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An enthusiastic audience of the Whoo-hoo Nation gathered at the Carson Center for my 2010 concert at the AQS show in Paducah, KY. Instead of riding in on a motorcycle (2008) or rising up from the orchestra pit with a tiny red toy piano (2009), I couldn't think of a clever way to start the show. So instead, I decide to surprise the audience with a visual treat mid-way through the concert. 

After playing The Way Home accompanied by a music video featuring dozens of my quilts, the real quilts came floating down to create a massive backdrop while I shared some of my early quilting experiences. I have to admit, when I went saw the array during rehearsal I was stunned. I've never seen my quilts displayed in such a way and when I look at the photo I still go - wow!

I'm thankful to AQS for making this amazing event happen and I'm thrilled that each year the hall is filled to overflowing with such an appreciative audience.

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Local news station, WPSD 6, in Paducah, Kentucky, takes you inside the new dome where the AQS quilt show is being held this year.  This is the first time the dome has been used.  Quilters from all over the world are expected to arrive in Paducah.  Over 20,000 people are expected to enjoy the show in a city whose population is usually only 26,000.  Click here to enjoy the news and see what's happening inside.

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This beautiful quilt was one of the first I saw when entering the show.  It was made by Mark Sherman, TQS member "wood4mark".  "Wings and Feathers" won 1st place in the category "Bed Quilts, Quilted On Longarm/Midarm Machine". 

Mark hand-dyed about 90% of the fabric in this quilt, and quilted it with a long arm machine.  Dana says "this is one of my personal favorites because of all the wonderful color and great quilting detail."

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Dana Lynch is our TQS roving reporter at AQS Paducah.  She will be reporting throughout the day. Check back regularly for new reports from the show.  In this report, Dana was enchanted by a wonderful 90-year old woman who had been quilting for most of her life.  

"This is Annabel Baugher.  She was a contestant in the show this year, and during the Preview Night on Tuesday, she was seated by her quilt telling the story of making it, and some stories about her life as well.  She drew the elements for the quilt, all inspired by things around her.   The doves are her favorite bird.  The Calla Lilies are from her Great Grandaughter's bridal bouquet.  Her stitches were tiny and beautiful.  It was a delight to hear her talk about her life and how quilting has been such a special part of it.  The quilt was in the frame for five years, and Annabel said, "Sometimes I wanted to work on it and sometimes I didn't, so there's no way of telling how long it took."  Annabel is 90 years old and has quilted for as long as she can remember.  I was very taken with her hands and wanted to take a picture of them. Her hands have touched many quilts, and quilted many stitches."

Annabel's Hands

Details of her quilt.

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Every single one of us has a color.  You know, it always shows up in your quilts, in your house, in your stash. It's that can't live-without-it color.

TQS wants to know, What's your color?  Why do you think you are drawn to that color?   Does it invoke a memory, add a touch of drama, or just give you that warm fuzzy feeling?  

Submit a comment and color our world.

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The awards just keeping coming for TQS favorite Philippa Naylor.  This time it was 2nd place in the Home Sewing Machine Quilted category at AQS Paducah.  The name of the quilt is White Gold.  The quilt is 83" x 83" and was also the 1st place winner in the "Merit Machine Quilting" category sponsored by Bernina at the 2009 International Quilt Festival Houston.  Congratulations Philippa!

To see more of Philippa's amazing quilts, click here.  You can also find her in Episode 606:  Showstopping Trapunto.

   Detail of White Gold

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This year's Janome Best of Show award at the 2010 AQS Quilt Show & Contest in Paducah went to Sue McCarty, Roy, Utah, for her quilt, "Tribute to Tolkien."  The book, The Lord of the Rings, by J.R.R.Tolkien was the inspiration for the quilt.  Sue originally created a freehand drawing on black cotton sateen and then quilted it with a variety of metallic and polyester threads.  She embellished it with paint and crystals. Interestingly she used two different battings, Hobbs Heirloom Black and Linda's Choice.  Congratulations to Sue!

Details of the threadwork.

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Sue McCarty's quilt, Tribute to Tolkien has won Best of Show at the 2010 Ameican Quilter's Society Show and Contest. Sue's quilt is a whole cloth quilt, with some painting, but mostly, it is all stitching with metallic threads. The entire quilt was created on her Gammill long-arm quilting machine

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Congratulations to current TQS guest, Pat Holly, who has just taken a top honor in Paducah.  Her quilt, Pink Elephants Too, just won the Benertex Best Miniature Quilt Award.  This quilt measures a miniscule 14" x 14".  To see details of Pink Elephants Too and more Pat Holly quilts, click here.  Pat is featured in our current Show 608: Mastering Machine Appliqué.