Have you ever ventured outside your comfort zone?

A Challenge

The Wisconsin Quilt Expo is held every year in September. Early this summer they invited artists to submit their mini quilts to be considered for entry into the Modern Mini Quilt Challenge.

I’ve always wanted to enter a quilt in a competition but never had the nerve to do it. Just like many of you I have

a fear

of

failure.

They say you have to be willing to take rejection as easily as acceptance.

I’ve struggled with that concept all my life. I guess I would never make a good salesperson.

Temptation

This year the temptation of the mini quilt category was too much to resist.

I have a portfolio filled with specimens. There just had to be one that I could be willing to share with my peers. Which one though?

After looking over the possible candidates I decided to select this one.

Another Challenge

The deadline for entries was the end of June.

After crossing the stumbling blocks of

possible rejection and

choosing the quilt to enter

I approached my next personal challenge…

It was hard for me to package up and mail my mini quilt. My faith in our delivery system has been tainted by

• ripped,
• torn and
• lost items.

Trusting the USPS to safely and successfully deliver my mini quilt was nerve-racking. Obviously I had to overcome that phobia in order to participate in the challenge.

The Wait

After mailing my item the waiting game began. The Expo Committee said they would make their decision by 7/31/18. I mailed my mini quilt well before the deadline. Mailing it early meant I had 40+ days to wait for their decision.

Let’s fast forward to early August. Of course I just happened to be on vacation with my grandchildren when my letter arrived. While I would have liked to be able to run to the mailbox to find the letter myself, spending time with my daughter and grandchildren was way more important.

My husband was at home so he had the pleasure of opening the envelope.

Here’s the photo he sent me.

Woohoo!

I was so excited to find out that my mini art piece would be on display in the Expo Hall. How

awesome

is

that!

There is a well-known quote by Benjamin Franklin that reads:

Nothing ventured, nothing gained

To put it in other words, we must be willing to take a risk in order to achieve something.

I

took a risk

and

I

gained something!

I can’t wait to see my mini quilt,

on display,

amongst the other awesome entries! My camera will be very busy that day.

Now,

go out and take a risk!

Best regards,