I'm a Kentucky country gal whose passion is to quilt. Like most of you I love to find a pattern, search for the fabrics, cut it all up and sew it back together. My husband just shakes his head in utter disbelief that this is fun, but he did finish off a part of the basement so I could spread it all out and not have to scoot it to the end of the dining room table each evening. He hunts...sits in a tree for hours on end through rain and snow...and thinks I'm odd??

I happened on this site while looking for a pattern with log cabin diamonds. The one on here is lovely. I have just completed another that was shown in an Oxmoor House book. It was my greatest challenge as of yet and my most satisfying accomplishment. It will be shown at the Grand Rivers Quilt Show next week.

Paducah is having their AQS Show beginning on Wed,April 27th. I call this "MY Hunting Trip" and hubby gets to take care of the meals and the animals.

Welcome from upstate NY. Have a great time at Paducah. Wish I was going with you!

I'm going to Paducah quilt show and I have planned this year to go to Grand Rivers too. It's only 30 min. from Paducah and is the same days as the AQS show . I'm glad to see The Grand Rivers show is open till 9 pm on Thursday and Friday! Here is the website for Grand Rivers show if anyone is planning to be in Paducah for the show, you can see two shows! I have heard some like the Grand Rivers Show better!

http://www.grandrivers.org/Quilt%20S...d%20Rivers.htm

Sometime you will have to plan to attend this. It is an annual event and 25,000 to 30,000 quilting crazy women attend.

We have had a huge amount of rain and expect more today and tomorrow. I may have to find an alternative route into Paducah as so many roads are covered with water.

There are so many lovely quilts...very intimidating...I won't live long enough to match most of those shown.

The Grand Rivers show is small in comparison to the Paducah Show, but I, too, have heard that many like it because it is more traditional than much of the Paducah Show. The winners are chosen by viewers choice, so each person who attends gets to vote on their choice of a full-sized quilt and the wallhanging of their choice. I'm excited about seeing mine on display.

Be sure to plan on eating at Patti's Settlement while in Grand Rivers. Very good restaurant.

Your 'hunting trip' sounds like fun! One year I am going to have my own 'hunting trip' to the Paducah and Texas shows!

I'm just a wee bit envious that you get to go to Padukah, but I still wish you lots of fun. Maybe you can report back and I can live vicariously through you for a moment. Padukah is actually on my bucket list.

As for the hubby - I am lucky in that he likes the quilting. (He is my color coordinator and general idea bringer) His hobby: Astronomy. He will sit outside for hours looking at the night sky with his telescope. Me - not so interested (Dark and moskitos, need I say more?)

in Paducah be sure and stop by the Rotary show. It is about half way between downtown and the Mall. There will be an interesting exhibit of antique quilts. One of the Hoffman Challenge exhibits and of course, thousands of quilting stencils at The Stencil Co booth.

I'll be looking for your quilt. Saw some very pretty ones there few years back. They were more on my level than the ones I saw in Paducah.

I've noticed Paducah big money winning quilts are judged more for innovative technique then for master workmanship. All the quilts that make it in the show are almost perfect so none can be denied winning based on quality of work. Last year's winner was all thread painting to make the pattern of the quilt on a whole cloth background. Very dark in color and I didn't care for the theme of the quilt, but very innovative and of course expertly made. I haven't seen a traditional quilt win the best in show in years.

I ran into Paducah to Hancock's yesterday and, as my husband said, did a little "scouting." They were still in the midst of hanging quilts and getting ready. That place in wonderful!!

That is really exciting. It will be Multi Fan Star, made with Moda's French General. Hope you like it.

I know where that is, and will make it a "must" stop. Thanks!

You are so right! They are really out of my league. I still enjoy the traditional piecing. I like paper piecing, too. Mostly, I hand quilt, but my hands are beginning to yell at me, and I'm trying to teach myself to machine quilt. So far, I can stipple, but that's about it.

Congratulations, good luck and would you please post pictures of your quilt? Thank you
Sue

Have a great time for all of us going with you in our imaginations! Remember we want pics from all of you that will be there!

Welcome to the board from Southern California!!!

I hope to get there sometime. And the International in Houston too.

Your husband sounds just like mine. I',m crazy for cutting little pieces and then sewing them together again but he can sit in a tree for hours!!!!

I'm a Kentucky gal also but have never been to the Paducah quilt show. Maybe someday. Have fun. :)

I could have written this statement myself.

I love my "hunting trips" also -- shop hops, retreats and quilt shows..

Enjoy your trip to Paducah. I was there many years ago.

Welcome, have fun on your hunting trip and may you bring back some great trophies for your stash!

Oh, I am soooo jealous!!! Wishing I was going with!! Enjoy and have a ball, okay, so that isn't quilty..lol

Welcome from Minnesota! Have a wonderful time at the show!
Please show us a picture of your quilt!

My husband also enjoys sitting in a tree freezing. I told him if he took a camera at least at the end of the day he would always have something. Whereas I always have something after my hunting trips. LOL

This will be my 16th yr in a row going! Some of my best memories are from the times I've had at the quilt show. As time has went on I'm getting less & less excited about it tho. Over the years you can definately see the changes being made & I don't feel all of them are for the good. The quilt show is excellent, lots & lots of vendors, soooo many beautiful quilts. The friendliest people you would ever want to meet. The hotels are terrible. After all these years of going I've been booted out of motels/hotels to the point it's almost impossible to find a place to stay. They would rather take bus tours than people that have been coming to their motels for yrs prior. It just keeps getting harder & harder to get there. It is going to be crowded too. With all the rain that has been coming this way you can count on rain! With rain comes big crowds & sometimes crabby crowds. So put your helmets & elbow pads on & get ready to go shopping! Hope to see you there! And yes the girls have considered this "our fishing" trip all these yrs! It's our time

Welcome here!! We're a great bunch of folk who all love the craft of quilting. So much information in all of our heads, and all willling to help and offer encouragement or constructive criticism.

Glad you found us and decided to join us!!

Janice

Besides Paducah, where are there other big shows to put on a "must go" list? Anything in Midwest?

I am looking forward to the bus trip to the Show! A LQS sponsors daily bus trips to the show! The bus leaves at 6 AM and we get to ride in comfort, not worry about parking, and rest on the way home. I have gone for several years and always enjoy the beauty and diversity of the quilts shown there. The crowds, not so much, but a necessary part of the show.

As you all may know there has been a tremendous amount of rain here in the Midwest. The Paducah Quilt Show will go on, but with some changes of location throughout the city. The Convention Center where it is usually held is on the WRONG SIDE OF THE FLOOD WALL. Yes, you read that correctly. I think most would call this poor planning which occurred many years ago. I haven't been able to trace back to when, who, and why this ever happened. But, fear not,the Show will go on, and although different...it may even be better.

My hubby and I are heading to Paducah from NY State on Wednesday but now all I hear on the news is the possible flooding of the Ohio River.
I am calling tomorrow to see what's going on as it's a 900 mile trip for us.

My son, his girlfriend and I are planning to drive from South Florida on Wednesday so I'm definitely checking before heading out. I don't want to miss my first time at the show but if its flooded out........

I try to make reservations while in Paducah for the next year's show and I'm told at every hotel/motel they don't take reservations that far in advanced. I have to call the first of the next year. And I call Jan 1 and they tell me no vacancies, everything is booked.! That's okay, I can stay out of town and pay 1/2 what the downtown rates are during the quilt show.

AQS is posting updates on their facebook page about Paducah quilt show.

My husband, too, enjoys sitting in a tree in the freezing cold. He often does take his camera because sometimes that pictures are the only thing he brings home.

Welcome to the board! I love your avitar btw! I am fortunate enough to live in Houston TX, and 2010 was my very first show to attend, since I've only been quilting for a little over a year now. But I'd love to go to the quilt museum in KY! They're making one in Texas, should open soon and I look forward to going there as well. Maybe KY someday...
Oh, and my mother calls the day after Thanksgiving her Hunting Day! Me, I'd rather sew...

Manly,
I love the barn quilt. I'll show this to my husband, and maybe he'll get the fever, too. We could sure use one of those.

Bonnie P.

My friends and I went up to Hancock's and the Mall for a little preview. The whole city/town of Paducah has come together to literally move the whole show from one location to the Mall area, and Downtown. I think all will be fine as far as the show goes. Should be good....and where do you find so many happy women in one spot?

Have to sort of agree about the hotel problems around here. For next year check on the B&B's out by the Lakes. We do need more lodging here.

At present, it is raining again, so be sure to check the highways if you're coming from the east. I know that Louisville has had lots of rain. If you can get here the flood walls are up, and I don't think we'll need swim fins to get around. Thurs and Fri are supposed to be nice weather.