Urban Inspirations Quilt Show — 2011

Urban Inspirations Quilt Show

March 26 – 27, 2011

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 2011 show!

Quilt Submission Eligibility

Empire Quilters members in good standing by October 15, 2010 will be eligible to submit one or two entries, but only one entry is guaranteed to be hung in the show. Hanging of second quilt will be based on available space and determined by the layout committee. The fee for submission is $20 non-refundable and it is $20 whether you submit one or two quilts. Each member who submits a quilt is required to volunteer a minimum of four hours preceding or during the show.

Quilt Submission Categories

Quilts will be judged against all others in the category — not on a point scale — and there must be a minimum of six quilts in each category before a ribbon is awarded.

100 Traditional Quilts

100–H Hand Quilted by Maker
100–M Machine Quilted by Maker

Quilts based on traditional patterns Pieced and/or Appliquéd, or a combination of pieced and appliqué.

Dimensions: Width: 25" to 90" Length: 25" to 96"

200 Art Quilts

Hand or machine quilted by the maker. Can be pictorial or abstract. Techniques include photo-transfer digital imagery and embellished quilts other than Crazy Quilts. Embellished Quilts must have three-dimensional additions, such as beads, buttons, lace, fibers, etc., that draw major impact from the embellishments, not just subtle additions.

Dimensions: Width: 25" to 90" Length: 25" to 96"

300 Special Techniques

This category includes yo-yo quilts, cathedral windows, whole-cloth quilts or crazy quilts. Crazy quilts and yo-yo quilts do not require quilting but can be tied.

Dimensions: Width: 25" to 90" Length: 25" to 96"

400 Miniature Quilts

All aspects of the quilt are reduced in scale. Any technique. Hand or machine quilted.

Dimensions: Width: 12" to 24" Length: 12" to 24"

500 Group Quilts

Two or more quilters worked on the quilt. One of the quilters must be an Empire Guild Member. Any technique. Hand or machine quilted. Quilts quilted (either hand or machine) for payment MUST be in this category.

Dimensions: Width: 25" to 90" Length: 25" to 96"

Print Quilt Submission Categories (PDF)

See Below for detailed quilt entry rules and submission procedures.

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President's Challenge — Landmarks of New York

SPECIAL NOTICE:
The submission deadline for President's Challenge quilts
has been extended to February 12, 2011.

Posted: May 16, 2010 – In keeping with the theme of a Subway Series, I think it will be wonderful for the challenge quilt to be complimentary to our show quilt. Enjoy yourselves and have fun with it. Prizes will be awarded.

— Paula Kenney
president@empirequilters.net

General Guidelines:

• The challenge theme is Landmarks of New York. The subject should be a recognizable place or thing, otherwise that place or thing should be obvious in the title of the piece.
• Quilt Size: No larger than 18" by 22".
• Media: any media — but this must be a quilted item. You may use any type of quilting, incorporating beads, buttons, paint — it's your quilt, the sky's the limit!

Submission Instructions:

• This form is due at the January 8, 2011 guild meeting, along with a good color photograph of your quilt.
• The color photograph of the presentation side of the quilt should be maked on the back with the quilter's name and quilt title.Please indicate the top of your quilt by placing an "X" in the top front center of the photo. Photographs will not be returned.
• If you want your quilt entered in the competition for the President's Challenge Prize, bring your finished quilt to the March 5, 2011 guild meeting, by 9:00 a.m. Judging will be completed by 1:00 p.m. and quilts must be picked up between 1:00 and 3:00 p.m.
• For the show, quilts must be delivered to the show venue on Friday, March 25, 2011 between 8:00 and 10:00 a.m. After the show quilts must be picked up Sunday, March 27, 2011 between 6:00 and 7:00 p.m.
• There is NO FEE required to submit a President's Challenge Quilt, however volunteer time is required.
• Please refer to the Quilt Entry Rules & Submission Process section for complete details.

Print President's Challenge Quilt Entry Form (PDF)

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Quilt Show Judges

We are delighted to have the participation of two highly-praised and knowledgeable quilt judges for our Urban Inspirations 2011 quilt show.

Pat Yamin

With over 40 years of quilting experience, Pat Yamin has amassed a large collection of antique quit tops and blocks. Her collections are frequently sought after for trunk shows and have been included for exhibition at major shows across the country.

Noted as the inventor of the Brooklyn Revolver (one of the first — and still popular — rotating cutting turntables for quilters), Pat is the founder of the well-known company Come Quilt With Me (comequiltwithme.com). Since the company's mail-order beginnings in 1981, Pat has guided the business to its current status as a major manufacturing concern. Pat's antique quilts serve as a design inspiration for the acrylic templates her company manufactures.

Pat has appeared on numerous television programs, most recently, the American Quilter on Lifetime TV. She has also been a frequent guest on the Martha Stewart Living radio show.

Based in Brooklyn, New York, Pat travels extensively to national quilting events and is frequently asked to Judge, Teach, and Lecture. She has been Judging National Quilt shows and Guilds for over 27 years, and is an active quilt show judge for the Mid Atlantic Quilt Guild Network (MAQGNET) (maqgnet.org)

And last — but certainly not least! — Pat Yamin is a founding member of Empire Quilters an has the distinction of being our guild's very first speaker! We are delighted to have her participation in the Urban Inspirations 2011 quilt show.

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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.

For more information about the NQA certified judges, please visit: nqaquilts.org

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Quilt Judging Criteria

The following criteria will be used when a quilt is being judged:

• General Appearance: Quilt is clean and lies straight; no visible markings, animal hairs, odor, etc.
• Workmanship: Precise piecing; long seams straight; neat appliqué stitches and no puckering; sharp points; smooth curves; matching or blending thread.
• Quilting: Stitches should be consistent and even on top and bottom; no knots, tails, travelers on the back; no surface distortion; balanced tension; no bobbin threads on top; amount of quilting should be sufficient and appropriate for the design.
• 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.
• Special Techniques: Embroidery, embellishments, beading, overlays, trapunto, photo transfers, etc. should be secure, neat, effectively executed, and appropriate to the design.
• 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: Quilting pattern should complement the top design, fill the spaces well, and be consistent in proportion to the top design elements.
  • Degree of Difficulty: complexity of design; innovation.

Print Judging Criteria (and Awards) (PDF)

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Awards to be Presented

The Judging will be done using the elimination method. In the Elimination System, each quilt's strengths and weaknesses are assessed by each judge and noted on a form. After the written evaluation, the quilt is either "held" for possible ribbon placement or released from the competition. Each "held" quilt is looked at again, compared to the other quilts in the category, and ribbons are awarded based on how each quilt compared to its neighbors.

There will be First, Second and Third place ribbons in every category. Honorable Mention ribbons may be awarded. If there are not enough entries in a category, no ribbons for first, second and third place will be awarded. These quilts will be eligible for the Special Awards.

Additionally the following awards will also be presented: Best of Show, Best Original Design, Best Threadwork, Best Pieced Quitlt, Best Hand Appliqué Quilt, Best Machine Appliqué Quilt, Best Hand Quilting (Group Quilts are not eligible for this award), and Best Machine Quilting (Professionally quilted quilts will not be considered for the Best Machine Quilting awards). Please double check these categories.

Each of the two judges will be asked 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 5, 2011 guild meeting.

Print Awards Description (and Judging Criteria) (PDF)

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Quilt Entry Rules & Submission Process

If you have any questions about the quilt submission rules or the quilt submission process, please contact: Barbara Feinstein or Emily Klainberg at quiltshow@empirequilters.net

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

General Information

• Empire Quilters members in good standing as of OCTOBER 15, 2010 are eligible to submit two quilts plus the President's Challenge Quilt for presentation in the show.
• As the presentation space is limited, only one of the two quilts submitted (excluding the President's Challenge) might be displayed. The member should use Section A on the Quilt Entry Form for the quilt they prefer if only one can be displayed, and Section B of the Quilt Entry Form for the second quilt.
• Quilters may choose whether or not to have the quilt(s) judged for the show. ENTRIES ARE LIMITED TO SINGLE QUILTS (i.e., one item) with the body of the quilt made of fabric; no clothing, pillows, or framed/mounted pieces will be accepted.
• Each member who submits a quilt must volunteer a minimum of 4 hours in support of the show. TINA BARTH will be scheduling volunteers for all tasks needed. Volunteer duties and times must be scheduled by January 8, 2011 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.
• Any quilt submitted can have been made at any time.
• Quilts that have appeared in previous Empire Quilters quilt shows may not be submitted to this show.
• Any quilt, but a miniature, submitted must not exceed 93 inches (width) by 96 inches (length) and cannot be smaller than 12 inches (width) by 12 inches (length).
• Miniature quilts cannot be smaller than 8" x 8" and larger than 24" by 24". They MUST be a scaled down version of a full sized quilt.
• Each quilt must have a minimum 4 inch wide hanging sleeve attached on the back, and must have a label with quilt title, quilter's name, phone number and/or address and/or email address. QUILTS WITHOUT A LABEL WILL NOT BE JUDGED. QUILTS WITHOUT A LABEL AND A SLEEVE WILL NOT BE HUNG IN THE SHOW.
• Quilts must be hand or machine quilted. Tied quilts, Comforters, and pre-quilted fabrics will not be considered.
• QUILTS MAY BE EMBELLISHED with 3 DIMENSIONAL ADDITIONS, SUCH AS BUTTONS, BEADS, FABRIC ORIGAMI, LACE, HOT FIX CRYSTALS, FIBERS, ETC. SHARP (POTENTIALLY DAMAGING) OBJECTS ARE NOT ALLOWED. EMPIRE QUILTERS IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR EMBELLISHMENTS ON YOUR QUILT. PLEASE MAKE SURE THEY ARE WELL SECURED.
• ALL QUILTS MUST BE CLEAN, UNDAMAGED AND ODOR FREE IN ORDER TO BE JUDGED AND/OR SHOWN. EMPIRE QUILTERS RESERVES THE RIGHT TO OMIT AN ENTRY FROM JUDGING OR DISPLAY IF THE QUALITY OR CONDITION DOES NOT MEET STANDARDS UPON HANDS-ON INSPECTION.
• Each QUILT MUST ARRIVE FOR HANGING IN its own PILLOWCASE CLOTH BAG. THE BAG MUST BE LABELLED WITH YOUR NAME, PHONE NUMBER AND/OR EMAIL ADDRESS and THE NAME OF THE QUILT (A picture of the quilt on the pillowcase would be helpful but not required). NO EXTERNAL HARDWARE or wrappings other than the cloth bag WILL BE ACCEPTED AND THERE WILL BE NO SPECIAL HANDLING OF QUILTS. NO EXTERNAL HARDWARE WILL BE ACCEPTED. NO RIGID FRAMES, MOUNTING DEVICES OR SPECIAL LIGHTING WILL BE ALLOWED.
• 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.
• On-site security will be provided in the exhibit area from Friday, March 25 through Sunday, March 27, 2011, as well as on quilt judging weekend, Saturday March 5 and Sunday March 6, 2011; however insurance will be the responsibility of the quilt owner; be sure to check your Homeowner's Insurance Policy. THE EMPIRE QUILTERS GUILD AND/OR F.I.T. WILL NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE LOSS OR DAMAGE OF ANY QUILT.
• ANY RIBBON WITHIN A CATEGORY MAY NOT BE AWARDED. IT IS THE JUDGES' DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO AWARD ALL RIBBONS WITHIN A CATEGORY.

Member Quilt Entry Form Instructions:

• Section A and Section C must be filled out completely for every entry. Complete Section B ONLY if you are submitting a second quilt.
• Entry Form Item #1: Each quilt must be constructed and quilted by the Empire Quilters member named in Item #1 on the entry form, except in the "Group" category, in which case all persons who participated in the construction and quilting, whether by hand or machine, should be listed in the Group Category area of the form. Guild Members should be identified by putting an "EG" after their name. Person(s) or Business that quilted the quilt should be identified by putting a "Q" after their name. For Group Quilts the name of the member submitting the quilt is entered here.
• Entry Form Item #2: Please enter the best telephone number for us to reach you if we have a question about your quilt entry.
• Entry Form Item #3: Please give your quilt a title. This title will appear in the printed show program and on the quilt's label in the show.
• Entry Form Item #4: Quilt Category.
  • Indicate the size category for your quilt. Note that there is only one general size category for all quilts except miniatures.
  • Quilts that belong in the "Other Techniques" category include: Crazy Patchwork, Cathedral Windows, whole-cloth, nontraditional fused appliqué, yo-yo, fabric manipulations, etc.
• Quilting Method:
  • A quilt is considered "Hand" quilted if it is more than 50% quilted by hand.
  • A quilt is (self) "Machine" quilted if it is more than 50% quilted by the quilt maker listed in Item #1 of the entry form.
  • Quilts that contain nearly equal amounts of both hand and (self) machine quilting can be entered as either a "Hand" quilted or "Machine" quilted method.
  • If the quilt is "professionally" quilted (for payment and/or barter), it belongs in the Group Category. Write the professional quilter's name on the Entry form. Note that professionally quilted quilts are not eligible for Best of Show and Best Machine Quilting awards.
• Entry Form Item #9: Description. Please discuss in 30 words or less your creative process, inspiration, etc. for quilt show label.
• Quilts will not be judged if the member has not scheduled his/her volunteer hours. Refer to the Volunteer Opportunities document (available on the guild website and at guild meetings) for sample job choices.
• President's Challenge Entry Form: If you are entering a quilt in the President's Challenge, complete all fields on the President's Challenge application form.

Submission Procedure and Schedule

• Enclose one color photograph of the whole quilt (no people, pets or close-ups) for each quilt entry. The photograph can be on non-photographic paper. Drawings, mock-ups, etc. will not be accepted. Your entry will be rejected if there is no photograph. Please put your name and name of the quilt on the back of the photograph. Please indicate the top of your quilt by placing an 'X' in the top front center of the photo. Photographs will not be returned.
• The non-refundable entry fee for either one or two quilts is $20. There is no entry fee for the President's Challenge quilt.
• Completed forms, photographs, and the $20 entry fee are to be handed in at the January 8, 2011 Empire Quilters guild meeting, or mailed to: Empire Quilters, Old Chelsea Station, and P.O. Box 1293, New York, NY 10113. Mailed entry forms must have a postmark date no later than January 12, 2011. The entry tables will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on January 8, 2011, BUT no entries will be accepted during the meeting (1:00 p.m. – end of meeting p.m.)
• Quilts will be judged during the Saturday, March 5, 2011 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 between 7:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 5, 2011. Quilters will receive receipts for their quilts. A quilt will not be accepted for judging if you are not on line for submission by 9:30 a.m.
• Judged quilts must be picked up on Sunday, March 6, 2011 between 1:00 and 3:00 p.m. You will need your receipt in order to pick up your quilt. If you cannot pick up your quilt, please indicate on the receipt who will be picking up your quilt. That person must come with ID so we can verify he/she is the person you named as the responsible party for picking up your quilt.
• Empire Quilters guild will not be responsible for any loss or damage if judged quilts are not retrieved on Sunday, March 6, 2011.
• A quilt will NOT be judged if the category for the quilt has changed. (e.g.: The quilt was registered in January as hand quilted and when it is brought in for judging, it has been machine quilted.) The quilt CAN be hung in the show as a non-judged piece.
• For quilt show display: Quilts must be delivered to the show venue on Friday March 25, 2011 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.
• After the show: Quilts must be picked up Sunday, March 27, 2011 between 6:00 and 7:00 p.m. Quilters must bring their receipts in order pick up their quilts. If you cannot pick up your quilt, please indicate on the receipt who will be picking up your quilt. That person must come with ID so we can verify he/she is the person you named as the responsible party for picking up your quilt. Empire Quilters will not be responsible for any loss or damage if quilts are not retrieved on Sunday, March 27, 2011.
• IF YOUR QUILT IS NOT ACCEPTED OR NOT DELIVERED FOR HANGING THERE WILL BE NO REFUNDS OF ENTRY FEES.
• Each entrant is responsible to insure their entry. Every effort will be made to assure your entry's safety but the Chairpersons, Empire Quilters or FIT will not be held liable for loss or damage to your entry.

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

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Hanging Sleeve Requirement

All quilts submitted for the show must have a minimum 4-inch wide hanging sleeve attached on the back. Instructions for one method of creating a sleeve can be found Here. Ready-made sleeves are acceptable (and very handy!). They are available at local quilt shops, or can be ordered online. Search or ask for Quilters Hangup manufactured by quiltershangup.com.

Print Hanging Sleeve Instructions (PDF)

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