Thanks Betty Jo & Dawn, I appreciate your input. I helped with the judging in my Guild last year, & in just those few hours, I learned a lot. I know that in many respects, I'm really pushing myself into a different level & into a different league. All the amazing and talented quilters out there, can make me feel very intimidated, but in making something beautiful for myself and my family to enjoy & to have fun is the most important.
Anne

Great advice, Betty Jo.

Hoffman Challenge is where I got started doing show quilts and the judges comments in the beginning helped me enormously along the way. I have entered six times since 2008, and won a ribbon in 2011. I was really disappointed with 2016s running of the show, but I have hope they will get back on track this year. I will not be entering this year, because I don't really like the fabric for my kind of quilting and I learned the hard way that I just can't do a good show quilt in that case. Nevertheless, I can see it would work for a lot of quilters. Mostly what I have learned in basic show quilting over the years is to make what you really love, pay attention to the hue/value as you design your quilt. In the end, make sure it is square and flat with nice binding corners and good even stitching (watch that tension), and make sure the back is as good as the front. But mostly have a lot of fun with this and enter chiefly to show your friends and others your wonderful result and not for the ribbon you may or may not win.

You have won twice!!! Wow!! Congratulations too you! I'm going to have to look for your quilts! I have quilted and sewn forever, but entering challenges and shows is something different for me. I entered my first quilted item last year with my guild and won 2nd. I entered my first challenge with my Guild last week, it turned out really nice, (of course mine was the best), I can see that this can be kind of addicting! Are you enter the Hoffman Challenge this year as well?

It has always been fun in the past, to put on your thinking cap, and try to figure out what to do with that year's choice of challenge fabric. But, this past year Hoffman took the challenge in house, and the team running it did a poor job. The main complaint was lack of communication. I think they posted a total of twice on Facebook. All notification deadlines came and went, leaving us all in limbo. There was a lot of grumbling on Facebook. There is a new curator this year, and hopefully she will do a better job. I would be happy if they just kept us up to date.

Personally, I have found my niche, after winning something the past two years! The challenge pushes my creativity. I will be entering again this year. The floral fabric is not my favorite, but I can work with it. If you have any questions, ask it here, and one of us who have entered before will try to answer. Good luck with your challenge quilt!

Dawn

OK, I'm going a little crazy here, but I really want to do the Hoffman Challenge for next year, I saw the fabric at Hancock's of Paducahs, & it looks GORGEOUS!! I know some of you out there have done it in the past, any wise words out there for me?