So you think you have problems with your quilt?  From 1995 to 1997 Ami Simms hosted the "The Worst Quilt in the World Contest _®.^"

_{Quilters from all over were vying for the top prize of "Worst Quilt in the World."}

Ami herself says she started the contest to "shamelessly promote her then "new" book, How Not To Make A Prize-Winning Quilt.

This video is just a sampling of the hilariously awful quilts that were submitted.  Many more can be found at www.amisimms.com along with Ami's wonderful critiques of each quilt.  Once you are there, just click on the garbage can to find the contest.

One of our wonderful TQS members, luvquilting, had a great idea.  She suggested that we ask the members of TQS to let us know what 3 favorite things they love about the TQS site.  Does your mouth water when you view the quilts in the Quilt Gallery?  Have a watched certain TQS Shows over and over again?  Do you visit the Classrooms to learn from top-flight instructors?  Is the Daily Blog your home page?  Do you enjoy the contests?

Submit a comment and let us know 3 things you love about TheQuiltShow.com.  Or, suggest ideas for what you'd like to see on the site.  We want to let everyone from Charter members to Newbies to have the complete TQS experience.

On National Quilt Day a lot of new eyes will be on TheQuiltShow.com.  To get them to know us better, tell us your favorite 3 parts of the site.  This way they will get a feel for what's available. 

For 24 Hours on National Quilt Day, new viewers will get a taste of what The Quilt Show with Alex & Ricky is all about.

All of the shows are open for this special day to any registered guest.

Submit a comment and tell them your suggestion of a past show to see.

For those of you wanting to know, the #1 most popular Bernina video for 2009 was, drum roll please... Video #313 "Straight Stitch with Guides." Coming in second was Video #310 "Dynamic Double Blanket Stitching," followed in third place by Video #309 "Sashiko by Machine."

Let's hope you've had a chance to take a look at the wonderful videos that Bernina has on the TQS site.  If not, just click here and see what's available or click on the Bernina Education Videos box on the left of your screen.

Philippa Naylor is a quilt artist extraordinaire.  Her quilts have won numerous awards at shows all around the world. Today she is giving TQS the opportunity to take a look at some of her quilts and also gives us some tips on what materials and notions she uses to make her quilts.

Let's take a look at Philippa and just a sample of her amazing body of work.

To learn more about Philippa, click here to watch Episode 606 – Showstopping Trapunto (Philippa Naylor)

So you are thinking about making a new quilt.

Do you sit down with pad in hand and begin sketching? Do you break out the graph paper and ruler?  Do you turn on your computer and let it rip?

OR...do you break out the fabric, and let it rip?

Are you a planner, or a make-it-up as you go kind of quilter?

Submit a comment, and let TQS know your process for getting that new quilt off the ground and up onto your design wall.

Here's just a little taste of St. Patrick's Day goodness from our TQS members.  All of these quilts can be found in the TQS Quilt Gallery.

If you'd like to learn more about the stories of the individual quilts or their makers, click here for the Quilt Gallery or use the Quilt Gallery button on the navigational bar.  You can then search for quilts by member name, quilt block type, title, etc. using the Advanced Search located under the quilt in the upper right.

If you have Show #106 in your plan you can learn more about the quilts of Denise Labadie, click here for Episode 106 - A Touch of Ireland.

Personalize your own photo slideshow

How do you label your quilt?  Do you run fabric through a printer?  Do you use needlepoint or cross-stitch?  How about embroidery?  And what do you write on your label?  Hopefully at least the name of the quiltmaker, date, and location, but what other information do you provide?  Do you give the story of the quilt?  Submit a comment and let TQS know how you make your label and what it has to say.

Here Judy Matheison put a photo of the original floor upon which she based her quilt, a photo of the computer design, and a photo the the quilt with other pertinent information.

Quilt:  Bristol Stars by Judy Matheison, photographed at the Wente Winery in Livermore, CA.

Congratulations to TQS Member vwarner and TQS Member caroquilt.  Their names were randomly drawn to win the Kaleidoscope Kreator 3 and Favorite Projects Vol. 2 from Kaleidoscope Collections in this week's Weekend Fun contest. 

To see Jeanie demonstrate making kaleidoscope cards, watch her in TQS Epsiode 507 "Great Gifts".

If you plan on visiting the AQS show in Lancaster, March 24 - 27, be sure to see Jeanie and Kaleidoscope Collections: Booth #3403.

To see the complete line from Kaleidoscope Collections, click here.

The Forum is being updated.  We will soon be able to flock together again.

After the new version is up and running we will learn the new features.

In the meantime, what quilty thing are you doing today?

Congratulations to TQS Member martam.  Her name was randomly drawn to win the $50 Gift Certificate from Superior Threads in last week's Weekend Fun contest.  In case you missed it, Bob the Thread Guy has a really informative video all about metallic thread.  To watch Bob's video, click here or click the photo below.  

For more information on Superior Threads, please visit their website: click here.

Thank you Superior Threads for being a Proud Sponsor of The Quilt Show.com!

Photo by John Anderson

Join us in Episode 606, as award-winning quilter Philippa Naylor takes us on a journey of her quilting career as well as sharing the secrets for creating show stopping trapunto work.  From Lingerie designer to multiple ribbon winner with her quilts, Philippa's work and attention to detail are certain to command your attention.  To watch the show click here.   

Have you been watching the Bernina Educational Videos?  Well if you haven't, now is the time as we feature the top three videos as selected by our TQS members.  After viewing all three, can you guess which one is the #1 Bernina video on the TQS site?

In Video 309 - Sashiko by Machine, the dynamic duo of Nina McVeigh and Susan Beck demonstrate how to create a form of Japanese quilting known as Sashiko.  Click here to watch the stitches form.

In Video 310 - Dynamic Double Blanking Stitching. The duo demonstrates how a basic hand sewing technique, the blanket stitch, can be replicated with great panache on a Bernina machine.  The results are amazing.  Click here to follow along.

In Video 313 - Straight Stitch with Guides - our lovely team of instructors show how using guides,  you can consistently maintain your 1/4" seam allowance, as well as other size seam allowances depending on your needs. Click here to learn how to achieve that perfect seam allowance.

To view all the Bernina Videos, just click on the Click to Watch Videos under the Bernina logo on the left side of your screen or click here.