HMQS - First Time Entry

[twiglet]

I lurk around here but haven't yet posted - I thought this might be a good time to chat as I know there many experienced on this forum with quilt shows.

I am over the moon as I sent one of my smaller quits off to HMQS today. I have talked about entering shows, read about entering shows, dreamt about entering shows - I just never seemed to do it! The deadline was extended to April 20th and I had just completed a little quilt that I really loved and am proud of - so that deadline extension was just the right push I needed to just go ahead and send it off and finally dip my toes in the quilt show waters.

My question is, other than what I've read online to see if this would be a good fit for my first time entering a show, I don't seem to hear a lot about this one! Can anyone tell me about it? Their experience entering or visiting the show? I have heard it is small but also draws in some big name quilters - also that it is not juried - so I'm guessing the skill levels are of a wide range?

Also, this is a show that focuses on the quilting, how does that change the judging process and/or the critiques?

I know these are many questions all at once - thank you in advance to anyone who can offer some advice!

[Sewdreamy]

I entered last year for the first time and won an honorable mention, but I did not attend. I just shipped my quilt off for this year's entry also. You are right about some big named quilters...they are there. Marilyn Badger, Judy Woodworth, Sherry Reynolds all entered and won ribbons last year. I looked for the winners list, but couldn't find it. But it's my impression that it is an excellent show for first time quilt show enterers. I think you chose well. It's always exciting to get your quilt hung in the shows. I did find a link to a blog that had some pictures from last year's show: http://christaquiltsblog.com/2013/05...mazing-quilts/

[Sewdreamy]

Thank you so much for your insight Betty Jo!! Congratulations on your Honerable Mention! I'm really glad to hear this is a good choice for a first entry. My quilt is small but I'm really proud of the work I put into it. I'm hoping to enter a much larger quilt that I've been working on for the past year to MQX this fall and I'm just really in it for the experience to see how it all works and where I need to improve. Still - how exciting to have my little quilt in a show that Marilyn Badger has had a quilt?!!

Thank you also for the link to photos - I will check that out now!