Spring Inspirations

This past weekend was the American Quilters Society show in Paducah. This Kentucky town also houses the American Quilter's Society Museum, so if you can get there there is a wealth of quilt inspiration to be had. Currently, the Imagine Hope exhibition by Hollis Chateliane is in the museum. I have told you all about her work before, so I will tell you about the winners of the AQS Show. They are on view online at www.americanquilter.com Click on Shows and the winners list opens. There are full shots of all the major winners. Carol Fallerts quilt "On the Wings of a Dream" only recieved an Honorable mention, after winning a best in show in Houston. Even in one's home town (Carol lives in Paducah) the judging can go against you. The number of variables involved in who wins the ribbons is huge, if you enter shows always take the results with a grain of salt.

If the big shows are too far or overwhelming for you than put the local ones on your list of places to go. Every big quilter is a member of a local guild somewhere and you never know what amazing work you may get to see. The Northern Star show in Somers is this weekend, May first and second, check their website for all sorts of information and I will see you there on Sunday. www.northernstarquilters.com You may also want to mark your calendars for the Wiltwyck Guild show, Quilts in the Valley which will be June 5 & 6. I will give you their link when we are a bit closer to the show.

There is also an exhibit on at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London that is making a big splash in the quilt world, that if you can't get to see in person is well represented online. www.vam.ac.uk/collections/textiles/quilts-1700-2010

Here at the shoppe, I have some lovely old quilts on view in our gallery too. These were all made by the same lady, and are mostly scrap quilts, some containing lots of feedsacks and also mostly hand pieced and quilted. Having acquired these and some of her fabric stash - including a number of vintage feedsacks - I feel like I know her, even though I have not been able to speak to her. Many of you can check it out when you come in for the Kelmscott meeting on Saturday the first. It feels as if I haven't seen some of you for ages since we didn't meet in April. Your April Block Kits will be available at the May meeting.

For the first weekend in May, the special is ten percent off fusible web. Those of you doing the Kelmscott Quilt will love this, and I know that many of you have recently discovered how useful it is, so now you have the chance to stock up- I know you will use it up. See you soon.