Hey Bee,

Just remember there is no right or wrong way there is only your way. I love quilting and (haven't been at it very long either) so if I compare my quilts to others who have been quilting for years I am definitely intimidated by their work. I just remember how much I love doing it and try not to compare my work to others. I have found that each quilt gets alittle better. For me the hardest part of quilting is color selection. You have definitely come to the right place for encourgement no one here is going to critic(sp?) your work. Keep quilting and have a great time.

Miki

bee, i can only think of one thing to add to what others have said: "do YOU like your work?" that's all that really matters - after all, you are the one investing your time & money into the quilt and if you are happy with it, then nothing else matters. pooh on what those guild members thought. i would guess their hearts are not in their craft - the ladies here on BC are true quilters - they feel their craft in their hearts and it shows! i also would love to see a pic of your quilt - i bet it is absolutely fantastic!!

Bee! I certainly would not go back to visit such an unfriendly group of women! Check around your LQS and see if they have some little groups there! I haven't found any yet either but I would also be intimidated to try a guild now. You gotta wonder if they came out of the womb with a needle in one hand and a patch of fabric in the other! Do they not remember making thier first quilt? HMPH!

Bee -

Here's a great tip that was just printed in Kim's weekly BC newsletter. This woman covers your problem very nicely.

14.) "This isn't really a tip but more along the line of
encouragement. I started quilting about 1 year ago; I have sewn many
years but I used to look at all those quilting books and magazines
and dream. In the past year I've made a lot of mistakes,
miscalculated fabric, and my corners aren't perfect but I keep
trying. My advise is if you want to quilt - quilt! Don't let picture
perfect magazine pictures intimidate you - try to learn from them and
go forward but keep quilting. I visited a local quilt guild and the
people were critizing each others work, were only interested in
submitting quilts for competition or recognition. One woman took
another person's quilt apart because it didn't meet her standards.
Don't do that to yourself - find a guild that's interested in
quilting or start your own. But keep quilting!" - Patty in Tennessee

Some people are just WAY too critical. A guild i went to in Calif. had a lot of women who always entered their quilts for judging, but they knew they were once beginners, too, and they encouraged people and helped people when needed.

Linda,

Thanks for the words of encouragement.. It definitely applies to quilting and just about anything else in life you have a desire to do. Just do it.

Miki

Hi Bee and welcome aboard! I too would love to see your quilt. I hope you post a picture of it for us to enjoy.

As a child, when someone would say something unkind to me and hurt my feelings, by mother would always say, "honey, just consider the source". It took me awhile to figure out that she meant not all people's opinions are worth taking to heart because not all people have a good character. Some people are just unkind and unfortunately you met a few of them at your guild. Happily, you stumbled upon this great group here on BC who always encourages and uplifts all levels of quilters and all styles of quilting!
We're happy to have you here!

Hi Bee,
That's the very reason I don't belong to the guild here. They are basically a bunch of old whiny ladies that think anything slightly different than whan they are making isn't good. I just consider this group my guild I have learned more from these wonderful people than I ever would have from that other group. I would love to see your quilt. Stay positive and have a super weekend.

Well said, Debbie! Couldn't agree more with you about your assessment of some guilds. I don't belong to one either. Much as it would be nice to have a live person critique my quilt, I would not be able to withstand downright criticism by an entire pack, especially if they're mean! This group is just as good (or better) than any guild out there!

The first guild I belonged to was a diverse groups of ladies - all ages from 20's to one who's pushing 90 - guess there's a man in the group now too. They were a nice group - not mean-spirited, but unfortunately the lady who was the President at that time was so hung up on the by-laws, rules and regulations that a recognized guild is supposed to follow! Often the entire meeting was taken up with drawing up rules, deciding on protocol, etc.

The second group - the small group that I started along with another lady had no rules!!! We weren't interested in belonging to the Indiana Quilters' Guild so we didn't have to have By-Laws, etc. This was just a group who got together to learn and have fun.

Unfortunately for me, I'm not a very "foward" person and there were two other gals who stepped all over me! Once we were demonstrating different types of quilt frames and how to put quilts in the frames. I was demonstrating my 3-roller frame for hand-quilting. Apparently I wasn't doing it fast enough to suit this gal so she proceeded to practically push me aside and take over the demonstration! My feelings were hurt, so I packed up my frame and went home. Needless to say, that was the last meeting I attended.

Now I don't belong to any guilds - don't need that crap in my life. I just do my own thing and as long as I'm happy with it, that's good enough!

Nola

Nola - I get really sad when something that's supposed to be fun and full of friendship goes sour and it just takes one or two girls to be flies in the ointment. I'm really sorry your group turned that way.
And, yes, large guilds can get caught up with themselves and become a real pain. We keep all the rule making to the committee and just have fun at the meetings We have about 130 present once a month - the show and tell is amazing and we all learn a lot from each other.

Mary