1) If you are finding that your binding does not feel as if the batting fills it all of the way to the edge, try cutting your binding strips 1/4″ smaller than you usually do.

2) You needn’t master the corner mitre.  A simple but well done binding will beat out a sloppy but complicated method every time!

3) When you connect strips together, use an angled seam to reduce bulk at a single point.

4) It is important that your binding is applied evenly; i.e., it shouldn’t appear 1/4 inch wide at one point and 1/2 inch wide elsewhere.  Be careful to sew an accurate seam width.  Use a guide on your machine if you need to.

5) Always use a thread that matches the binding fabric, both to apply the binding and to connect the strips together.  You want your thread to be as invisible as possible.

Unfortunately I did not get to see my own quilts undergo her scrutiny. I entered two quilts – the Pinwheels Aplenty quilt and also a challenge quilt I made for my other guild some time ago.  (Sorry, I couldn’t find a picture of it.)  They both ended up in the same category and I had to leave to meet the school bus right as my category was coming out for judging. Sigh.  I’d say I wasted a vacation day except that her comments were useful reminders of the basics.

I did however get to see the quilt above judged. It was a round robin that I participated in, and I added the appliqued outer corners before handing it off to someone who created a pieced border. I was quite proud of how my addition to the quilt turned out because it was the first time I’d done so much applique. The quilt did not win a ribbon – darn! That was my best shot at being able to say I’d participated in an award-winning quilt this time. Oh well.  Such is life.  I didn’t make either of the quilts I entered with a show in mind and I know they have many of the flaws that the judge was not impressed with. I submitted them because I feel it is important for the guild members to participate and they were the quilts I had that were both finished and present.

Another great thing about going to the judging – I’m fired up to complete some quilts that have been languishing unfinished while I work on the charity challenge.  I’m working on the top of the third quilt – it is taking rapid shape!  Hopefully I’ll have an update and some pics of it for you soon .

Have you ever put a quilt in a show? What was your experience?

Yep, that’s Captain Dorky-Girl to the left, there.  Thanks for the pic, Noelle!

$4.60 thrifting haul

Birthday booty (or is it bootie? I’m talking about pirate booty not butt booty):

 Have a listen to the show by clicking here.  Thanks for stopping by!

The show was terrific.  We had a great time looking over the quilts and probably even a greater time shopping the vendors.  I bought a 2-1/2 strip roll and a fat quarter group of some Kaffe Fasset prints, a Moda Candy Bar box with Fandango, Bliss, City Weekend, and Breakfast at Tiffany’s prints, a book called “Beautiful Botanicals” by Deborah Kemball, a cute little scrap-booking grandma brag book for my mom, and a program. 

Me at the Virginia Quilt Museum

Going inside - wee! Sorry, no pics allowed indoors.

It was *fabulous*!  I saw some amazing examples of historic quilts.

You can check out the book I bought from the museum here at Amazon.

Other places we visited – Luray Caverns – Sandy Point State Park – Massanutten Resort.

Thank  you for listening!

It was time to hash over some lessons learned with my last completed quilting project.  The big one: jelly rolls aren’t precisely cut to the size the label says they are!  I wish I had taken a pic of Noelle’s quilt before I gave it to her but I managed to forget.  Maybe she’ll be nice and send me one.  Hint hint!  However here is what the pattern looks like from Eleanor Burns’ site, Quilt in a Day.  Isn’t it adorable?  I love the color combo she used.

Also if you participated in the May Mayhem, you can grab the button over on the sidebar and put it on your blog.  You should be able to copy the code in the box and paste it into a text widget on your own site.  Enjoy

Thank you for listening!

And the winner of the Quilter’s Newsletter subscription is: Collette!  Thank you everyone for entering, and congratulations to Collette. 

The AQS show at Paducah has the winners listed.  Go check out the list!  There are some beautiful quilts.

Would you like to win a $1000 Accuquilt shopping spree?  They are holding a contest.  Check out the details.

Have a listen to the show.

So, what the heck happened to me?  I’m still alive and kicking.  Thanks so much to the concerned listeners who checked in on me!!!  Life just got in the way a bit there.  I’ve still got plenty to talk about in my head, though, so I’ll be delivering up some new shows soon.  Thanks for your patience

Sorry, I don’t have much to say in the roundup today.  I did put up some pictures of the NQA show in the previous posting.  I hope you enjoy them!