Southeastern Quilt and Textile Museum and Symposium 2023

Last fall I attended the Southeast Quilt Symposium in Carrollton, Georgia. A bit unsure what to expect, I didn’t know anyone there and was traveling alone. Soon after meeting others, I realized they were a friendly bunch, but I was a bit out of my depth. Most attending were experts in their quilt field, and some recognized where and what time period certain quilts had been created. I was completely in awe. My only contributions to group discussions were historical and local. I hadn’t studied the grand masters of quilting nor had I read the most important books on quilting in early America. I soaked as much in as I could, from the rattlesnake quilts of Texas and Oklahoma, to the Farmer’s Fancy pattern of the Shenandoah Valley, and the controversy involving competing authors and their books.

Most of the quilts discussed were antique/vintage. One of the big takeaways for me is that the quilt doesn’t have to be perfect to be passed down, loved, and even considered a family treasure. While I’m still striving for perfection, I’m also not going to beat myself up if my points aren’t perfect or corners aren’t precise. I’m going to start looking at my quilts with the self-affirming “I made this” attitude.

Below are just a few of the quilts on display in the Southeastern Quilt and Textile Museum or from the conference. Hope you enjoy!