This is Social Distance, one of my entries into Quilt National 2021; it was not chosen. When I don’t get into a show, especially one I really want to get into, the first thing I do is begin to compare my work to what does get in and rationaiize why mine didn’t. Dumb judges, my work’s no good, imperfect. All that stuff. This time after getting over all that, I decided I need to get a grip and evaluate my work on its own merits. Does it say what I want it to say? Could it be “stronger”? Things like that.

I’ve decided that my work is fine and even though it can get better, there is nothing wrong with it. Being judgemental and competitive is keeping me from enjoying what I love, sewing and quilting and making things that satisfy my creative urges.

Like a fool, I will still keep entering shows but take a different approach; that is, make what I want to make and not what I think others will think is good. I have spent too much energy comparing.