Paducah Fiber Aritsts: Group Show at HeART of Healing Gallery

Helene, Ulla, and Susan.
Three Paducah Fiber Artists sporting
Susan's dye discharge clothing.

Once a month a bunch of crazy women about fiber (oh, and there's Bob!) get together to eat, be merry, and do a show-and-tell about our latest obsessions with fabric, needle, dye, yarn and color. April is the highlight in Paducah for most of us. The American Quilter's Society hosts one of their shows here and we all go nuts. Thousands of women with big bags (and their very patient husbands) descend on our humble city and give us a much needed boost in our local economy. The red carpets are dusted off, flung out, signs posted, flags hung, and a prayer for good weather is in all our hearts.

Most of us who belong to this eclectic Paducah Fiber Artists group either have a business or do something entrepreneurial during quilt week. My subtle hint:
MINE IS AT 212 BROADWAY!!!! COME AND SHOP!!!!
(How very uncouth!)

But, for the first time in our three-year history, we come together in a group show hosted by HeART of Healing Gallery. Located in the wonderful arty neighborhood of LowerTown, HeART of Healing is a must-stop-destination if you are coming to the Quilt Show. We had our opening reception on April 25th which was very well attended by our good hearted local community. I found it so interesting to see our work up on these walls, together for this time, surrounded by the stories that each of us bring into the materials we use. Not everyone from our group was represented, but enough were, enough to reflect our unique approaches to the medium, so loosely defined as "fiber art", allows us to be. Following are photos of the artists who attended with a short blurb about each. More photos and information can be found on HeART of Healing's page dedicated to the show and in a story I wrote for their new blog.

Dr. Christi Bonds Garret, "Food Hole"

Dr. Christi, owner of HeART of Healing Gallery, is a medical doctor who also practices Chinese medicine. Also passionately interested in cultural textiles, she has loaded the gallery with ethnic fabrics which will surely interest quilters who share this interest: vintage kimono (cut it or wear it!), Hmong pandau squares, more Kuna molas than you can ever hope to see in one place, vintage Indigo Hmong and Japanese kimono indigo fabric, Kuna skirt and scarf fabric, and much more. Dr. Christi's quilts tend to explore her interest in Chinese medicine and symbolism.

Pam Heavrin, "Reminiscing Rhinos"

Pam has been a long-arm quilter for over sixteen years. She takes the often-dreaded finishing step of quilting and transforms someone's dream into functional reality. And, she does it beautifully! Her rhino quilt was one of her own creations, made to honor her husband's rhino collection.

Linda Baxter Lasco, "Tree Skin Canyon"

Linda is pure energy! She knits her way through our meetings and packs tons of information into her alloted time (we are actually on a timer!). Her quilts explore many different techniques, always technically excellent and carefully thought out. I am extremely jealous of one of her skills: she is a coveted auctioneer. I both have stage fright and stumble over my words in public, fogetting even my own name. Not Linda! Linda works full time for AQS and part time for Caryl at Bryer Patch Studio. She will be exhausted by the end of this week.

Judeen Theis, "Quasi Kimono"

Judeen has many interests. Fiber is definitely a biggy, but so is stained glass, painting, and many other mediums. She often brings bags of knitted accessories, soft and fuzzy and full of color. She shows, while we touch and drool. Judeen also spends a lot of time in her garden. Her gallery is wonderfully eclectic and welcoming, also located in LowerTown.

Irene Reising, "Out of the Pit of Hell"

Irene suffered a shoulder injury a couple of years ago that disrupted her life in every way possible. She was unable to pursue her calling as both a nurse and a long-arm quilter. Both were devastating blows and she felt that doors were slamming on her at every turn. In time, new ones opened up and she recovered. This quilt is the story of that journey.

The dye-discharge cult.
Helene, Ulla, and Susan

Susan (in red) doesn't have a piece in the show. She doesn't need to. She has a following, advertising her wares at every turn. Her discharged apparel knocks us out. It really is not fair!
What's not fair? .... I don't know, it just isn't. That's what the abundance of her work does, reduces us to whining, until we finally get one of her pieces and peace ensues.

Helene is next in this story and Ulla didn't submit a piece for the show, although she is also a member of our group. Ulla quilts beautifully!

Helene Davis, "Limbo"

Helene and Bob Davis are next. They are together because they are married, but they are also very separate as individuals. Helene calls her basement the dungeon. That is where she spends gobblezillions of time, dyeing white fabric into treasures. She then transforms the often odd colors and shapes into absolutely drop-dead gorgeous pieces of art. The quilting also captures my attention and is her signature in her most recent pieces. She quilts in straight lines, perhaps less than a 1/4" apart, giving almost a rug-like quality to the piece. And, everything is always immaculately finished. Sigh.... will I ever be that good?

Robert Davis, Reflections I

Bob is our dedicated representative of the male sex! Enthusiastic and precise, he has been exploring many different directions in the last couple of years. His latest discovery is that he has a gift for drawing. Both he and Helene have been taking classes at the Paducah School of Art. He has found his muse!

Bob and Helene will have a booth at 212 Broadway, English's Antiques, (same place where I have my booth) during the quilt show. They will be selling Helene's hand-dyed fabric as well as her commercial stash that she accummulated before she started dyeing (much of which has made it's way into my house..... Aaaaargh!) You can also learn more about them on their website.

Deb Lyons, "Nine Patch and Canvas"

Deb also likes to experiment with texture and unorthodox materials. She has a background in education and continues to have ties with that through the puppets she makes for schools. Deb is another transplant from Chicago, like me. (Actually, there are several of us!)

Charlotte Erwin, "Watermarks Tryptich"

Charlotte is another of our dyers. Her specialty, marbling, has never been a favorite of mine. Never, until I saw her work. It is vibrant yet subtle. Somehow she is able to achieve definition out of the spontaneous brew of shapes and color. Truly beautiful! Charlotte will have workshops on marbling during the quilt show at Working Artist Studio.

Caryl Bryer Fallert, "Reflection #18"

Caryl has won international recognition for her quilts. She was one of the persistant visionaries who pushed quilting into a new form, one which could compete at a serious level with other fine art. Whether craft or art, Caryl's work is defined by precision, color, and impact. Caryl has also won acclaim in the quilt world for her ability as a teacher and guide. I have said that her gift is of helping others translate what they see in their heads into reality. She also has designed several fabric collections, such as those seen in the quilt above, and a line of threads. Her website has both a gallery of her quilts and an online store. For those of you coming to Paducah, you will find BryerPatch Studio loaded with fabric and quilting kits designed by Caryl.

Rachel Biel Taibi, Small Pieces

Finally, I submitted to a photo, too. Aaargh! Well, I guess that if I subject everyone else to the tortured experience, I must undergo it as well.... I have several smaller pieces in the show, explorations in prarie points, my dog food bag purses, and "Honey Island", a yo-yo textile. I like texture and try to explore new techniques or variations of old ones in the little time I have to do my own art. My main focus is developing my online business, Rayela Art, where I sell ethnic textiles. Links to Etsy, eBay, and 1,000 Markets are on the right column of this blog. I have a booth at 212 Broadway here in Paducah and depleted my online stores for the Quilt Show. So, if they look bare, you will know why. Etsy is still pretty full...

Paducah Fiber Artists is made up of a group of people who come from all different walks of life. Some are native to this region while many of us have relocated here from other places. We all find a common language through our interest in that broad category we call fiber art. We support each other, learn from each other, laugh together, and find a shoulder when we need it. This community is a treasure and if you come to Paducah, I hope that you will experience at least a small bit of the gifts that reside here!

Paducah Fiber Aritsts: Group Show at HeART of Healing Gallery

Paducah Quilt Show, April 22-25, 2009: Important Notes

Rachel Biel Taibi and Heidi Lampe
at the AQS Show in Paducah, 2006.
Heidi came all the way from Brazil!

The American Quilter's Society hosts an annual quilt show here in Paducah every year. Thousands of women (men do come, too) with big bags descend on the city, giving a much needed economic boost to our local economy. All of us are putting our gears into drive, getting our red carpets out and shining up our wares as we prepare for one of the great highlights of life in Paducah. Are you coming? If you are, I'd like to direct you to some important links and places that I hope you will follow and visit.

Where to Find Rayela Art in Paducah

My selfish nature wants you to come find me and my stuff! (Heh, heh, chuckle, chuckle....) I sell textiles, fabric and remnants on Etsy and eBay, but I also have a permanent booth at English's Antiques, 212 Broadway. English's is located conveniently on Paducah's main street downtown, the second block from the river and only two blocks from the Quilt Museum.

Rayela Art has a large booth at English's Antiques. 212 Broadway, downtown Paducah.

Last year I rented a temporary booth space and then moved into a permanent one after the Quilt Show. I will be at my booth during the afternoons and hope that you will come find me!

Rayela Art specializes in textiles from around the world.

Find Rayela Art's Friends in Paducah!

Other friends will also be renting space at English's. Bob and Helene Davis of Hand-Dye Fabric will be back with their wonderful selection of Helene's cotton hand-dyed fabrics and boxes and boxes of her commercial stash. After Helene started dyeing her own fabric, she no longer had much use for her extensive stash which she had collected over a period of 15 yrs. This is now being made available to the public and is sold by weight.

Bob and Helene Davis will be at
212 Broadway during the Quilt Show.

Irene Reising used to have a retail store which specialized in vintage quilt tops. She still has a large collection left and will also be at English's this year. Irene usually comes up with several vintage sewing machines and other interesting collectibles, so it will be interesting to see what she brings this year.

Find vintage quilt tops with Irene Reising
during the Quilt Show in Paducah.

All of us are part of Paducah Fiber Artist's, a group which meets monthly at each other's houses. It's a pot luck, usually delicious, and we bring our work for show and tell. I love seeing everybody and look forward to our meetings every month! This year, Heart of Healing Gallery, will be hosting a show representing our group.

Heart of Healing Gallery exhibits the work of
Paducah Fiber Artists during the Quilt Show.

Heart of Healing Gallery is located at 233 North 7th Street in Paducah's Lowertown neighborhood. I work there every Saturday and Sunday afternoon from 12-5PM, so if you are the weekend before or after the Quilt Show, you will find me there. Dr. Christi Bonds, who owns the gallery, is a medical doctor who also practices Chinese medicine. The gallery is housed in the same building as her clinic, Integrative Medicine of Kentucky. Dr. Bonds is also a fiber artist, a member of Paducah Fiber Artists and we share the same passion for ethnic and cultural textiles. Aside from our group show, you will find an incredible collection of Kuna Indian molas, vintage kimono, Hmong pandau, Chinese paper cuts and peasant paintings along with other textiles and ethnographic items. I will also have a corner there with some of my ralli quilts, suzanis and textile stamps.

The American Quilter's Society Show in Paducah

April is a beautiful month in Paducah! I had never seen a dogwood tree until I moved here from Chicago and have since fallen in love with them. They were in full bloom last year during the show. Unfortunately, we suffered a terrible ice storm during the last week in January which wrought severe damage on our trees. Nature heals itself and the spring has started to show its beautiful face here. The climate is normally perfect for visiting the show and walking around town.

Dogwood trees blossom in Paducah during the Quilt Show.

The Quilt Show is housed in our Expo Center which is right on the river, downtown, and within a couple of blocks from the Quilt Museum. You can find all the info related to the show on the American Quilter's Society's website. The Executive Inn, which is attached to the Expo Center, has been undergoing extensive renovations which are being documented on the AQS blog. Housing can be a challenge, so AQS has also set up local accommodations in people's homes for its members. The Paducah Convention and Visitors Bureau has information on this program and other local information.

The Quilt Show is an inspiration to all of us who are fiber artists. One would think that everything under the sun has already been made or explored. Yet, every year, new works bring a fresh approach to the same materials: needle, thread and fabric. The show houses the work of several competitions hosted by leaders in the quilting industry. My favorite, though, I must admit, is visiting the booths of the hundreds of vendors who also set up with their wares.

AQS Show in Paducah, viewing the exhibited quilts.

Vendors sell fabric, threads, quilting accessories,
books and other tools quilters just must have!

You can see my other posts on the Quilt Show for more information and links. So, I ask you again:

Are you coming to the Paducah Quilt Show?

If so, leave a comment on this post. I would love to know who is coming so I can keep an eye out for you!

Paducah Quilt Show, April 22-25, 2009: Important Notes

Tired Quilters in Paducah are On Their Way Home

Paducah welcomed thousands of quilters for a week of wonderful quilt-related shows and vending opportunities. The main attraction, of course, is the American Quilter's Society quilt show. But, everybody else (including me!) piggy backs on to the influx of these quilters who double the city's population and bring a much needed source of revenue for local businesses. Quilters come from all over the United States and from around the world. These cars were parked side by side at a lot close to the Quilt Museum:







There have been thousands of quilts to see, shopping opportunities at every turn, good food, perfect weather (no mosquitoes and the dogwoods are in bloom), classes, new friendships made, and just an all around good time with creative fabric addicts. Now, the exciting week is over and everybody is tired. Pooped out, exhausted, swollen feet, ready for the favorite couch or chair. Time to go home....

I went around and caught some photos of quilters who said they were tired, very tired:


All her bags are packed, she's ready to go...











Husbands have reached the end of their patience, too:

The trolley helps quilters back to their cars, buses, and hotels...

Everybody goes back to where they came from...

The city empties out and Paducah goes back to its normal pace. Sure, there is plenty to do, but nothing like when the quilters are here! We'll miss all of you! We thank you for all your support, your good will and all the life you bring to our fair city.

Remember that we are here year long and love having visitors the rest of the time, too. Come again and avoid the crowds! The museum will have new exhibits, there are lots of things happening in Lowertown (including the upcoming Lowertown Arts Festival in May), downtown Paducah has new businesses and restaurants and the area has lots of camping and shopping opportunities. So, come on down! Or, over, or up- guess it all depends on where you are! We'll be here, ready to welcome you back once your feet have had some rest!

Tired Quilters in Paducah are On Their Way Home

The Paducah Quilt Show Experience

Yesterday we went to the Quilt Show here in Paducah. We represented a microcosm of all the thousands of women who were also there: Me, now living here in Paducah, my Mom, Donna Biel from Mondovi, Wisconsin along with my auntie, Nyla Gislason from Boston, and my friend, Diane Gerlach, from Kenosha, Wisconsin.

My Aunt Nyla and my Mom in front of a Japanese exhibit.

As usual, the show is an experience of sensory overload with all its colors, textures, throngs of people, vendors, and the wonderful quilts. We started at the back end and worked our way to the main exhibit hall. A big mistake!

As you walk, you see rooms with aisles of quilts:




There are people everywhere!

Great vendors with oodles of patience, cool gadgets, the latest books and tools, and fabric, fabric, fabric!

The Scissors Man

Tina, from The Guild was working the Bernina booth (she sold me my Bernina)

This woman was very entertaining- she had a powdered glue product, Bo-Nash, that magically repairs holes, hems things and has thousands of uses. We all bought it.

Diane with a Hmong vendor.

The mistake we made was that there was so much to see that we got tired. We should have started at the main hall and worked our way out to the vendors. By the time we got to the quilts, I had no patience for taking good photos, even though I saw one quilt after another that I found inspiring and interesting. Then I found out that we are not allowed to post photos online of single quilts, so I guess it's just as well... So many colors and textures!


Each of us were drawn in different directions, with our own color preferences and thematic interests. Above, Diane looks closely at a quilt of a woman looking through a windowed door.

I was especially drawn to quilts with international or cultural themes. I saw one of a Native American where the face was solid embroidery. I was amazed at the artist's ability to capture so much expression with such density of thread. Another, Cool Camels of Egypt, made me laugh.

A quilt that was titled something like "The Burning of Baghdad" moved me. I remember the artist's name, Donna Hussein, and imagine, that like me, Donna married into another culture and uses her voice to address concerns there. I found the quilt powerful and would love to learn more about her work.

By the time we got to the Best of Show, our legs, feet, lower backs, and hips were screaming. Concrete floors claim their victims. The winning quilt was obviously gorgeous, interesting, and worthy of its prize. We heard that it took four years to make.

We hurried by and kept moving to the exit, joining hundreds of other women who were piling up in corridors, outside, anywhere where they could sit, remove their shoes and breathe a sigh of relief.

My mother is a real trooper though! At 70, she is in way better shape than I am. She could have kept it up for a couple more hours. She was a little tired, but more than that, she was happy to have had the Paducah quilt show experience!

The Paducah Quilt Show Experience