Well, this past week just flew by – and it was a wonderful Quilt Week in Paducah! The quilts and vendors were very inspiring, the weather couldn’t have been better, and Wendy, Emily, Katherine and I even got to catch up with Quilt Man at the Grace church luncheon on Friday (his sidekick “Bobbin”missed it because he has a day job :-).
Later that day I came upon the Statue of Quilterly (my name, didn’t know what else to call her) posing near the gazebo on Broadway … only in Paducah!!!
Here are some non-documented, but interesting statistics we heard from a dear man in a van who gave us a ride to the Convention Center one morning. The city of Paducah has a population of about 26,000 and around 40,000 quilters descend upon the city for 1 week!
There is so much to do! Besides the AQS show, classes, and vendors, there are many lovely antique and specialty stores downtown, and almost all of the empty storefronts fill up with vendors. There is an antique quilt display and more vendors at the Rotary club every year.
This year we also did an evening stroll, called Parlors and Porches, that wound through the Lower Town area.
A number of years ago Paducah came up with an artist relocation program where the old, deteriorating homes in the downtown area were sold, at a great discount, to artists who would then renovate them and move their studios there.
Caryl Bryer Fallert was one of the artists who relocated there (although she built a new home/studio in the area).
On Friday night we purchased a wristband and then were treated to tours of studios and some of these renovated homes. It was great fun. Some were so lovely, some extravagant and one oddly fascinating.
We ended the evening with “Bubble Tea” at Etcetera.
I highly recommend you experience a Lower Town tour for yourself during next year’s show!
And finally, here’s the “I Spy” portion of this week’s post:
Last week I shared a picture of the kitchen studio Wendy and I set up in our Paducah abode. We actually did do quite a bit of stitching during Quilt Week. This year I brought along the components for two “I Spy” quilts that I’m making for my older grandchildren. Prior to the trip I collected 6 inch “I Spy” squares. Then I cut enough backing and batting squares for two twin sized quilts. Here are some 6″ squares for Hanna’s blocks (white batt, various “I Spy” prints and flannel squares in yellow and “Hello Kitty”, which will alternate on the back of the quilt):
While in Kentucky, I layered and quilted all of Willy’s squares (the back of his quilt is flannel too, and will alternate between blue and “Spiderman”)
I got over 3/4’s of Hanna’s squares quilted also
I hope you can see that Willy’s are quilted with a free motion “W” and Hanna’s with an “H”.
Now it’s time to do some unpacking. Then I’ll finish Hanna’s squares and hopefully get started on putting both quilts together using Sharon Pederson’s “Reversible Quilts” technique.
I’ll keep you posted as things progress.