My friend and I went to Paducah yesterday. We only live about 35 minutes away so we try to beat the crowd by going on Wednesday. Well, someone must have let our secret out about not so busy Wednesdays, cause everybody showed up. We went to the balloon pavillion and you had to go through a turnstile to pressurize the air, but my ears still knew the difference. It was full of vendors and all had very nice things. I think there was a longarm dealer on every corner. The convention center was also full of vendors, quilts and people. It was a beautiful day, and we had a great time, but won't go back this year.

Did you buy anything ? :shock: Meet any fellow board members ? Pictures ? Those of us that couldn't go are enjoying it from board members that did get to go ! LOL

I wanna go someday!

I did buy a set of scissors, a two pieces of fabric. I have about everything else they have. There were only a few thousand people in one building at a time, so I didn't see anyone, even locally, that I knew. I spent most of my time saying excuse me and I'm so sorry. The aisles were not quite wide enough for 2 rows of people to pass through and still have 2 rows standing in the middle (if you know what I mean). But they put the demonstrators right where everyone has to walk. We did get to stop and watch a few demonstrations, but they make it look way too easy and I have figured out that even if I buy their product, it just isn't going to work that way for me. We love Eleanor Burns show and her fabric tent. She had lots of different material but it was going fast.

I would like to go but I have really developed an aversion to crowds in the last few years. It must have been a disappointment not to be able to just loiter along and take your time to really see everything!

Sorry it wasn't a more positive experience for you, that must have been very disappointing! But it does go to show you how many more are interested in this craft!! That's a positive thing! I think? :-D

Oh, I think it is a great experience. That's why we go every year. I don't so much go to look at the quilts as much as I do the vendors. I can see beautiful quilts right here. I can't touch them here, but I can't touch them there either. You can pick up all kinds of ideas and tips just by walking through the vendor areas. Really if anyone had the time to do it, it would be better to go at least 2 days and take in the shops downtown, but we host a classic car show on Saturday and have lots of preparations to do for that.

I think they would probably have to keep it open longer for me to see everything, I probably would have that glazed over look. You know, a kid in a candy store!! :shock:

it is very overwhelming. And those of us with extra padding in the hip area...well, do you remember the old timey pin ball machines where the ball hits one side and bounces off the other side...welllll.

I am glad you had a safe and nice trip.

That's some kind of visual!!!! :lol: :lol:

I've always wanted to go, but I wish that they would have it somewhere like a football stadium (with roof of course)....somewhere you could just meander around without bruises the next day! lol

I am in my truck w hubby right now! We r going a day early (I almost always get what I want) so we can go 2 full days. It is a 6 hour drive.

I too have always had issues with crowds. I totally freak out. But as long as I have a friend or family member with me to use as a "shield" I can suck it up. Sometimes I go to a bathroom n just sit for a few minutes

DID you use the shuttles/trolleys? Where did u park? We've never been during show.

We were blessed with a parking place on 4th street just 2 blocks from the balloon. A lot of the streets have parking and there is a free trolley.

I've always wanted to go, too, but like a few other, crowds make me so nervous!

I want to know all of the above too.

Hi Rexie!
I'm sorry we did not meet each other. My friends and I were there Wed. & Thurs. As you say WHEW!!!! We had so much fun! We loved the Eleanor Burns show...She is so funny. We went to the 1:00 P.M. show--then shopped in the buildings next to the tent for some fabric. It was so crowded, but we muddled through. The trolley was very helpful in getting us from one place to the other. Then we had to have some strawberry shortcake ..SOOOOOOOOOOOO Good.....Inside the pavillion and convention center were vendors from all over the U.S. and some foreign countries.
Then today we drove back to Paducah and took in three smaller quilt shows in the area. One was at the Civic Center and another one on Lone Oak Road. There were displays and vendors at the Kentucky Oaks Mall also.
Our last two stops were at Hobby Lobby and Hancock's of Paducah. Of course I had to have more fabric--such fantastic quality and prices at Hancock's of Paducah. When I got home both nights, my husband had dinner ready for me!!

Glad you had a good time. We take in the early Eleanor Show. It is funny, because they don't know exactly what they are doing the first time. I didn't buy a lot this year. I couldn't find the particular fabric I was looking for. I did notice there were a lot more long arm machines for sale. I really like the demonstrations. We watched 2 versions of paper piecing and one on making chenille. I also watched the demo on the machines.

Thanks for filling us in. Glad your trip was fun and safe.

sounds like great fun

The same thing happened to me last year - Wednesday was so crowded you couldn't get near anything - at Hancock's I couldn't even get a cart thru the aisles. That's primarily why I decided to forego it this year. Someone told me that the last day is now the 'best' day to go. Maybe next year......

I loved the little shop across the street. The quilter's gallery maybe. Maybe the name is wrong. It is straight across the street. Don't miss that shop if you are in Paducah.

Awww....someday......I'm glad you got to go though. :D :D

I went with a bus from a LQS, and met lots of other people from my guild there. I DID have a red ribbon on my tote, and a bow of banana fabric, but saw no other red ribboned totes, so I didn't 'recognize' anyone from the forum.
It was quite crowded as lots of people see someone they know and stop to visit in the aisles of the bubble. The aisles were not wide enough, but there was so much to see that I felt it was my obligation as a quilter to go up and down EVERY aisle!
I aksed questions and watched demos, but enjoyed the Martelli boothbest. Linda there had lost her voice, so it was an intimate demo! I got to visit with venders from previous years and I saw way too much beautiful fabric, but I resisted! NO NEW FABRIC! I did get some tools I had been looking for, and overall, I plan to go again next year!
I did not use the shuttle to visit other venues this year. Waning energy can be blamed for that oversite!
I ate way too much and am exhausted today, and have lots to do!

wish Jacksonville, Fla had one of these or anywhere close by!
I always wanted to go to an quilting show, exhibits get together showing!

Try the quilt show in Houston - Fly into Hobby with Southwest - it's the cheapest. Awesome show and great vendors - lots of room but it still gets crowded and they open up a food court with healthy and unhealthy food.

WHAT IS A BALLOON? I GUESS THIS IS A QUILT SHOW?

I am new to the site. Just looking around and I sure like the quilt in the background of your picture. I live way over in NC, so newer been to paducah. June

Welcome!

I am still in Paducah and having so much fun! We are going to see Ricky Tims tonight. He is always entertaining.

The crowds have been ok. The only time that I have had that "Let me out of here!" feeling was this morning at Hancocks in the back room. Way too many people shopping at once. They had reduced the fabric in there to $3.98. The front of the store had lots of shoppers, too, but they were more spread out.

Here is a link to the Pavilion. http://www.wpsdlocal6.com/news/local/89310632.html

It is really nice. With vendors in 3 places in the convention center and others in the Pavilion (bubble), it worked out really well. Of course, you could shop with Eleanor at Carson Park and with the vendors on Kentucky and at the mall. Something for everyone.

The quilts are beautiful. I can only look at quilts for so long, before I go into quilt overload. Then it is time for shopping! Shop, look at quilts, shop, look at quits.

We are going home tomorrow. I have walked around with a big red bow on my bag, but haven't run into any forum menbers. With so many people, I guess we just aren't seeing each other. Oh, well, some of us tried, right?

We went yesterday, and found free parking on a shady street just a couple blocks away. We roamed the convention center, and tent for over 5 hours, then enjoyed a strawberry shortcake from the Boy Scouts, and had a wonderful time. The quilts are so breathtakingly beautiful, and the amount of talent wrapped up in the total number of quilts is unimaginable, but so awe inspiring. The 8 hour drive was worth it. This will be the last year our daughter will be able to go with me, as she'll be moving away with her Air Force husband, but it has been such a treat to go with her for the past 4 years while they lived close enough. I plan to keep going to Paducah and send her pictures. I had a good time spending lots of $$ and watching everyone enjoy themselves.

I have always wanted to go but it's just too far for me.

Four of us went Wednesday and Thursday, three stayed for part of Friday. I actually wasn't impressed with the actual show quilts. I guess I am too traditional for what the AQS terms quilting. The vendor quilts were great and the WWII show at the Rotary was fantastic! The aisles were much too small and very difficult to navigate. Parking was a breeze! For 5 dollars, we parked right next to the "marshmallow" as one in our group christened it. The river area was also very pretty and we browsed several shops. I had never been to the Paducah Hancock's - what an experience! Pretty good time overall. Possible plans to return next year. Eleanor Burns is a hoot - we actually ended up singing with her! Although I wouldn't suggest buying anything directly from her - even with the bag discount, we found the same items elsewhere two and three dollars cheaper. I looked for QFs and red ribbons - didn't see any. Also, if you like Southern BBQ, Paducah is definitely not the place to find it!

glad you got to go to Paducah, I want to go sometime!

did you get to meet any other quilters from the board with red ribbons???

glad you had a good time. God bless. Penny

Got back from Paducah Sat am, before thunderstorms hit. Had a great time; lots of people, no red ribbons; so crowded, maybe wider aisles would have helped. Bought a Tin Lizzie 18; have to wait a couple of weeks for delivery. Also a lot of small things. Stayed on Ky Lake where it was beautiful; just seeing the boats and water was so relaxing after the jungle of people at the show. This is probably my last show; can't deal with the crowds; leave it for the younger quilters. The quilts were gorgeous. The WWII display was very impressive, as was the diaplay inside the Convention Center. Seems inappropriate to call myself a quilter after seeing those stunning quilts. I can't imagine making anything that fabulous.

We went Friday and Saturday and had a blast. I love the shows; I've gone every year for the past 6-7. I love, love, love it.

I had a great time. Got there Thursday and left early Sun. I was surprised at the Best of Show quilt. It had beautiful workmanship but honestly the overall quilt was not that pretty to me, very dark colors and an odd theme. Several of the winning quilts were heavily painted with paint sticks. I got discouraged about that. Why has the show become more of a fiber arts show? All the winners that were chatting about their quilts I kept hearing "I am trained in fiber arts' or "I have a background in fine arts." I guess the quilt museum wants more modern art fiber works in their exhibit.

I'm curious. I've read posts here and at another forum about Paducah.
I'm getting the impression that alot of the quilts on display and being judged are not necessarily traditional quilts, but more of the "art" quilt type? (You know, portraits, landscapes, etc.)
Although I'm amazed by what some people can do with fabric and thread, I like traditional quilt blocks.
I almost hope the "art" type quilt theme is true, then I'll not feel so upset each year because I can't get there.