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"Each April, Paducah, Kentucky hosts the American Quilters Society show and contest. Quilters come from all over the United States, and many foreign countries come to participate. . . " Melody Rose
I was not one of the thousands of quilters who attended the AQS Quilt Festival in Paducah this year. Three years ago, I was there. It is something that anyone who quilts, who loves quilts, who loves fabric, who loves someone who loves all of the above should experience at least once. But once you’ve been, you know that once is not enough. And the fact that I wasn’t there was bad enough, but I was forced, by two of my best friends in the world, to suffer phone calls, not only ABOUT the festival, but FROM the festival.
The first was a message on my answering machine, Melody’s voice, with the background noise of hundreds of happy quilters:
“Its absolutely beautiful. I mean, it took my breath. I just wanted to touch base with you and we’re having a ball. Wish you were here. Spending a lot of money. I’ll get you something. See ya, bye!”
I listened to it twice to see if there was any hint of “nyah nyah,” but it seemed a genuine, “wish you were here” kind of a call. I took a chance. I dialed her number.
“Hey! Oh, you wouldn’t believe what you’re missing!” (She’s still there!) “These quilts are unbelievable!” (Oh, rub it in!) “We’re down by the swimming pool now, in the vendors' section.” (This is just plain cruel!) “Here, here’s Lisa” (Not both of them!) “Oh, you won’t believe what you’ve missed. It is just amazing. Where were you?” (House of Foam and Fabric) “So, what’s that, like third best?” (Not even.) “There are even more vendors!” (Oh . . .) “Nyah nyah. . .” (Did she really say that?) Lisa hands the phone back to Melody. “You really should be here!” (It’s only 650 miles. I could be there in 12 hours. What am I thinking!) “Gotta go. See ya, bye”
The connection breaks. I sit down. Take a deep breath. There’s always next year.
I think I’m safe, but the next day, the phone rings.
“You and Melody are such badinfluences!” (Where is she? Oh, NO!) “I just spent more money and it’s yourfault!” (WHAT? I’m still 650 miles away!) “I’m at the quilt festival . . .” (Again?!) “I came back and bought the rug hooking kit. And some hand dyed yarn, and its all your and Melody’s fault.” (Oh . . ) “You should really be here.” (MOAN) “Nyah nyah.” (Did she really say that?)
The rest of the week end, I jump every time the phone rings, but am saved any more pain, until I remember that Melody said there’d be an article.
“Each April, Paducah, Kentucky hosts the American Quilters Society show and contest. Quilters come from all over the United States, and many foreign countries come to participate.”
Ah well, there’s always next year.
About Kathleen M. Tenpas
We have a grazing dairy of 55 cows in the rolling hills of western New York State where we raised two daughters who have now blessed us with four grandchildren. I have messy, jungly beds of old roses, (some real antiques left by former owners), perennials, wildflowers and lots and lots of not so ornamental grasses! I have a Masters degree in Creative Writing: Poetry from Antioch University. I am a photographer and fabric artist and I bake a mean loaf of bread.
Posted by melody (from Benton, KY) on May 14, 2008 at 10:08 AM:
Make Stan bring you down in April next year! Tell him he has no choice!
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Posted by Kathleen (from Panama, NY) on May 14, 2008 at 11:14 AM:
Now you know April is the impossible month . . .
along with May, June, July, AUGUST,September, October, November - if it weren't for those grandbabies it might be just pure impossible!
edited to add August. How could I forget August?
This message was edited May 14, 2008 3:01 PM
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Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on May 14, 2008 at 2:49 PM:
Yep, I missed it too, Kathleen....and I am only about 20 miles away. I could say "If you have seen one you have seen them all," but not true. They are unique and lovely and wonderful each and every one.
sigh.
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Subject: Doncha ya just HATE missing a good thing
Posted by darius (from Marion, VA) on May 14, 2008 at 8:31 AM:
Kathleen, as I wrote in Mel's article today, I am not a quilt person. But seeing the photos of the Japanese quilts left me feeling as though I had missed out on something exceptional. So I understand your regrets in this article... sigh.
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Posted by roybird (from Santa Fe, NM) on May 14, 2008 at 12:44 PM:
You all sound like my friends. They love to let me know when I miss something! Well, look at it this way, Kathleen, you saved some money you can spend next year.
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Subject: Great show
Posted by gardenglory (from Gainesville, FL) on May 14, 2008 at 8:15 AM:
I always look forwad to the quilting magazines to see the pictures after the show. As life goes, I never even thought about quilting when I actually lived in KY.
Is that a picture of a quilt at the top of the article, made to look like its under water. I cant imagine being able to get that 'look'.
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Posted by Kathleen (from Panama, NY) on May 14, 2008 at 8:26 AM:
lol, Photoshop! It is a picture of a baby quilt I made with the color washed out and a couple of effects.
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Posted by Garden4ever (from Plymouth, WI) on May 14, 2008 at 9:53 AM:
Lol that is SO how I felt this year. I want to see that show so bad so I have promised hubby in the next few years we will be heading down there and he can fish and I am going to THAT SHOW! Great article. Thank you!
Colleen
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Posted by melody (from Benton, KY) on May 14, 2008 at 5:55 PM:
We can make a get-together out of it if you want. Lots of DG'rs also quilt.
I never miss a show...Mom, (yoyo1here on DG) is a tour guide at the Museum. We know all of the behind the scenes stuff.
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Posted by Garden4ever (from Plymouth, WI) on May 15, 2008 at 12:17 AM:
That would be great! I also have a quilting blog and I know a lot of bloggers meet up there too. :o)
