Wednesday, May 01, 2013

Paris...Rome...Paducah!

Another item crossed off my non-existent bucket list. I have wanted to go to the Paducah Quilt Show for many years, but it is so dang hard to get to and the accommodations leave a bit to be desired, and it's hard to get a hotel room, because the tour companies snap them all up. So - seven hour drive and staying in a hotel away from the action - no, thank you. Last year I noticed that Stichin Heaven travel had a tour AND (most important), the rooms were in Metropolis, across the river, at Harrah's! Illinois is a quick 14 mile ride across from Paducah! Who knew? When the quilt show lists accommodations, they don't list Illinois hotels, so all you get is a list of the "Inns" in Paducah. If I were to go back, I would definitely stay in Metropolis at Harrah's. So all the folks on the tour (56 of us) all met up at the Nashville airport, and took a bus to Paducah ('cause you can't fly in to Paducah!)

First of all, Metropolis - you do know it is the home of Superman, right? Because it rained every day but one, I didn't get a chance to go to the giant Superman statue. But here is a not taken by me photo:
We did drive by the statue, but because it was raining, my photo wasn't a good one.
 
The quilt show was phenomenal...so many quilts and over 400 vendors. Of course I spent way more money than I intended to, but not on fabric. We started out by going to dinner with Eleanor Burns, she of Quilt in A Day fame. Not being a Quilt in a Day kind of girl, I have never made one of her quilts, but I sure did enjoy her. She greeted every single one of us personally, chatted and answered questions, cleaned up after us, and was just generally a delight. Despite fabrics that were on sale from $3-$5, I didn't buy any fabric.
 
Thursday was National Quilt Museum, Caryl Bryer Fallert (A-MA-Zing studio), and Ricky Tims photo shot. I wish I could show you the quilts at the National Quilt Museum because they are so incredible, but you are not allowed to take photos. Paducah had some kind of arts revival program years ago and Caryl bought her live/work studio for $2, in exchange for refurbishing the building. She took us on a tour of the building, which is very organized and beautiful. The Ricky Tims photo shoot will be on the cover of The Quilt Life in October. Thank goodness he did it on Thursday, because Friday, despite weather reports that the weather would be overcast, it poured. Went to Mecca Hancock's of Paducah (not the same as Hancock's).  How to describe it? First of all, it's HUGE and is in two buildings. How huge is it? Fabric is arranged by designer, not by color, that's how big it is. These pictures don't even begin to show how big it is. I only bought 2 yards of fabric at Hancock's, because how can you not? The ones I bought were current batiks which were $6/yd. 
 
Incredibly, one day I ran into Libby Lehman, and I got to show her my circle quilt! With 30 or 40 something thousand people, it really was amazing that I saw her.
 
And here's a picture of our tour group.
There were soooooo many people in Paducah, and the quilts are not laid out with as much room as they are in Houston, so I don't know that I would go back. I might, but I don't feel compelled to. PLUS - AQS is adding three new shows next year, one of which is in CHATTANOOGA! Not only does Chattanooga have nice hotels, it's actually a short two hour drive away! September, 2014, Baby! 
 
Live like there's no midnight
- Cinderella

5 comments:

Livin' Blue Quilter said...

Wow...I haven't made the trek to Paducah yet. I go to Houston, every 2 years or so. I might try Paducah next year. Good job on "no fabric buy." I am having withdrawal pains now, but holding on. Great group photo...you are a trailblazer:0)

Regina said...

I have never been to Paducah. Autumn and Stevie went last year (or was it the year before?) To celevrate Stevie's 50th birthday. I can not believe you only purchased 2 yarda of fabric!!!!!!!!

I am headed to Beaver Dam WI to Nancy's Notions and have purchased tickets to 3, yes THREE of El's talks!!!!!!!! Some of my earliest quilting memories are my grandmother's quilts and Eleanor Burns on tv!!!! I haven't made any of her quilts lately but I still buy her books. Last weekend I wore my "Eleanor Burns made a stripper out of me" t-shirt ; o

lenasdaughter said...

@ Livin' Blue - LOL re: Trailblazer. Me and the Bus Driver! Actually, we had people from the UK, Canada and Australia. There were a couple of people from California...one woman had flown to L.A. from the Bay Area, then to Nashville. Nashville seems to be the way to go, but then it's 2.5 hours from Nashville. I don't think we saw anything there that won't be in Houston this year though. :)

lenasdaughter said...

Hey Regina! Autumn posted on Facebook that she and Stevie went last year. There is so much fabric in this house...I will never, ever use it all, and Al will end up selling it on eBay. Or at a yard sale. But I did my fair share on embroidery programs. Sounds like you are an Eleanor groupie! I don't know where she gets her energy, but she was amazing. Her family was there to help out, and her grandchildren are precious. I know you will have fun! Hugs!

Mom said...

I was in Paducah too (had 2 quilts in the show) - sorry I missed meeting you :-)