Window Washers & Awards

Tuesday at Quilt Festival was a very big day for me.  First, we saw some window washers working on the Hilton exterior.  Super cool!

Then, we worked on the Craftsy Open Studio set-up.
Shortly after, we hauled our sweat-soaked selves up to our room and prepared for the awards ceremony.  I was thrilled to be notified that I would be receiving a cash award for my quilt, "Amsterdam Alley:  The Shortcut Between".
I've said this before but it bears repeating:  Having a quilt accepted into World of Beauty is a win in and of itself.  Being informed that a quilt will be receiving an award is beyond thrilling.  I have been fortunate to receive a 2nd and 3rd place award for group quilts in the past.  To find that I would be awarded for one of my own quilts was quite a thrill.  That was enough:  I had no expectations of winning in my category (digital).
So, on award night, with my dear friend and teaching partner, Jamie Fingal, sitting next to me as my "date", you could have knocked me over with a feather when I learned that I had won first place!

Jamie and I in the audience prior to the awards ceremony.

Over a thousand people were in attendance!

Here I am, on stage, being presented with my 1st place award from C&T Publishing.

What a thrill!

Each 1st place quilt is on display in the auditorium as the award is called.

Here I am, posing by my quilt after the ceremony was over. 

Posing with Vivika DeNegre, editor of Quilting Arts magazine

It was so much fun to stand near my quilt and talk to people who came by.