Just home from Paducha Quilt Show
 

WOW what a great time my friend and I had - we stayed 1 night, so enjoyed two days of looking, shopping, and MOST of all the show Eleanor Burns puts on. What a lot of laughs and great entertainment, for FREE! Plus the 25% off you get if your register with her site, fantastic material marked below $6/yard - some even as low as $2!!!! We were having a good time anyway, took a free motion quilting on domestic machine class (I need lots of practice) but El just put the icing on the cake! Had seen her on TV, but she is a bigger hoot in person.

sounds like you had a lot of fun. Wish I was there, too!

I'm here with 3 friends from VA. Saw Eleanor's show, too. It was a riot! Even bought her book & patterns. Loved all the quilts, too. Have been shopping non-stop since last Monday. Shopping through Ohio on our way home next week. My credit card is sizzlin' but I've found lots of wonderful fabrics. (Not that I really needed any!)

I hope to get there some day. So glad you had a great time.

Thanks for letting us know about the show. I'm planning on that trip for 2015. I know it's a long way off, but it gives me something to look forward to.

Every year I say we are going to but when time to go something always comes up. 6 weeks ago our water heater started leaking so with the cost of a new one, a plumber and inspection fees there went $500. Three weeks later(day of hot water heater inspection), the washer stopped working, so another almost $700. Right now I look forward to going next year and hearing about how fantastic it was this year. It's only 3 hours away from me.

Lucky you!! I bet you did have a wonderful time.

I just got back about 7:30 Friday night. Left on Tuesday and shop hopped down. Spent Wednesday and Thursday at the show with my daughter-in-law and shop hopped home. Found some great rulers and other things. Went to Thursday night auction that benefits the Museum and spent some more money but figured it goes to a great cause and had a good time with a great auctioneer. Alex Anderson sat with us while we ate our lunch on the curb by the convention center and she invited us to the photo shoot they did by the Museum for the magazine so we should be on the October cover (with hundreds of others) but great fun. Ricky Tims was there also. The Museum is a must see if you go to Paducah even if the show is not on. The Quilts are wonderful. Soo much fun but I will have to be very good for awhile.

We are still here but getting ready to leave. Also did some great retail therapy and had a perfect meal at the First Pres. Church for Taste of Paducah. They do such a great job. Eleanor Burns and Hancocks of Paducah are really battling it out to see who can sell the most fabric. Prices are fantastic.

The show was crowded but I have a lot of pictures to go over at home so I can study techniq
ues. The show always makes me think about creativity and using colors in a different way.

It was sad for some that it was so cold and rainy for much of the week. I missed the sun and the outside vendors. Kirchoffs Bakery was fantastic too and we are going to take some of their bread home.

Sounds like you all had a great time. I so want to go - maybe next year! It makes it more real to hear how much fun all of you had. I'm saving my pennies now!

Sounds like great fun!!!

Glad that you had a great time. El is wonderful. I was at her store in CA and she took me thru her studio.

One lady said she would have to remortgage her house, I laughed and said, "when and if my husband pre-deceases me I'm getting a reverse mortgage to buy it all!!!" Yes, also saw Alex Anderson, Ricky Timms and Marti Mitchell. Marti Mitchell was so kind and eager to show her techniques. Oh heck, everyone was nice and helpful. As for the quilts, green with envy - I don't have enough time on earth left to ever accomplish anything worthy of that show. It does amaze me the talent of the lady quilters in Japan, there work is unbelievable. We only spent 2 days there, wished we had more (of course my husband said "no way!!" when he saw the damage I did in just 2, lol!!!).

I love reading the fun everyone had. I didn't get to go this year but plan on going next year. Did anyone visit the Yo Yo Ladies table and learn the 3D handsewn bow tie block? What was the Rotary Quilt show theme this year?

I'm just back myself - spent Thursday afternoon through about noon today and had a great time. I lone wolfed it, as I don't have any quilty friends quite yet. My big spend was on a bunch of Cherrywood fat quarters. Loved all the quilts and the museum is fantastic. It was kind of nice to just do everything and go wherever I wanted at my own pace. Got to talk to lots of quilters from all over the place. I can't wait until next year. I did not make it to the Eleanor Burns shows, but did pick up a few yards of sale fabric from the downtown store.

So glad you had the chance to go to Paducah and most of all that you got to see Eleanor Burns in person. I've watched her on TV and have several of her books, but I wish someday I could see her in person, although it's probably not going to happy. Glad you had such a great time and I'm sure it will be a treasured memory for you.

Wow you all sound like you really know how to have a great time in Paducah!

Sounds like a whole lot of fun!! Maybe next year?! :)

I am also back - had a wonderful time in Paducah - stayed with our daughter. She works for the Paducah Sun and said that last year they had 30,000 paid admissions to the Quilt Show itself and that this year they were expecting more than that. Everywhere that we went (in 3 days) the crowds were much bigger than the past two years, despite the rain on Friday. And I was totally wrong on my previous opinion of Hancocks of Paducah - I had said on here that they never have sales (especially during Quilt Week) but that was not the case this year - they had orange tags on about 1/4 of their bolts of fabric - ON SALE. Then in their back room they had TABLES full of flat fold fabrics, started out at about $6.99 and then went down to $3.99 on Friday. It took me two tries (2 different days) at Hancocks to see it all - absolutely could not get down the rows with a cart - had to carry my bolts around and wound up straining a muscle in my chest - then stubbed my toe on someones walker/cart at the Quilt Show and that really hurt/slowed me down. The winning quilt (sorry, no pictures) took the maker 6 years to make - a Mexican Fiesta sort of theme - bright colors - but the back of the quilt was stunning also - machine quilted in bright colors - fabulous! Even my DH paid his money to get in the show and walk around with us and griped the whole time about the quilts - said that they were more like pictures painted with cloth and not quilts like his Mom would have made and made to be used on a bed.

Oh, I so wanted to go! It is like 5 hours from me. I went last year for the first time for one day and didn't buy hardly nothing. Mainly because I wanted to see what it was all about first, then I kicked myself for not buying anything.eerrrh!. I passed this year sadly, but only because I am going to Chicago to the big shoe up there in June. Also, heading to Missouri Start Quilt Company store this week. So, a girl can only do so much. I do plan to go next year. It will be my birthday present to myself! Glad everyone had a good time!

I'm sitting in the airport in Louisville waiting to return to Saginaw Michigan. I went the show with my two sisters who live in hometown Louisville. My younger sister bought $5 tickets for El's show to gaurentee our seats at the show. The tickets in turn became a five dollar coupon for her shop. Loved, loved, loved her show! Ahhhhh was her favorite expression. She was a hoot! Loved the show and shopping too, good thing they don't weigh carry-ons, I brought any empty one that is now bursting at the seams with beautiful fabrics, not one over 6.99 a yard, El's book autographed by her, her new pattern and kit that I got for $93 after printing off a thirty dollar coupon sand using my $5 back from the show. I have already warned my DH that I bought a lot of fabric. Best of all my sisters want to start planning for next year!

four of us went for the week we left last Sunday afternoon and came home last night. took Eleanor's class on Tueday went to her show, took some lectures and a class with Edyta Sitar on Sat morning. shopped, and ate,,,
went to friday evening with Alex Anderson and Libby Leman it was good but missed Ricky perfoming. I think this show was the coldest and wetest we have even gone to. been going since 1999... got our hotel for next year..

I had a good time too. Met several famous quilters and some not famous....bought fabric at Hancocks. Omg, did I get some bargains...the weather was not nice, but we hung in there. Eleanor always has a good show. She is smaller than she was 3 years ago and she made reference to eating cactus salad which is good for her blood sugar, wonder if she has diabetes? Saw so many outstanding quilts, the main winner was very good, but did not stand out among the others. In my opinion, that is. I will be there again next year if possible.

I went with my husband-Thursday-Saturday-saw Eleanor Burns show-GREAT-went to the convention center, and downtown also-shopped till I dropped-Talked with the lady at the Brooklyn Revolver booth-and she assured me they work wonderful and smoothly if you use it right you won't get cut, cutting your designs-she demonstrated you put down a suction cup on your template, and cut with care-I tried it and no cuts-so ladies buy yourself one-they are fabulous, and fun just turning your Revolver table makes things so easy-I got one also-$70.00 not a bad price to help relieve cutting bought a wooden iron, some markers for marking quilt labels, and $200.00 of material for 4 baby quilts, and took lots of pictures still to look at-I suggest everyone go, and have fun-We stayed a motel near Harrah casino in Illinois-35 miles away.

I was at her show in Lancaster, she is such a funny woman.
I would love to take a class with her.

I went on Thursday. I stayed from open to close. I was just so overwhelmed by all of the gorgeous quilts. Next year, I will stay the night. I didn't go to any of the shows. I looked at all of the quilts and the many, many vendors. Then ate at the deli that was recommended. By the time I left there, the line was out of the door. I also went to the bakery and coffee shop. I went to the Quilt Museum next. It was fantastic. I didn't go to the Eleanor Burns store. My arms were hurting from the heavy bag I was carrying. So I am planning to carry less in my bag. And bring extra and possibly a rolling cart :) Oh, more money! So much to buy! I had a wonderful time!

As her conspirator, I can tell you it's been fun, fun, fun!

Forgot to add - but I asked my DH what he thought the average age of the quilters was and he said "72 and they are from Iowa" - I said how do you know that they are from Iowa? and he said "because they are corn fed" !!!!!

I am planning to go next year. Where is the best place to stay?

After reading te great stories, I am excited already!

ME TOO !!!!! I talked to DH and he said we could make plans I have never been either..We are about 13 hrs away...

Where to stay - I would get my reservations NOW - just pick any nationally known chain of motels that you are familiar with and call them for a reservation. I'm guessing that most motels are in or around Paducah. Get a map and see what is there. My DD says that she knows people who rent out spare bedrooms to quilters - the same ones come year after year.

Sounds like all of you had a lot of fun and found lots of good buys. I hope to go someday for the show. My husband and I are going to Paducah in a couple of weeks just to see the museum, Eleanor Burns shop and Hancocks. Thanks for sharing your fun with us.

When you go to Hancocks of Paducah - go to their back room - kind of hard to find - so if you do not find it - then ask an employee where it is.

I would love to go! Just wish it wasn't so far from Texas! I try to go to the International Quilt Show in Houston every year in Nov. It is wonderful, too, but I would still like to go to Paducah.

I talked to a lady in Paducah a few days ago and she said that the Houston show is bigger but she liked the Paducah Show better because the "people were friendlier in Kentucky".

We got back this evening from Paducah. WOW, what a fun filled 3days!! We tried to do as much as possible in the time we had but didn't get to see everything. I forgot my camera and therefore didn't get any pictures. This year was my first time going but I hope to go back again and again!

I was down there the end of March for the first time and they were already gearing up. Hopefully I can attend next year. Am retiring in a couple of months and DH bought an RV. Now I can tell him its another opportunity to use the RV!

I went on a bus trip with my quilt guild. Loved the show - so many beautiful quilts. Our trip included many of the local churches "Quilters' lunches and dinners". We went to the museum and I picked up some great bargains at the store next door - Murray's, I think it was. Hate to say it, but I was kind of disappointed in Hancock's. I was looking forward to the bargain flat folds in the back, but by the time our bus got there (Friday night), those tables were almost empty and very "picked over". Don't get me wrong, if I was picking fabric for a quilt for myself, I would have had a field day in the main store. But I do a lot of charity quilts and was hoping for some fun juvenile prints on the flat fold tables. Overall it was a great trip!