Shopping & Eating at the Paducah AQS show

I'm wrapping up my series of Paducah posts with two favorite topics: food & vendors!
The number one Must Eat every year is strawberry shortcake from the Boy Scouts Troop 200:

Get it with "the works"...whipped cream and ice cream!
This was right out in front of the Convention Center, where a large number of food vendors were set up along with a large white tent and lots of picnic tables. It made a great place to eat, meet friends, and just rest awhile. Do note the pot of geraniums...such a nice touch!
On the way downtown is a good restaurant called The Whalers Catch. They were also part of the "at the show" food service, with a set-up outside, and another inside the building.
I almost laughed my head off when I saw this:

Actually it's a good idea for keeping the shrimp on ice, but once they have been de-headed & cooked, I don't think they'll be swimming anywhere! 
This is one of many reasons to visit Cohen's downtown:

The world's fanciest chicken salad in a tomato! Ladies at the next table over were even looking at it! You can also get a traditional Kentucky Brown sandwhich here. Our waiter was a cute young guy, who said this was his first "Quilt Week" in Paducah. I am sure it was a real experience for him!
While we're downtown, it's time to get some PIE!

Who could resist that sign??? Besides we knew from previous visits that this place has the best pie, right on Broadway. What do you think:  

That is some real Coconut Cream Pie, warm from the oven! It was difficult not to drool on the postcards.
The little waitress was just so sweet, running back and forth to serve us coffee and pie. 
As we were leaving, I realized our pie indulgence had not gone un-noticed:

You never know who may see you through the window!
Road trips usually involve many stops at Cracker Barrel and Waffle House. It was a pleasure to eat at so many non-franchise places while we were in town. We also enjoiyed the Tribeca Mexican restaurant on Market Square and El Chico out by the interstate.
OK, enough food....let's see what was for sale with the vendors!
There are so many vendors at this show...I don't know how many! Hundreds! The rooms where the quilts are have vendors, and the big white Pavilion had maybe 100, and the Finkel Building ("Vendors on Kentucky" just a block past Broadway at the other end of Market Square) has a lot, too. And out at the Mall...and the Rotary Club show!
I am sure we saw them all, though I did not feel compelled to touch every fat quarter (which I did the very first time I went!).

It's not all fabric! This is Prized Possessions (from Texas). They make jewelry from antique buttons, and are the source of my vast collection of earrings. I buy from them at anytime I see them...and I'll see them again in September at QuiltFest here in Jacksonville, FL!

 Here are the high-end beautiful handbags and accessories of Laga Designs. These are made by people who were victims of the Tsunami in 2004.

Another group that has beautiful traditional handwork is the Hmong with their Pandou. It's sort of an applique & embroiderytechnique:

 What great little bags!
It's not a bad idea to do some gift shopping...as long as I can remember where I've put these things when I need them!
Fabric is available by the bolt everywhere.....

 And if you need a new pattern, there is no shortage! All the latest designs are on display, along with established favorites. But what a thrill it is to see my own pattern right in the center of a vendor's wares!

Thank you, The Gypsy Quilter!  She carries all sorts of wonderful items for quilters, including a round purple pillow that helps your back, and lots of other ergomatic aids, rulers, and supplies.
Did you say you wanted some thread?

You can't beat the hand dyed threads & fabrics of Laura Wasilowski and ARTFABRIK.  I just love all those ladies from the Chicago area and the School of Fusing.
 My other favorite thread-of-all-kinds is this vendor:

Superior Threads has everything you need and the best customer service. Go visit their website...it has everything you need to know about thread and needles!
So I bought some of the new Titanium needles (I'll let you know about those when I get a chance to sew!) 
I also got some Vanish thread...it washes out with water, just what I needed for making up kits for a "Trapunto By Machine"class in July.
Yes, I bought books (more on those later) but the last thing I want to share with you is that I bought my very first "jelly roll"! They have been all the rage for several years now, but I never bought one. I have shoeboxes full of my own 2-1/2" strips!
But since this year's show seemed to be All About Kaffe Fassett, I just had to buy one of the rolls of his fabric. It was a really good deal at Hancock's of Paducah!

You are absolutely right...that's not what you want to see!
THIS is what you want to see...

Now I need to think up a project...and I know if I need more Kaffe fabric, DeLuna may a piece or two...or entire collections!

Paducah, KY: it's also a real town!

Mention "Paducah" and chances are good (even among non-quilters) that people will assume you are talking about The Big Quilt Show. It also happens to be a town with a population of 26,307, a fabulous performing arts center, and a nuclear plant nearby!
Located on the Ohio River, Paducah has a series of history themed murals painted on the floorwalls ( the one honoring telephone operators is a new favorite of mine) and 20 blocks of the downtown area have been designated a National Historic District. Part of that is the LowerTown Fine Arts District where many artists have rehabbed houses and built studios....it makes a lovely walking tour!
I guess that's what I really like about going to the show in Paducah...it reminds me of the small towns I have lived in...if only they had been as interested in the arts!

Of course there's the area out by Interstate 24, with lots of motels, restaurants and Big Box Stores that you can find anywhere. The special place out there is Hancock's of Paducah, a fabric store/ quilters mecca.
During the AQS show there is plenty of city bus transportation to get quilters anywhere mentioned above, as well as the Rotary Antique Quilt Show at the Civic Center and the Carson Park fairgrounds, where Eleanor Burns sets up a big tent for sales and puts on her show.
I had not intended on doing a photo-essay (maybe next year?) but I am glad to share with you some views along Broadway, which is the main street. You can walk right down here from the show as it's only about three or four blocks.

There are many shops selling all sorts of goods, so if you haven't spent all your money with the show vendors, you will find lots of interesting things here. Ms. Burns has a quilt shop a few blocks away, and during show-time there are several temporary businesses set up to sell fabric.

Right on the corner you can see a little art sale, hear a band playing, and catch a horse-drawn carriage ride. I highly recommend that ride for a relaxing get-acquainted tour, and a fine close up look at the murals.

The Yeiser Art Center always has a fiber art show during the AQS week. Here's a peak inside...ssssh! don't tell. (if anyone really objects, I'll this photo down!)

This art center sits in the middle of Market Square, with a small brick street running down each side. Be sure to check both sides...there are shops and some really good restuarants, including a bakery that has been there since forever!

   

I'll be talking more about food in the next post, but Cohen's is a must-eat place. And it's haunted!

I've only been there for lunch.... not a good time for Sightings. But the waiter always appeared when needed.

You can't miss the mobile cow! She was an oft-mentioned landmark, as in "We're in the parking lot near the Cow...well, you'll know it when you see it!" (actual over-heard cell-phone conversation) (also note the murals in the far background!)

 You can read more about this place tomorrow...yummmmm, pie! But for now, just admire the beautiful wood and brickwork of the 1800s style in downtown Paducah!

We did manage to get to Caryl Bryer Fallert's studio in the LowerTown District. She has a shop in the front, a large studio in the center, and her quilting machines in the back...like this:

What a jaw-dropping surprise to see "Seasonal Sister" hanging there!

That was the Best of Show winner at the IQA show in Houston 2 years ago, made by Annette Hendricks, Gail Thomas and Helen Godden. It's 99" x 56" and worth every cent of the $30,000 asking price!

Coming next:

What you really want...Eating & Shopping!

Kaffe Fassett in Paducah

I am sure the real reason for this spur-of-the-moment trip to Paducah was because Kaffe Fassett was going to be there. DeLuna has been a serious admirer of his for many, many years going all the way back to his needlepoint days of the "Glorious Color" books.
As Bonnie Browning commented on yesterday's post, Kaffe rhyms with safe, and his last name is FASS-ett. For years many of his fans tried turning him into a cup of "caffee", but we should all be caught up by now!
An American who has lived in England for the last 45 years (with no detectable accent change) he lives for color. Take a look at any of his books and room designs to be WOWed!
We were too late to sign up for either class, and the AQS lectures were sold out (being in a much smaller space this year).
But we did go to his evening lecture at the Carson Four Rivers Center :

 It was such a treat to hear Kaffe talk while his quilts were projected onto the big screen. This a man who is not afraid of color! He wore a tastful purple shirt with purple jeans, too. 

This has to the most beautiful performing arts center I have ever been in, and that includes some cathedrals. I cannot believe I had never been in here before! This is where the awards presentations are made on Tuesday night before the show opens. From now on, I would say that is a "must-see" event!
I usually don't take these kinds of pictures, but I knew you would want to see the Ladies Room:

My mouth dropped open when I walked in here. It's too new to have ghosts, but if it did, they'd be elegant ladies in 1930's bias cut satin evening gowns!

A photo can never do justice to the fine materials used here.
I really hope the flash didn't scare the only other lady who was present!

Please go see the lobby...my camera was not up to it's magnificent chandeliers, curving staircases and tributes to Kentucky!

Meanwhile, back at the show...
in the big white Pavilion there was an exhibit of Kaffe's quilts, You could get up close and personal with them:

This is my favorite because there is so much stuff going on in it. He tends to use simple shapes and let the fabulous fabric do the real work.
 It also shows a bit of restarint in color usage, Kaffe-style!

This is my other favorite of the 8 or so quilts on display. Big print fabric takes the cake! Or bicycle wheels, in this case.  Oh, my...I can't decide if the background or the border is more wonderful!

Like mounting a high-level battle plan, DeLuna & I went to the Kaffe & Liza Prior Lucy (his quilting partner) autograph session. The goal was to not spend hours in line.

We arrived early, and while DeLuna got in line, I sat on one of the benches with all our bags. I also had a nice chat with Louise from Califonia...you can start up a conversation with just about anyone at a quilt show. That's another reason for loving this show. I have talked with people from Japan, Australia, all over Europe and many of the United States.

DeLuna does NOT appear in the photo above, by the way. I have no idea who that lady is, but she looks a little bit like my sister!

I thought DeLuna had a good idea. Instead of having Kaffe and Liza just sign the inside book cover, she had them sign the picture of her favorite quilt!

To honor this Kaffe indulgence (and believe me, every booth possible had tons of his fabrics, which we had to go through!) I purchased a "jelly roll"...my very first one!

Hancock's had a super deal on them.

And that you shall see when I get around to posting about Eating & Shopping.

But first...

What does Paducah really look like?

 
 

The AQS Show in Paducah KY

The American Quilter's Society has been putting on a great show in Paducah for 26 years!
Although I am a charter member, it was a long time brfore I was able to attend a show. I have tried since then to go as many times as possible.
This is an outstanding competition of quilters from all over the world. There were 94 quilts from Japan! I love that the show program tells how many quilts came from each state (California & Illinois tied for most with 29 each) and the various other countries.

This is the main entrance to the Convention Center.

You can see many of the winning quilts online (click here).
AQS has a generous photography policy, but they ask that photos not be sold, or published anywhere, even on a website. OK....they have a right to sell the pictorial Show Catalog book!
So I took some other shots around the show, and although you may see a quilt or two, I am not using any of the full quilt shots...except for "my own personal use". This is a taste of what the show looks like.

The main room is  about half large quilts and half vendors. The quilts hang in a "cubby" arrangment, long rows divided into sections of three quilts each. It's easy to photograph the quilt on the back wall, and hard to get the ones on each side.
The Best of Show and the other three major awards (hand work, long arm and domestic machine) hang in a special area so you can't miss them:

This allows for good viewing of that quilt back! We all like to check out the backs ...sometimes I wonder what we are looking for, though!
I saw a total of 2 white glove ladies, and was told they were not allowed to turn the quilts hanging in the cubbies, due to safety reasons (i.e. the row might fall down). My local/ regional show uses the exact same hanging systems, and it's not a probelm.
Well, maybe just once or twice during the 3 day show!

Look! The miniatures are under glass! Is that to protect the quilts from us....or to protect us from seeing those teeny-tiny perfect creations??? Really, as my friends know, I have to sneak up on those minis, take a quick peek, and then run away!

I appreciate a show that provides some seating for tired "soles". Doesn't this look cute with the streetlights and benches? They did the same thing in the vendors Pavillion (more on that later!). It's a good spot for meeting your friends at some appointed time.

Let's go down the looooong hall to the other end of the building. There are two ballrooms that have the rest of the quilts hanging, and, of course, vendors!

This is what you see when entring the door to the upstairs ballroom. It's the AQS staff on duty ready to check your armband and answer questions like  "Are there vendors in here?" and "Where am I?"

The smaller quilts are here, and I like the way they have the top award winners displayed toward the front of the room. The black drapes are pulled aside so you can get a look at the backs.

I wonder if any of these quilts have knots on the back or some other "error"? This is a juried show, so the approximately 400 quilts in competition are selected by a 3 member panel using images on discs. How would you like to pick 400 out of maybe 1400 entries?

Well, that's why just having a quilt accepted into this show is a Big Deal! Getting a ribbon is icing on the cake.

The aisles are wide, which allows for strollers but not rolling carts...you have to carry your own bags from the vendors. At least until you get to the Package Check area. For one dollar you can leave a bag with the nice red-blazered Paducah Ambassadors, and even add to that bag as the day goes on.

Just be sure you claim your stuff by 5:00 pm!

If you buy too much to carry home, the Paducah Post Office is on hand to mail your loot in a Flate Rate Box. They also sell some postcards and stamps, which you can get cancelled with the special "Quilt City" mark.  

     

I am very grateful for this wonderful lady who hand-cancelled ever one of the SSQA newsletters I took with me! The only way I could go to Paducah was to take the newsletters along and put the stamps, mailing labels and closures on them in the motel room one night. (thanks for helping, Deluna!)

Now, I wonder if anyone noticed their newsletter came from "Quilt City" almost 800 miles away?

The really big buzz this year was the huge inflatable building that was put up for the vendors, since the Executive Inn portion of the Convention Center is no longer open.

  

I don't know how big it is...maybe like football field? It's on a concrete foundation, and the "facilities" were in air conditioned trailers. To keep the air inside, you had to enter through a revolving door "airlock".

The doors are in 3 wide sections, so the vendors could get their equipment inside.

I think I'm glad I didn't have to be part of taking all of it back out again!

There's a big skylight in the center of the ceiling. It was very well-lit and spacious feeling.

I had to leave Saturday morning, so I missed being in there during a real rain storm! Please leave me a comment if you had that experience!

   

A lovely display of Kaffe Fassett quilts graced the central area (more on that later, too!).

No matter what you call this building...AQS calls it "The Pavillion", and I heard many other names including The Igloo, The Marshmellow, and That Big White Thing...I think it was a great idea for providing the additional space needed at the show.

Coming up soon:

Who the heck is Kaffe Fasset and how do you pronounce his name?

The National Quilt Museum, Paducah KY

Many years ago when AQS started, it was also somewhat connected with the Museum of the American Quilter. Then the Museum became independant, and for a long time I had a VISA card that made donations to the Museum. It was cool, because it was one of the first to have a picture on it...a pineapple quilt!
Just last year another important event took place. This is now the  National Quilt Museum!

No government funds provided, of course, but it's such a beautiful place.
Anyone who likes museums will appreciate this one. And although Paducah isn't much on the way to anywhere but St. Louis (travelling from the southeast, I mean) it's worth a stop even when the AQS show is not on. There are always several exhibits, classes, a gift shop to die for (book-wise), and a changing display of quilts from their collection, which is the AQS Best of Shows for many years back. Almost all the winning quilters have acceptred the award money, which is a purchase award so the quilt can belong to the Museum.

This is where you can see the quilts from the annual "New Quilts from Old Favorites" contest. The 2010 theme was "Sunflowers" and the work was outstanding! Sorry, no photography allowed in the Museum....there's a book about it, which I purchased for Cherry-Cherry and actually gave it to her first.

OK, I did look through it, but I didn't read it!

We expected to see Hollis Chatelain's quilts in a special exhibit, but were totally amazed to find it was a travelling exhibit called "Imagine Hope: Awareness Through Art". Each quilt was hung with several photographs relating to social and environmental issues, and it was quite heart touching.

Yes, there were sad issues, but there was hope, too. You really must see this if it is anywhere near you....or if you have "pull" with a local museum, think about having this installation! www.imagine-hope.org

I will never forget the photograph of the father talking to his children on the phone...looking at them through the glass of a prison visiting room.

The real treat was that Hollis herself was there to talk with visitors, and we had a good chat. She has such a generous spirit. I have enjoyed hearing her speak several times at the Houston IQA show, and once took a class with her about the business of being an artist.

In connection with the Imagine Hope exhibit, there is a quilt travelling around. Deluna and I went out to the lobby to be sure to put in some stitches, and enjoyed meeting quilters from around the country...and the world! A shy Japanese lady joined us, and her husband took pictures, of course.

Deluna did, too:

Hollis is at work coloring some areas to suggest what threads people might like to use...not trying to mark my hand! Everyone who works on the quilt signs their name, too.
If you visit the Museum website (http://www.nationalquiltmuseum.org) before May 25 you will be able to see pictures of the exhibits I have mentioned.

Coming next (because I know you have better things to do than read super-long blog posts!):
What does that AQS show look like?