I believe there are two kinds of professional quilters.
Like Eileen says there are longarm professional quilters (me being one also) that try to make a living finishing quilts for others.
But there are many people who do longarm or short arm machine quilts to enter quilt shows yearly, these are people who are artists in their own right. They mainly work for themselves, you know the creative artists who do not need patterns. These are people like Ricky - Alex- Sharon - Anita - Karen Mctavish(Karen does work for customers as well) and the list goes on. These highly talented people also work very hard at being precise, their quality is at a standard of Gods. Like the Gods they are willing to share their time and secrets with us merely human beings.
To this I end with "we are who we are." There is always someone (We Believe) that is better than I. I LOVE TO QUILT!!!
Thank you everyone who feels the same.
RobinQuilts wrote:
I am interested in the answer to this question as well. For many years, our guild struggled with how to define "professional" for purposes of having separate amateur and professional categories at our biennial quilt show. Never could come up with guidelines that satisfied everyone. So what did I do this year? Did away with both categories - now everyone will be lumped together. This makes things much simpler for registration and judging.

Robin in (still) snowy Northern Illinois (although it has been melting bit by bit)[/quote]

Our show doesn't use the word "professional". They use the word "commercial". That implies(infers)the transfer of money.

I consider myself a professional because I do the longarm quilting as my profession. When anyone asks me, I say "I'm a professional machine quilter".

: : Here's another one: What makes a quilter a fiber artist? Is it anyone who works with fiber, or is it someone who is an "artist"?

eileenkny

From the NQA website:
The National Quilting Association, Inc. has established the Master Quilters Guild to award formal recognition to persons who have mastered the skills of quiltmaking. Membership in the guild is obtained by demonstrating ability to produce a Masterpiece Quilt, defined as a work which reflects a consummate level of skill in quiltmaking. Candidates are required to submit their best work for evaluation by a committee of five NQA Certified Master Quilt Judges.

Basically a Master Quilter is a person who has the quilt making skills down pat - not that they can teach, not that they win awards - but their accuracy, attention to detail and understanding of the quilt making process are clearly understood and employed.

Alex and Ricky would be master quilters, again not because they're famous in our worlds but because they understand and employ the basics in quilt making skills and pay attention to the details of quilt making in a way that produces good quilts.

By this definition there are a lot of us who have the potential for either being or becoming Master Quilters.

That being said:
- there is a learning curve in quilting that so many people find daunting

- we are our own harshest critics

- many of us have the potential for being more however we're afraid to take the risks involved in progressing in our quilt making

- there are many quilt makers who will never progress to the level of master quilter that's fine because they have a passion and appreciation of the beauty of quilt making. their quilts are meant to be used and loved and washed and dried and loved some more

- there are many quilt makers who will never be famous or win ribbons and again that's fine, there's room in this for all of us

- there are many quilt makers who have the skills but won't enter shows because they just don't want to for them it's not about the skill level it's about the passion

- there are many quilt makers who will be master quilters and it will take some time they have skills to learn and need time to grow and become more of who they are as quilter makers

I could go on but I think the point is that how we view ourselves is integral to how we see our quilt making. Some quilter on another site has a quote on her signature line that has propelled me to think differently about who I am in general and more specifically as a quilt maker, "Whether you think you can or can't you're right." I changed how I was thinking about quilt making, about how I piece and quilt and the design process. I'm changing because I want to just do good work as a quilter. I'm changing how I respond to the judges at quilt shows because I want to learn.

If you quilt just because you love to quilt then set aside your worries about how other people, other quilters view your work and just quilt.

Happy Quilting!
Teri

All these definitions are interesting. I'd always considered a professional as one that earns a living at quilting, teaches classes on a regular basis, or has published quilts and patterns.

RobinQuilts wrote:
[/quote]

In New South Wales Australia our state show has two categories amateur and professional. You have to enter the show as a professional if you have won two first prizes in the state show or equivalent ie judged shows in any of the other states, a best of show or equivalent or ( and this is hard) if you earn your living by quilting. I am still classed an amateur as although I have had some quilts published in magazines I do'nt earn a living from it and I have only won one first prize!
Last year a friend of mine entered two quilts into our state show for the first time won first prize in both categories and has straight away become a professional.

But each organisation has its own definition and the only thing to do if you are entering a show is to check with the organisers as to what their definition is.

I'm a "simi" Professional quilter! Giving the professionals a run for thier money! I'm a master quilter because I'm achieving my own art through quilting,"Thats a compliment" I can give myself and to all quilters,beginning,advanced,professionals,"Achieving ones best"
Like mastering feathers or different techniques.

Kathy

Here's another one for you! What makes a professional quilter?

Is it whether we earn a living, or just make some money or get published or what? Any opinions? NA in NY[/quote]

I am interested in the answer to this question as well. For many years, our guild struggled with how to define "professional" for purposes of having separate amateur and professional categories at our biennial quilt show. Never could come up with guidelines that satisfied everyone. So what did I do this year? Did away with both categories - now everyone will be lumped together. This makes things much simpler for registration and judging.

Robin in (still) snowy Northern Illinois (although it has been melting bit by bit)

Thanks everyone for your thoughtful replies. It's been bothering me for a while and you all pretty much answered what I've been feeling. I don't think we ever name ourselves the title, it's given to us by others because of how they think of us.

Here's another one for you! What makes a professional quilter?

Is it whether we earn a living, or just make some money or get published or what? Any opinions? NA in NY

Whose to say that some day your quilts wont end up in some museum. do you think a hundred years ago the ladies who mad alll those beautiful quilts we see at these museum were thinking "I going to give this to the historical society" No she was creating something that was necessary and beautiful. She would not have called herself a Master. She would have described herself as a housewife who was trying to keep her family warm. Step back, look at your work through your friends eyes. Does she quilt? To her you may have a skill she would like to posess but feels she is not capable. Is she a novice. Offer her a hand in starting. Maybe she is asking you to be her "Master/Teacher". Just a thought.

I've always thought of a master quilter as one that would make museum-quality quilts. (Not me! )

November 8 & 9, 2008 at the Solomon Schechter School of Westchester on W. Hartsdale Ave in Hartsdale.

Wanna come play?

By the way. . . ditto, when & where is your show and I'll have it published in our newsletter.

Teri

Teri,
When and where is your show???
eileenkny

As part of preparation for our show my co-chair and I came up with guidelines for our guild. What they are doesn't matter so much as the honor that your friend gave you in recognizing the quality of your work as a quilter. I say be proud of that! When someone recognizes your work as really good, thank them and then work towards being more of a "master quilter".

I recognize how difficult it is to be perceived as something we don't consider ourselves to be. My co-chair considers me to be a good quilter and me not so much. I will say my abilities have vastly improved over the last few years, not to the master level but that's my opinion.

I'm going to go find a definition of master quilter and post it later...

Teri

Nancy,
Your friend was paying you a huge compliment!! When someone says "master quilter", that's different than "Master Quilter". That's Ricky, Alex, Caryl Bryer Fallert, Michael James, etc.
You can be a master of your own work, and I think that's what your friend meant. Congratulations!!!
eileenkny