2026 Quilt Show Judge
Karen Kendo
Karen began quilting in 1995, although she has always been drawn to quilts and has slept under a quilt made by her grandmother. As her knowledge and expertise in quilting grew, she also began sharing her knowledge by teaching quilting. She also pursued longarm quilting and opened her quilting business, Quilting with Karen, in 2006. She officially retired from longarm quilting for the public in 2024 after a long and successful career.
Karen has been active in quilting groups and organizations for many years. She is a member of the Cobblestone Quilters Guild and the Quilters of South Carolina, where she has served on the boards of both organizations in many positions.
Karen’s current focus is on quilt judging. In 2022, she became a nationally certified quilt judge through NACQJ, the National Association of Certified Quilt Judges. Currently, she serves on the board of directors as the Candidate Coordinator. In this role, she oversees those who have entered the certification program to become NACAJ-certified quilt judges. With the assistance of a committee, she just recently completed a massive overhaul of the certification program.
Karen is an award-winning quilter, with two Best of Shows and a Best Applique Award as highlights of her quilting career. But she believes the best reward from quilting is spreading the love and joy of quilting and providing comfort to others through quilting.
Karen’s philosophy of quilt judging is to select those entries that are outstanding in each category, to provide all entrants with positive feedback in areas where they have excelled, and to give constructive remarks. Her goal is to encourage quilters to feel comfortable entering their quilts in competitions, knowing they will receive objective, knowledgeable, and helpful feedback.
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Karen has been active in quilting groups and organizations for many years. She is a member of the Cobblestone Quilters Guild and the Quilters of South Carolina, where she has served on the boards of both organizations in many positions.
Karen’s current focus is on quilt judging. In 2022, she became a nationally certified quilt judge through NACQJ, the National Association of Certified Quilt Judges. Currently, she serves on the board of directors as the Candidate Coordinator. In this role, she oversees those who have entered the certification program to become NACAJ-certified quilt judges. With the assistance of a committee, she just recently completed a massive overhaul of the certification program.
Karen is an award-winning quilter, with two Best of Shows and a Best Applique Award as highlights of her quilting career. But she believes the best reward from quilting is spreading the love and joy of quilting and providing comfort to others through quilting.
Karen’s philosophy of quilt judging is to select those entries that are outstanding in each category, to provide all entrants with positive feedback in areas where they have excelled, and to give constructive remarks. Her goal is to encourage quilters to feel comfortable entering their quilts in competitions, knowing they will receive objective, knowledgeable, and helpful feedback.
Back to Quilt Show page >>>