Friday, April 30, 2010

Paducah . . . . Part One . . .


So last week I was lucky enough to attend the AQS Quilt show in Paducah, Kentucky. This was my fifth trip to this show. Out of the so called "big" shows, besides Paducah, I've attended the Road to California and the Chicago Show. I hope to hit the show in Houston this fall.

The Paducah show is by far my favorite, for several reasons. The one thing that I like best about the Paducah show, is the thing that appeals least to other folks I know. When it's show week the town of Paducah is in quilt mode. The Chicago and California shows are nice, but everything is in one convention center. Once you leave the convention center, the quilt show is over. In Paducah, there are vendors and events all over town. The Rotary Club has an antique quilt show with vendors, there are vendors at the mall, all the shops in downtown Paducah decorate their windows with quilts and Eleanor Burns has classes and a tent sale at the fair grounds. I like getting out and about Paducah, I have friends that prefer staying at one venue.

Every restaurant, every hotel, and every place you go, you are surrounded by the nicest quilters in the world. Even if you go to the show by yourself, you don't feel alone. It's just the best, most friendly atmosphere. One gigantic sisterhood of quilters, I love it.

Another thing I like about the show in Paducah is the variety of quilts on display. There are quilts for every type of quilter, regardless of your quilting interest.

I'm not one to take a picture of every quilt at a show, just the ones that appeal to me for a specific reason.

So first up....


I think this quilt won the Bernina Workmanship Award. It was stunning, every little detail was perfect. The thing that really caught my eye was that I have some of this fabric, it never occurred to me to use it for anything like this.

A snails trail quilt is on my Sometime To Do List . . .

I think this is the most stunning one I've ever seen.

I'm partial to medallion quilts, even though I've already made one,

I liked the colors and blocks on this one.

I'm thinking about doing something with hexagons,

I like how this quilter added great borders to that hexagon center.

Even though I would love to try applique, I'm not sure I'll ever be able to make the border on this quilt,


the fabric is shirtings. This picture does not do this border justice.

This is a log cabin block,

I'd never seen anything like it before. I always like log cabin quilts.

I own this pattern,

but you know me and patterns, I own a lot of patterns.... but maybe I'll get to this one, someday.

This quilt looked very familiar to me,



Because I've made it!


This is my quilt # 37!

I like seeing a quilt similar to what I've made on display in the show. Who knows, maybe one of my quilts will make it in someday. But more than that, it's nice to know that the folks who pick the quilts for the show value good piecing and quilting, that's it's not all about creating your own design.

So that's it for the quilt show pictures,

next up...what I bought at the show! (Sherri C, I spent more $ at this show!)

Have a wonderful weekend.

17 comments:

  1. Wow! I really love the quilts you've featured - especially the first one. I think I'd enjoy the whole town getting into the quilt show spirit too. Can't wait to see your acquisitions!

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  2. All the quilts are gorgeous! The snails trail is particularly wonderful. I also love Judy Niemeyer quilts and have both of those patterns too. I have helped in making the Hawaiian Star for a raffle quilt. Now I just need to make my own. I love you quilt # 37!

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  3. WOW! What wonderful, wonderful quilts...thank you so much for sharing them with us! Incredible workmanship!

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  4. Thank you for sharing your pictures from Paducah, absolutely gorgeous quilts! Traveling and quilting are my favorite hobbies, last october I was so lucky to attend to the Houston Quilt Festival, a wonderful experience to me
    Always stitchin'
    Sara from Padua, Italy

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  5. Exciting quilts...I love the ones you picked to show us....now, show us the goodies!:)LOL

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  6. Beautiful array of quilts - thank you for sharing. Someday I'm going to go to that show again as a visitor rather than a worker so I can enjoy it. :-) Want to meet me there next year? teehee!

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  7. What a wonderful display of quilts!! Those could really get the creative juices going! I would love to go to that show one of these days.

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  8. Wow absolutely amazing! I've only been to Paducah once and loved it. Chicago was good and so was Nashville, but I really loved Paducah. Please stop by my blog and vote for my friend :-) Have a great weekend!

    Jocelyn

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  9. Thank you for sharing your wonderful pics. I love the cream applique border on that red. And I can't count the number of times I've seen that snail's trail quilt in Judy Martin's book and thought to myself that I need to make it. *sigh*

    One of these days...

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  10. Amen, I went for the first time, and I am smitten.
    Blessings,

    KT

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  11. Thelma, where to start? I love posts like these, with wonderful show and tell pics from even more wonderful quilt shows. Every one of the quilts you pictured was gorgoeous. I love the snail trail one. It's a pattern called "Shakespeare in the Park" and it's been on my to-do list for a very long time. I think Nicole mentioned one time that she'd like to make one some day also. Do I smell a challenge brewing?

    I love, love, love that red one with the applique winding leaves on the border. That is just beautiful.

    Sounds like you had a wonderful time and I am so glad you're letting us live vicariously through you.

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  12. Thelma,

    I just came across your blog. What a lovely blog! Thanks for showing those quilt pictures - they are all stunning!!!

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  13. Gorgeous quilts you've shown us. Sounds like you had a grand time. You definitely need to get started on applique. That border is not difficult at all. Leaves are one of the easiest shapes to applique. Just do it!! :)

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  14. I'm in awe!! Amazing quilts! Thanks for the great show.

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  15. Thelma, thanks for the quilt show! I like the quilts you chose to share with us. Great selection. I think I would like the Paducah show for all the reasons you gave. One day..maybe.

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  16. Thelma, thanks for giving those of us who can't attend a little taste of Paducah. Loved the quilt pictures. I have the book with the Snail's Trail quilt in it and it's on my "must do" list. The version in your picture is beautiful.

    I also love the medallion quilt. The design is great and the colors are so me.

    The Judy Neimeyer quilts are stunning as usual. I love seeing both your colorway and the colorway of the one in the show. Both are beautiful.

    I can't wait to see what you bought. Please share soon :-).

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