Utah State Fair: Resolution

I received another phone call today from "Miss J" from the Home Arts department at the Utah State Fair. She has thoroughly reviewed the rules posted on the website, compared them with the rules the Judges used (which should be the same) and realized there really is no mention on the website about washing quilts. She brought up the topic with the head of the Home Arts department, explained the situation (I am not the only one to be asking about this, apparently, just the first) and the head of the department agrees that that rule should be removed from future competitions. Miss J let me know that each year she prints out the rules provided to exhibitors and gives them to the judges to review, and it is apparent to all that none of the judges read them, just assumed they were the same. She will make sure next year that all the judges are aware of the changes, and make sure they're up to date on the current rules. She feels very badly that my entry was disqualified and offered to refund my entry fee. It was $1. I told her not to worry about it, that my biggest concern was just getting to the bottom of the misunderstanding. While I'm disappointed my quilt was never in the running because of a typo, I'm content with the resolution.

In celebration of said resolution, I went to the post office and shipped the Wild Island Boy quilt off to it's new owner, in care of his mother, since baby Titus isn't due for another month.

Of course, after I shipped it I realized I'd forgotten to put the label on. Oh well. lol

Meli you have such a good spirit about this whole situation. It's so nice to see how you handled it and will change the judging for the future.:)

Well done Meli. It's always appropriate to persist and get the clarification you needed. And you obviously have made things better for future years. I have a feeling your story will be making the rounds in the Home Arts Department.

I'm sorry there really was nothing more that could have been done for you.At least you know it was the judges that were wrong not you.Better luck next competition.

Next year you're gonna be #1!! I feel it in my bones, especially with the new and improved rules that will be the same for everyone.

Nancy

Meli, Make up a label that she can iron onto the quilt and drop it in the mail. Don't you feel so good having taken action and gotten results? You did all future entries a favor by bringing this to the forefront. Way to go!

Great resolution... Glad you got to the bottom of it all... For future competitions!

It's always good to have a resolution to an issue and extra good because you were right all along! Best wishes for grand awards next year.

You handled this with a lot of grace but also with good boundaries. If we all stood up for ourselves like this, the world would be a better place. You should win the ribbon for quilter-with-character!

Good going Meli :)

Thanks, all! And thanks for the idea of the iron on label. I'll see what I can arrange.
I pointed out to Miss J that I've entered - and placed - in the past with a quilt that was washed. But I used polyester batting and had pre-washed my fabrics so there was no shrinkage, nothing to indicate it had been washed. We talked about how fabric and batting choices can make a difference in appearance. If I'd used cotton instead of polar fleece for the back of this quilt, there wouldn't have been any indication it had been washed.

I'm not upset about it, just happy with the results. And, God willing, I'll have that infernal Farmer's Wife quilt done for next year. That should turn some heads!

So glad you got results! It really was a beautiful quilt!

So glad Miss J cooperated and clarification for all was reached. I am sure you were not the only one affected by the judges being inconsistent with the standards. You handled the situation with grace and persistence.

Enjoy your beautiful quilt and let it remind you that some battles need to be fought for the future.