Home Again

The trip to Paducah felt like a whirlwind, but we had a fabulous time. The "rustic cabin" turned out to be a nice little house with a screened porch right on the lake. The view was marvellous, the beds were comfortable, and our hostess had left lots of nice little touches for us (little gifts, a pretty table all set for dinner, chocolate). Having only one bathroom for six women was a little bit of an inconvenience, but we all worked at being considerate. One night we actually cooked and had a dinner party to entertain our friends who were working the show as vendors. We had a cozy dinner for nine, drank wine, and laughed until our faces hurt.

Everywhere we went we encountered that lovely southern hospitality. That being said, I found the Paducah quilt show venue a little awkward with the quilts spread out in multiple areas, and the crowds were just horrendous. I know some people thrive on the excitement of crowds, but I am not one of them. I get just a little claustrophobic with bodies pressing in on all sides. Fortunately, the serenity of our lakefront cabin was the perfect antidote, so I had a chance to regroup every evening. When I saw Melody's tulip quilt , I thought it was positively luminous, and I'm so glad they gave her first place. It looked like a beautiful piece of art to me.

The very best part had to be the trip to the MAQS. The quilts were so beautiful they gave me the chills, and we were allowed to look very closely without touching. I came away filled with awe, but also inspired and excited to get back to my own work. Almost as much fun as the MAQS was the gallery walk and loft tour. I loved seeing all the art, the studios, the beautifully refurbished lofts. The galleries had at least one "art quilt" each. I saw a lovely little piece by Carol Taylor that made me wish I had a spare $850 to spend. (I didn't.) I did spend a little money at the vendors, mainly for a few hand dyed pieces that struck my fancy as well as some hand dyed embroidery floss and Laura W.'s book at Art Fabrik. I haven't read it yet, but I expect it will help decipher the finer points of fusing. I also bought an ergonomic rotary cutter and tons of wonderful Superior Thread (including King Tut). That sack of thread cost me plenty, but I think it will be worth every nickel. I did a little experimentation last night, and I am delighted with my purchases.

Coming home to an appreciative family was great too. Maybe I should go away more often. We had so much fun, we are already talking about our next trip...