third Place (white) ribbon will be awarded in each category, as long as the quilts meet the minimum number of points required for awards. Honorable Mention ribbons may also be awarded in each category. Awards may not be given in all categories. In the case of a tie, two ribbons will be awarded.

Additionally the following awards will also be presented: Best of Show, Best Traditional, Most Innovative, Best Use of Color, Best Threadwork, Best Pieced Quilt, Best Hand Appliqué Quilt, Best Machine Appliqué Quilt, Best Mixed­Technique Quilt, Best Pictorial Quilt, Best Hand Quilting, and Best Machine Quilting. (Professionally quilted quilts will not be considered for the Best of Show, or Best Machine Quilting awards.)

We will ask each of the two judges to award a Judge’s Choice award, and show attendees will be able to vote for Viewer’s Choice.

There will be one ribbon awarded for the winner of the President’s Challenge, which will be decided by the guild President at the March 7, 2009 guild meeting.

Judging

Quilts will be evaluated and given points using the following criteria:

GENERAL APPEARANCE
• Quilt is clean and lies straight; no visible markings, animal hairs, etc.

DESIGN:
• Color: harmonious; good value contrast; makes an overall statement; sets a mood.
• Design: has good balance; pleasing graphics; all elements in proportion.
• Quilting Design: amount of quilting sufficient; motifs enhance overall design.
• Degree of Difficulty: complexity of design; innovation.

WORKMANSHIP:
• Precise piecing, long seams straight, neat appliqué stitches, sharp points, smooth curves, matching or blending thread.
• Quilting: stitches small and even on top and bottom; no knots, tails, travelers on the back; no surface distortion; balanced tension; no bobbin threads on top; consistent stitch length.
• Finishing: Edges straight, no ripples. Binding smooth and even; all corners treated in the same manner; batting goes all the way to the edge. Non-bound quilts: smooth, no loose threads unless consistent with design, no unraveled ends unless consistent with design.

›› Judging Criteria & Awards List (PDF)

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Important Dates

›› Print This Listing of Important Dates (PDF)

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