Paducah Winners

I had a wonderful brief fast frenzied time in Paducah, was sorry I couldn't be there longer, but there is always next time.  I saw many familiar faces and enjoyed Sneak Peak of the show, and toured the museum.  The quilts were beautiful.

To see photos of the winning quilts, click here.  There are videos of the quilts and interviews with winners, always great to watch.

The postcard above by Ruth Ohol was sent to me several years ago after I whined in class that my trip took way too long with all the road construction.  Well, there was still quite a bit, not as bad, but it added another hour to my 500 mile drive.  I am still somewhat the shape of the car seat and have swollen feet and an aching body from all the hours driving. 

Here I am posing with a fabulous flamingo, after lunch with Ann Fahl.  We each did the tourist thing and posed with the local color. 

It was at Flamingo Row restaurant in Paducah, and we had a delightful time, the motifs and colors just what we needed.  The food was yummy too.  The area at the front of the building had sand as fill and beach grass, flamingoes, painted signage, etc., so whimsical and fun, and in Paducah! 

On to the show.  The big winners that were machine quilted were all about the thread - contrast thread that "painted" the picture, lots of metallics too.  Susan Stewart's Bernina Award quilt featured a design made with digitized machine embroidery with lush feathers and minute background quilting on ivory Radiance fabric that she specially pieced so that the grainline would not show light/dark but was all uniform.  It was delicate, almost bridal in effect.

Judy Woodworth's Best Longarm quilt was a whole cloth design on black sateen fabric with colored threads, striking.  Do listen to her interview, it is delightful.

Sue McCarty's BOS was also a celebration of thread used to create the design in her quilt titled "Harmony Within."  There is also an interview with her, and one with Cheryl See who won the Hand Workmanship Award.  Getting the information from these quilters is great, and is  one of the perks of going.  Talking to them and seeing these quilts up close in person is the very best way to appreciate all the quilts. 

Congrats to Pat Holly for her Best Wall Quilt Award for "Imagining India," terrific.  Beautiful use of silk fabrics and color, fantastic machine work too.  I even got to talk to her!

Ellen Heck's first place quilt, "Baltimore in the Provence" was simply splendid, so glad I was able to see that one in person.  Quietly perfect.

The excitement, the quilts, the lovely weather, seeing friends made it very special for me.  Oliver missed me, and is still purring.

Diane

Ah, Paducah!

Oliver has been helping me draw, draw, draw.  He is very well behaved, sits on the drawings, helpfully holding them in place in case a strong wind might blow through.  Then he naps or chases something around the floor while he waits for me to be done so he can sneak up and attack me, then run off in a frenzy of delight.

I have been working on a new digitized collection of my quilting designs for the embroidery sewing machines, and it is coming along nicely.  I based the designs on some of my recent quilts, but the drawings are all new.  Watch for a September release from OESD if all goes according to schedule.  I don't have a title yet, but I'll let you know more details as this project unfolds.

And, speaking of schedules, mine includes shipping off these designs, then quickly switching gears and packing for my trip to Paducah next week.  Spring has arrived about 2-3 weeks early here in Wisconsin, so it won't be the dramatic change from winter to spring when I drive down to KY, but it will be wonderful to be back at the show this year and see so many quilts, friends, vendors, BBQ, dogwoods in bloom, friends and quilts at the museum. 

I see there are many familiar names with quilts in the show, and many who have taken classes with me.  It will be terrific to see your work hanging in this prestigious show......congratulations to all!

Please say hello if you see me, remind me how I know you, as it is a sea of people and it's hard to place people out of context. 

While I was working in my sewing room, Oliver discovered the bird lamp.  This is a lamp I've had for probably 40 years, has a wrought iron base with a vine and birds and lemons and leaves all over it.  Every now and then I put it in the pile of stuff to give away, and then I look at its fun whimsical design and decide to keep it just a bit longer. 

No other cat has ever paid the slightest attention to it.

Oliver sat under its warm light and tilted his head and stared at the little birds looking back at him.  He ended up with one paw on the head of a bird, just touching it gently, trying to figure out why the outside birds were sitting in Mom's quilting room.  He chirped and squeaked, tilted his head to the left and to the right, and finally settled down and slept under the gaze of the happy little birds.  I kept drawing.  Nothing like a deadline.  No chirping for me.

After I return from the AQS Show in Paducah I shall return to some quilting blog posts, ideas, tips, designs.  It's time to venture outdoors and enjoy the springtime.  Take a bit of time to look around and be inspired, translate that into your quilting ideas.

See you in Paducah!

Keep quilting-- your work gets better every day.

Diane