So where did the word DEADLINE come from?  By common use the world deadline is considered the time limit of a given objective.  

According to a myriad of sources the original word was derived from something grim.  American civil war prisoners were held in stockades which had a perimeter delineated.  It was understood by those incarcerated that any prisoners who passed this line (twenty feet or so) from the main structure were to be shot.

​Dead. Apparently.  It was a 'dead' line.  Yikes.  

Cheerful thought. Deadlines by their very nature make us nervous.  Perhaps we subconsciously knew....

Obviously - when trying to complete a quilt for a 'deadline' there is no fear of some stray piece of lead finding its way to our vital organs should we pass the invisible line.   

Looking at a deadline from the perspective of a entrant, they offer a goal to achieve, and in a fashion force focus of attention before the looming date. With discretion one will do everything possible to complete the entry well before that magic day.  (*insert ironic laughter here) 

Life doesn't always go to plan. When one allows insufficient time for a project to be completed, or JUST enough time, it only takes a twitch in the stream of life for the deadline to be missed.  I've missed two due to such twitches and my own lack of foresight. 

For the situation of those collecting entries it is an approaching day of both entries and excuses. Most entry dates are clearly stated in the entry rules.  Some go so far as to state ABSOLUTELY NO LATE ENTRIES. 

Ever wonder why that is written?  

For those collecting the entries, the lack of entries a few days before the date can raise worrying questions. Are there going to be enough entries? Is the exhibition going to be lame?  

The arrival of many entries at the last minute may cause relief or inconvenience (for instance if couriers are arriving all day at a private home) and inevitably some arrive late.  If a grace period has been built into this date, all is well. An assumed 'grace period' is not a point to be tried.

Why make an inflexible deadline?  Judges may be only available for a particular date, or the quilts may need to be carried to a venue for judging, so any parcel arriving the day after might not be seen - no matter how exquisite.  Exhibitions require planning and planning requires time.  

What is inspiring this blog?  In one week an entry deadline is due that I haven't finished yet.  It's taken the pressure of a 'dead line' to overcome my anxiety of failing at this entry.  

Some projects are like that.  

Bang.


  

Entering ANYTHING is intimidating the first time.  The Hoffman Challenge is one of New Zealand's most prestigious and 'challenging' quilt exhibition opportunities. If you know nothing about this challenge, here is the gist of how it works:

Hoffman NZ chooses a particular fabric to be used.  As with all Hoffman fabrics, the quality is excellent, the colours vibrant and the chosen offering modern in regard to current fabric fashion. 

The 2015/16 fabric was as pictured on the right.  Most of the fabrics I've seen in the Hoffman challenges are not fabrics I would normally have purchase, either from the colour range or flamboyancy of design. They are however perfect for making a unique one-of designs, stretching  my creativity to work with unfamiliar type fabrics.  

A single vendor carries the challenge fabric, and sells it in pre-cut one metre increments. These come in a package along with instructions for the challenge.  The current Hoffman challenge vendor is Quilter's Lane in Masterton.  Only one entry may be made per metre purchased.

The traditional Hoffman rules are that the quilt must be no more than one metre in any direction (including embellishments) and that the shape must relate to the subject of the quilt.  No squares or rectangles allowed.  A recognisable amount of the challenge fabric must be used, but any other addition of fabric or embellishment is valid.  Labelling and hanging requirements are included. The due date is not negotiable. 

The resultant entries every year are amazingly varied with fabulous skill exhibited. Competition is stiff with only a certain number of quilts making the cut to tour and many inevitably rejected.  The coveted winning spots are announced at the yearly Symposium or mini-symposium where the next year's fabric is also publicly displayed.

This is not an inexpensive challenge to enter.  The fabric price is only the beginning. Once the quilt is completed there is an additional entry fee as well as paying for postage (both directions) for the quilt. All this expenditure goes out with no guarantee that the resulting quilt will be displayed.

In my past personal attempts at Hoffman entries, more of my entries have been rejected than accepted. Twice the purchased fabrics never left their tidy plastic bag, a lost opportunity in my battle to come up with a compelling design. Entries represent a real investment so one friendly word of advice-

Any time a quilter enters a competition either locally or nationally, the quilt created needs to have value to the creator outside of the competition.  When competitions are over - that quilt comes back to the creator (unless sold as part of the competition) and should have a 'place' to occupy.  

Resist the urge to create only for the hope of winning a competition. A rejection will leave you annoyed at the expenditure and have you doubting your creative muse.

If you aren't connection with your quilt on a personal level, it will show in the final product. Judges are unlikely to swoon over something you feel blasé about.

Yes, I've completed an entry from the above pictured fabric, and I'm breathlessly waiting to see if it returns instead of tours.  Here's hoping! 

A family member has already claimed ownership of this year's entry if it doesn't sell on tour, so I'm content with the expense and effort.  

You might ask why quilters keep entering such challenges when they risk rejection? Perhaps because designing and competing are addictive and the opportunity of making a unique quilt for public display entices.  What do you think?

Wedding bells have nudged me to return to my craft.  

​After taking a break during my brother's illness, it has taken more time than I'd expected to get my mojo back.  

This eldest son and his darling bride chose a two- toned king sized quilt in cream and navy.  Hours making the 90 blocks soothed and gently reset the interrupted quilting flow.  

Now to make up for lost time! Wahoo.  
                                                                                             A rehearsal shot...