Paducah Quilt Show 2009 Part 2

Since these quilts are some of the best in the country, we might as well start off with the Grand Prize winning Best in Show.  From a lady from Australia.  

This is the Hand workmanship award from a Japanese artist. 

There was no shortage of quilts from the far east this year, South Korea and Japanese quilts were all star winners.  Whimsy and traditional ruled the day, it seemed to me.  The high art quilts of a few years ago were passé and relegated to a very few awards.  This is the Gammil machine quilting award winner.

The bed quilt winners were named by an old southern gentleman, or at least the names wanted me to believe that.  1st place A New Look at a Grand Old Lady.  2nd place Savanah.

Even the first quilt entered in the contest were spectacular.  1st place entry Spring with Delight.

All the big quilt stars were there, selling their wares.

The show is a bit smaller this year, quality over quantity was definitely noticeable to me.  Here is the empty pool and all the vendors are gone around it and under the pool was empty as well-a huge improvement from last year when the vendors and we shoppers were miserable from the heat.  

Paducah Quilt Show 2009 Part 1

My friend Shirley and I took the bus to Paducah, Kentucky, sponsored by Happy Heart Quilt Shop in Louisville.  In the past the quilt show in Paducah has been known as the premiere quilt show in the country.  Not only does the Convention Center where the award winning quilts are displayed, but the a large portion of the town comes out with quilts in the windows.  We started our opening day of the show at the Cherry Convention Center.  This is known as the Rotary Show, as the local Rotary Men's Club, hosts the Pilgram Roy Collection of Antique Quilts.  Some of  these quilts seemed remarkably contemporary.  But, like the Geese Bend Quilts, considered to be sophisticated art quilts, really it was probably the fabric on hand put together in a pleasing manner.  The Hoffman Challenge is on display there as well.  This year the fabric selected for the challenge, was made into dolls.  This doll's name is Elenore.  This building should not be missed, as there are many vendors and other interesting things to see there.  

Speaking of Elenore, after the Rotary Show, we walked to the really good barbque in town.  A small place where usually only the locals are on hand.  But, since last year, my mom and I had time to explore more, we happened upon this little old fashioned establishment.  

Elenore's barn was next and we bought some fabric for a couple of projects I'm working on.  We did not get to see the days entertainment as the shuttle bus to the quilt show was pulling up at the door and off we went.  

Thunder Over Louisville-an Event Not to Be Missed!

At least some time in your life, you need to get to one of the biggest fireworks shows and air shows in the country.  We started the day with the parachutes dropped from the sky into the cold Ohio River.  When the day is so pretty, this is what you get, a mass of humanity.  Luckily my husband's office is on the corner of the 7th floor and we got a birds eye view of the show.  I'll try to upload the video of the show, but, I think it won't work.  If not, I'll try to put it on YouTube.  

Lucky for the Kentucky side, the wind was blowing right into Indiana and Jeffersonville.  We hadn't been in 4 or 5 years and I can't believe how much it's grown.  

I'm amazed at how this sliver of yellow tape keeps people so well behaved and staying out of their "territory".  Tents were everywhere, in plane view of signs stating "no tents".  But, from what I could see it was a very well behaved bunch of people, enjoying their big free show.  Louisville is fortunate in that regard.  We have many free fun things to do, especially before the Derby.  The parade and balloon race are just a couple of the free options.  

Another free show here is Waterfront Wednesday.  On Wednesdays in the in summer our Public Radio Partnership gas a free concert every last Wednesday of the month.  It's a wonderful opportunity for families to bring their lawn chairs and quilts to the waterfront for a day of great music, some of them soon to be big acts and some already in the spotlights.