AQS International Quilt Show, Paducah, KY

The annual event that quilters all around the world anticipate the most has to be the American Quilters Society International Quilt Show in Paducah, Kentucky. The show is held in April, and entrants as well as attendees, literally come from the world over. Each year, the quilts just seem to get better and better, and the range of artistic expression more and more incredible. Those of us who consider ourselves "traditionalists" can be captured on camera gawking intently at the bold statements presented by the best of the art quilters, machine quilters caught admiring the delicate and infinite number of hand stitches displayed, and that ever present group of quilters who just cannot imagine making anything less than a queen size quilt are found "oohing" and "aahing" the tiny, ever so fragile appearance of those beautiful award-winning miniatures. And so it goes... I think most of all, I am always struck by the comraderie that the convention exudes. Die-hard quilter's and quilting enthusiasts are a "brotherhood", if you feminists will pardon the expression. No matter who they are, where they are, or where they came from, they share a bond that the rest of the "non-quilting" public (there really are some, you know!) can only wonder at.
My BFF and I were able to attend this year for only a day. We chose Friday, the 25th, left home at 5:30 A.M. and arrived in Paducah around 9:30. As always, there were quilters, vendors, and "Welcome Quilters" signs, all over town. The dogwood, fuschia, and tulips all in full bloom. The atmosphere and the excitement remind me of being a kid at the county fair, trying to decide where to start! The weather was beautiful, not too warm, and the rain held off until late evening. Since we are able to make the trip in a day, and often do, we passed up the quilt museum for next time, and went straight for the quilt showing. If you've never been to the show, you should really try to make it at least once. The number of entries and categories is mind-boggling, and provides enough "eye candy" to last a while... Be sure to take a comfortable pair of shoes and a tote roomy enough for all your "goodies", but "comfortable" enough to carry and maneuver through the crowds. Oh, and remember to put your camera in that tote so that when you want it, you won't realize that you left it in the car. And how do I know this?
I'm not sure that I had a favorite quilt this year. There were just too many awesome choices. Although I can't imagine ever creating anything like the quilts by Sharon Schamber, I have become an avid fan of her techniques for both applique, and bindings. She is remarkable, and if you haven't seen her methods, Google her site online & check it out. She has some great video feeds.
I could go on forever about what we saw and where we saw it, but if you weren't there, I could never "paint" a visual picture of it, and if you have been, you know already! We made a full day of it, and got our "fix" until next year's show...
Maralie

My Designs & Classes at Melear on Saturday

Of all the work I do lately, I think teaching quilt classes, and designing my own line of quilt patterns, are my favorite ways to pass my time. I love Ebay because of the contact and communication with all my customers, and some of them have become "e-mail" friends and acquaintances over the years, and are very "special" to me. But Ebay is hard work... Lots of mental planning, careful cutting, thoughtful packaging, and quick shipping are required to achieve the great feedback that all Ebay "quilting" sellers strive to attain. So although Ebay truly pays the bills around here, and has been a great source of pleasure to me, I live to find a few minutes every day to work with my quilting software, EQ6, and put my newest inspirations in "hard copy" form. Having started using EQ software back in 1999, I started out purchasing EQ4. I have been in love with the software ever since! I have notebooks full of print-outs, and the majority will never find their way to an actual fabric design. But somehow, just printing them out and storing them in binders, is a tangible offering to my continued quilting addiction. I suppose that all addictions must have their "treatment" programs. My going "cold turkey" is conceiving a great new design and not being able to transform it to fabric because of my time constraints, establishing a whole new vision of "re-hab" for quilters!
My second favorite pastime is teaching, or as I most often refer to it, "instructing", quilt classes. On Saturday, my busy schedule included an "Applique Techniques" class (2 HRS.) as well as a class for a tablerunner using John Flynn's "Wedding Ring Quilt Technique" (4 HRS.). Both classes were scheduled for the shop, Melear Fabrics, in nearby Salem, MO, applique in A.M., Wedding Ring in P.M. time slots, and both were full. In a nutshell, we had a great time!! I think I have met some of the most thoughtful, patient, caring, dedicated, and just plain "straight-up" folks in my quilting classes that I have ever known. I don't know if its just quilters in general, or that the art of quilting well requires those traits... I always come home from a day of classes feeling the pleasure and fulfillment of a job well done... And that's an emotional bonus in life... Like any good quilter, I strive to make all my "pieces" in life work well together.

Check out the post of applique tips (COMING SOON!) that I use in classes!

Catch you soon,

Happy Quilting, Maralie

Seams Quilt Goodies!

Block from Seams 2007 BOM pattern set, Piney Mountain


"My Sentiments"2007 Seams Block Party Panel Quilt