It's Almost Paducah Time

Yes, it is almost time for the annual AQS Quilt Show in Paducah.  I wonder if all the beautiful dogwood trees will be finished blooming by the time we arrive since a large part of the US has had an earlier than normal spring this year.  I just love the sight of these beautiful trees covered with large white or pink blossoms but am not counting on seeing them this year.

I am trying to make a list of things I want to look at or purchase when my sisters, niece, friend and I go in a couple of weeks.   We stay with a wonderful woman who is the mother in law of my friend and she lives right in Paducah, how great is that!  I am so thrilled and feel so blessed to get to spend time with my family and friends, attend the show, excited to see the winning quilts and to shop, shop, shop.  

I am again asking for your help.  Are there any notions, tools, fabrics, fusibles, interfacings, pins, needles, scissors, patterns, books (basically anything related to sewing or quilting)  that you think I should consider getting or at least taking a look at. What are those things that you absolutely love?   I do have a list that I started after I got home last year that I add to as the year goes along but always like recommendations too so please comment on your favorites of any sewing related item.

I do call this a shopping list not necessarily a buying list.  Some things that I have seen advertised I just want to see in person and I may or may not be interested in buying them but want to find and look at them, see how they work, etc.


This year we should not see flooding like last year when the flood gates had to be installed and the show venues rearranged in a short amount of time.  They show staff did a wonderful job but hope they don’t have that kind of emergency again.  We didn’t find any problems with any of the moving around last year and know we will have just as good a time this year even if there are no changes.

Guess that is all for now,
Lynn

Inktense Pencils and Water Brush

I purchased the Inktense pencils by Derwent at Hobby Lobby a while before I went to Paducah and have yet to try them out.  I did run across a vendor selling the water brush and pencils and she demonstrated how she uses the pencils on fabric.  I am more anxious to get them out and try them but just have not had time. 

Check out the whole Derwent website as there are lots of hints and tips plus videos on using these pencils.  This is what the website says about the pencils….
“Pen and ink offers strong, intense colour combined with a translucent effect. Now you can enjoy these distinctive qualities in an easy to use pencil. Inktense has a highly blendable texture and comes in a range of 71 jewel-like colours, plus a non-soluble outliner which allows you to draw outlines that are permanent, even when water is applied. Apply pure, vibrant dry colour then wash the pigment out completely to leave an ink-like effect. Once dry, the colour is permanent and can be worked over with other media. The possibilities are endless, the results stunning.
Inktense pencils can be used on fabric to create interesting silk paintings and unique quilting projects.”

The thing with these pencils is this…you color your fabric (or paper) with the pencil then wet it with water and it turns into a vibrant transparent color.  When it dries it is permanent.   Isn’t that cool?    I have seen some pieces online where these pencils have been used..fantastic.  One such blog is May Your Bobbin Always Be Full by LuAnn Kessi.  Take a look at these blog entries where she has used the pencils.

I only purchased a set of the 12 pencils to try and if I like them I can always invest in a larger set later.  They seem a little pricy but it looks like they go a long ways.

Have any of you used these pencils?  How did you like them?  Any tips?

Until later…
Lynn

Paducah Vendor Shopping

Whoa....check out the signs on the building across from the quilt museum in Paducah!

Besides the opportunity to see the fantastic quilts at the AQS show in Paducah, Kentucky the shopping is just as wonderful.  It isn’t that there aren’t great quilt shops here in Nebraska, because there are lots of very nice quilt shops with lots of stuff to buy but going from vendor to vendor and looking for the unusual or new tool or jewelry  and of course the bargain fabric is so much fun.  Looking at all the latest and greatest sewing machines and long arms, mid arms, rulers, cutting systems, thread…..oh my, just makes my heart flutter thinking about it.

I started my “Paducah” list almost as soon as I got home from last year, updating it on my computer or pinning a note to my bulletin board.  If I see or hear about a tool, gadget that might come in handy I put it on the list.  If I wonder what something really looks like or how it works, it goes on the list.  I had a long list when I went to Paducah this year but expected to not buy all the items even if I could find them.  Some things I just want to see in person and see how they work or why they are supposed to be so wonderful.  Other things/fabrics I truly hope to find so it is basically a big scavenger hunt.  The only problem with a long list is that I have to keep looking at it as I forget what was on the list.  I can only remember to look for a few things at a time otherwise.   The 4 sewers among us had different lists and would be on the lookout for each other too – it was so much fun to search each booth for the things on our lists.  Our friend D is not a stitcher of any kind but she loves that we love it all and she loves to look at all the beautiful quilts.   My two sisters and niece and I have been sewing since we were small children and really enjoy the shopping.


One of the things I purchased was this small bag with a beautiful Mola applique on the front.  I like to use a small bag when I when I can but still need to have my phone and some cash and a credit card.  The bag of similar size I have been using is getting worn out so was happy to find this cute one.  Look at all the zippers!  There are 3 zippered pockets on the front, two zippered pockets on the top plus another compartment without a zipper.  Not sure I have that many things to carry but is nice to have the option.    This bag is about 5” x 8 and has a long shoulder strap.   We ran across a couple of booths selling all sorts of bags, wallets and unfinished blocks of this type and they were all so beautiful  I could have purchased one of each but had to confine myself to just one purchase and think I made a pretty choice.

Will be showing more Paducah purchases on another post but it will have to wait a few days as we have two high school graduations to attend this weekend and will be visiting and celebrating with family.

Ankle update…I’m getting along OK and walking now with crutches but have to remember to keep the boot on to protect my ankle from an accidental break when ever I am walking.  I have another week before I see the Dr. again and at that time the staples will come out and that can not come too soon….the row of staples are really irritating and itch.  I will have X-Rays of the ankle I am sure to make sure the bone has grown in the screw holes before I will be allowed to go without the boot.  Keep your fingers crossed I will be without my boot next weekend.

The funny thing is that I will be sitting without the boot on watching TV or sewing and decide I need something and I will stand up and start to walk and it hits me….whoa….I don’t have my boot on, so carefully get back to sitting and put the boot on and grab the crutches.  I don’t have any pain just those annoying staples so forget at times.  The boot is hot, heavy and stiff and I only need to wear it when I am walking or standing so I take it off at other times.  Think by Monday I will not use the crutches anymore as I am not putting much weight on them now anyway.  For the graduation parties I will keep them handy or at least use one of them just to make sure I stay safe.

Be back in a few days…
Lynn

Paducah Quilt Winners

Here are a few of the winners of the AQS quilt show at Paducah last week.  You can find photos of all the winning quilts on this AQS webpage.  All I can say is that I would have hated to be the judge as there were so many, many beautiful and technically well done quilts.  You can click on any of my photos to make them larger if you want to see more detail.

The Janome Best of Show award winner was made by Pat Holly of Ann Arbor, MI – named “Paisley Peacock.”

 

Best Hand Workmanship Award went to “With You” made by Miyuki Hamaba, Sanda, Hyogo, Japan.

Bernina Machine Workmanship Award went to “Instruments of Praise”, by Kathy K Wylie, Whitby, Ontario, Canada.

The Moda Best Wall Quilt Award went to the quilt “Port of Cassis”, made by Lenore Crawford of Midland, MI.

The Benartex Best Miniature Quilt Award went to “Tulip Star”, made by Lynne Taylor of Cape Girardeau, MO. (The quilting lines on this piece are about 1/8” apart.)  The miniatures are all behind glass so are hard to photograph without a glare or reflection.  If you look closely you can see my arms reflected in the glass as I was trying to get above the big glare in front of the quilt. (Correction - the quilt below is not "Tulip Star" the grand champion miniature...check out my blog post of group 5 photos for the winning miniature quilt photo.  It is 8th from the first photo.  This quilt "Itty Bitty Boutis" by Jan Hutchison of Sedgwick Kansas was the first place winner of the miniatures.  Sorry for any confusion.)

The last one I am going to show you today was made by a Nebraska gal.  It won a 3rd place award in the miniature category.  It is named “Emiline” and was made by Pat Kuhns of Lincoln, Nebraska.  Our guild is going to have her do a trunk show for our May meeting….aren’t we lucky!  She has made lots of beautiful miniatures so can't wait for the meeting in a few weeks.

Until Later….Enjoy the show!

Lynn

Paducah AQS Show Here I Come!

Last week those of you who guessed that I was going to Paducah, Kentucky you were right.

Today I start on my journey to the AQS show in Paducah Kentucky.....YAY!!!  It is going to be a hop scotch type of trip there and back like in years past.  First I am meeting one of my sisters at 10:00 AM in southeast Nebraska, a little over a two hour trip from here.  She will leave her car at a friends then we will drive on to a Kansas City suburb to our friend Diane's home.  After eating lunch we three will pack up and drive to my other sister's home south of Columbia, Missouri.  We stay there overnight then the 4 of us plus my niece who lives near by will drive to Paducah and hopefully arrive by mid afternoon.  We will probably do a bit of shopping in Paducah yet on Wed. then take in the show two more days and head for home on Saturday.

I am hoping to be able to post from there with my cell phone but just in case I have written a couple of blog posts that will be published while I am gone....love the post date and time feature of blogging.

Lynn