Entering A Quilt Competition

Have you ever thought about entering a quilt competition?  I had not given it any serious consideration until I heard Podcast 209 from Annie's Quilting Stash.  In the podcast, Annie Smith talks about what she looks for when judging quilts in competition.  What I found particularly interesting were all the easily fixable things that keep a quilt from being perfect (or near perfect) - loose threads, cat hair, bumpy or uneven binding. 

Additionally, Annie is very encouraging about entering shows, as a means of validation and getting feedback from judges that will help channel a quilter's efforts to improve.  So I'm actually giving it some thought.  A guild show would proably be the easiest and safest way to start, but I don't belong to a guild. 

Have you ever entered a show?  If so, do you have any tips for the first-timer?  I would love for you to leave a comment and share your thoughts. 

Using Stash

I just listened to another of Annie Smith's Quilting Stash podcasts. This episode was particularly good, full of creative ideas for using (or busting!) your stash. She gathered ideas from her listeners and even quoted from the email I sent her. Wow, was I surprised when I heard my name! Nearly fell off the treadmill! You can download it from iTunes or here.


On her blog, Annie included a few photos of accumulated fabric sent in by listeners. Wow, after seeing a few of those pictures, I think my own stash is not so extensive after all. In fact, I need more fabric!

Aerobic Quilting and Podcasts

I’ve acquired Middle Age Metabolism and if I don’t get to the gym at least four times a week, shopping for clothes will cease to be fun. So I dutifully head over to use the elliptical trainer and treadmill. To make it endurable, I take a book (elliptical trainer) and iPod (treadmill). And whenever I can, I listen to quilting podcasts. Annie Smith of Quilting Stash…the first podcast for quilters, is my favorite.

Annie interviews famous quilters, reviews books, talks about techniques and tools, goes to shows I can’t get to (like Houston) and covers it all in a very conversational manner. It’s like meeting a friend for lunch or a cup of coffee, only she does all the talking and I never get a word in edgewise. And while listening, I put a few more miles on the treadmill practically without noticing and can eat more than lettuce for the remainder of the day.

Annie recently spent a week driving from her home in California to her son Ryan’s new home in North Carolina. She visited quilt shops along the way and spend the night with quilty friends, podcasting every evening. Now I know that, should I ever be in the vicinity, the Visitor’s Center in Mississippi is worth a stop. You can find Annie on iTunes (free) and on her site at http://simplearts.com/blogs/. Check her out and try some aerobic quilting.