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

212 Broadway is Ready for The AQS Quilt Show in Paducah!

English's Antiques at 212 Broadway in Paducah
makes way for quilters!

Last year, during the AQS Quilt Show in Paducah, I rented space from Barry, owner of 212 Broadway's store, English's Antiques. I liked being there so much that I have a permanent space right to the left, as you walk in. Summer was decent, Fall brought the collapse of our economy, local, national and worldwide, and forget doing business in January, February and March. So, as the Dogwood trees start blooming in Paducah, we all anxiously await the annual event of the AQS's Quilt Show in Paducah.

Paducah is a small city in Northwestern Kentucky. The most common statistic that I have heard is that our population is around 26,000 during the night and around 40,000 during the day. People who live in rural areas may work or shop in Paducah during the day and go home for the night. We are also conveniently located almost smack in the middle of a triangle that joins Nashville, Memphis and St. Louis, all major cities under three hours away from Paducah. With two major hospitals, a thriving artist community and other amenities offered in our humble city, this river town has slowly emerged from a depressed state to a stable one. The Quilt Show, an annual event, doubles our population for a few days. Women with big bags come from all around the world for the show, hosted by the American Quilter's Society, and make a few key stops around town, including the downtown strip closest to the Ohio River. Our hope is that they (could it be you?) will also stop in at 212 Broadway, located within a couple of blocks from the Quilt Museum and maybe four blocks from the Show.

Barry, owner of English's Antiques,
takes a stand in front of my booth.

Barry came to Paducah from England for that age-old calling of love for a woman. That woman didn't work out, but he found another woman who did, Diana. An electrician by trade in the Old Country, Barry found his niche in Paducah by importing English antique furniture, gorgeous pieces. He has shoved them to the back to make room for vendors hoping to cater to all these wonderful women (and men!) visiting our fair town.

Barry and Diana discussing something important
about the Quilt Show in Paducah.

I sell ethnic textiles from around the world. Kilims, Suzani, Indian spreads (make great quilt backs!), Ralli quilts, and much more. If you know what these words mean, my booth should call to you in the night! I depleted my online stores and brought my treasures to 212 Broadway, hoping that at least some textile lovers would find me in this ocean of fabric. My niche is a small one, but those who love these textiles are fervent about their calling. I am also a quilter and fiber artist and love incorporating remnants and ethnic fabric into my own work.

But, 212 Broadway also offers much to more mainstream quilters. Several vendors are there, selling their wares. Bob Davis, member of our Paducah Fiber Artists group, is selling his wife's quilting fabric stash. Once Helene Davis jumped into dyeing her own cottons, she never looked back, making her commercial (and huge!) stash obsolete. You can buy it by the pound. (I have a pile accumulating...)

Bob Davis selling Helene's stash to a Japanese customer.

Helene's quilts are also displayed and available for purchase. I can't wait until the day I can finally afford one of her masterpieces!

Diana, Pam and Helene, fondling fabrics and chatting.

Several other vendors also sell fabric, quilt crayons, quilting supplies, and more.




Today was our first day. We had a steady flow and hope that it will conitnue throughout the week. A couple of vendors have offerings that go beyond the quilting circles. Bunja is back with African beads, masks, and textiles.

Bunja selling African beads, masks and textiles at
212 Broadway in Paducah.

Diana especially likes Bunja's masks...

Diana can be scarier than this!
(All with Southern charm, of course!)

Then, there is Bumble Beads, a local jewelry business with a nice selection of affordable necklaces and earrings.

Bumble Beads Jewelry in Paducah, Kentucky.

So, if you are in Paducah for the AQS Quilt Show, do take some time to come and find us. And, if you read this blog, let me know! I would love to put some faces to that cyber world out there. I plan on being at my booth in the afternoons. I want to roam around in the mornings as this event makes of me a tourist, too.

And, for those of you who are not coming, I apologize for the bareness of my online stores. I pulled lots of things out and will replenish after the show. If I sell a lot, you will see lots of new gorgeous textiles. My Etsy store is still pretty full, so go there first. Links are on the right column of this blog. To all of us, may we each enjoy a wonderful week of eye candy, inspiration and good folk!

212 Broadway is Ready for The AQS Quilt Show in Paducah!

TAFA Market: April 27-30 during the Quilt Show in Paducah

The countdown has begun!  In 22 days, TAFA: The Textile and Fiber Art List will host its first live event in Paducah, Kentucky.  Are you coming for the quilt show?  Whether you were planning to or not, if you love textiles, TAFA, along with the quilt show and all of the special events that happen during this time, makes a trip to Paducah a must. 

TAFA's Mission:  Markets for Members

This mission translates into various online opportunities for members through social media, connections with potential buyers and other strategies that will hopefully drive business to member sites.  Yet, for all the help the internet has brought to small businesses in reaching worldwide markets, there is still nothing like seeing the work in real life.  TAFA is currently fund-raising to pay for its new website which will hopefully happen through the Market.  This first event will also teach us a lot about potential group shows and events that we can host in the future.  Join us as we open the doors to the world for our members!

Several textiles will be on display by Constance Rose

What's happening at the TAFA Market?

Crossroads Trade 

Several things!  All very exciting:  

• Exhibit:  Members are sending in textiles, jewelry, and accessories from all over the world.
• Vendors:  Several members are setting up booths with ethnic textiles and apparel. 
• Silent Auction:  Members are sending in textiles and products to help raise money for the new website. 
• Raffle:  My business, Rayela Art, is donating several pieces through a raffle, also to benefit the new website.

See a preview of some of the exhibited items on our TAFA site.  I will feature a different exhibitor or vendor every day on this blog over the next two weeks.  So, stay tuned for more details and sign up to receive new posts via email (see the sidebar for the email sign-up box).

Some of the auction and raffle items will be available online for those of you who cannot make it to Paducah.  I am still setting that up and hope to have it ready in the next couple of days.

Where is Paducah?

I moved to Paducah from Chicago five years ago.  It's a straight shot down, about a seven hour drive.  Atlanta and Dallas are about the same distance.  It is also almost in the mid of a triangular hub consisting of St. Louis, Nashville, and Memphis, each around three hours away.  We do have an airport with convenient flights to Nashville, Memphis and Chicago.

Hotels are usually booked up to 50 miles away for the quilt show by now, but residents open up there homes for the event, charging around $50 a night for a room.  The Paducah Convention & Visitor's Bureau keeps a list, so contact them.

TAFA Market Location

We are going to be in a great space!  The Market will be just off of Paducah's main street, Broadway, at 124-126 Second Street.  For those of you who have been here in the past, we will be just a couple of doors down from Kirchoff's Bakery, a popular destination for those who want healthy lunches.  The Quilt Museum is two blocks away, the Convention Center four blocks, and the AQS vendor outlet in the Finkel's building is just around the corner.

View TAFA Market in a larger map

I have posted about Paducah's Quilt Show in the past so if you want to get a feel for what happens here, click on this link.  The city really becomes alive and there is plenty to see and do.  It is always a gorgeous time of the year with the Dogwood trees in full bloom and moderate temperatures, perfect for walking around.  Many people think that the Quilt Show is only for quilters.  Not true!  One does not have to be a potter or painter to appreciate pots or paintings.  Likewise, both TAFA and the Quilt Show offer a great opportunity for those interested in both traditional and contemporary quilts and textiles to see and purchase great pieces of hand work.  Also, the LowerTown Galleries will have special events going on and only a few of them focus on textiles.  And, here is the link to the American Quilter's Society's show in Paducah.

Help make this event a successful one for us!  Forward this posts to people you know will be coming to Paducah, share it on your social media sites and help us spread the word.  We truly appreciate your interest and help and look forward to meeting those of you who will be coming!

TAFA Market: April 27-30 during the Quilt Show in Paducah

Paducah Fiber Artists: See us at the Quilt Show!

Ulla Shierhorn and Irene Reising at a Paducah Fiber Artists 

meeting held at Bryerpatch Studio.

We meet monthly, rotating around to studios and homes that can accommodate our group.  We bring great food, mingle around and catch up on what's been going on in our lives, then sit down for a "show and tell" of our latest projects.  Peppered with great story-telling, laughter, and sometimes sad events, these meetings and these people are a definite highlight for me and my life in Paducah, Kentucky.  Outwardly, we may not have all that much in common with each other.  We come from so many different backgrounds and focus on projects that vary greatly in technique and expertise.  But, inwardly, the Paducah Fiber Artists share a deep bond: we love all things fiber and have a deep curiosity about what our peers will come up with next on their list of endless fiber explorations.

Next week, Paducah rolls out its red carpets for the Quilt Show.  Most of the PFA members have work or special activities going on in different locations.  I asked our members to submit their news for those of you who are coming and have a list of where you can find us.  The first, must-see stop, is a brand new gallery that is a bit off the beaten track: Jefferson Street Studios, the gorgeous new home and work space of Bob and Helene Davis.  We had our April meeting in their new space and it exudes a wonderful sense of peace and harmony.

 Paducah Fiber Artists meeting at Jefferson Street Studios.

Both Bob and Helene are art quilters and Helene is especially known and recognized for her work as a dyer and surface designer.  Work representing the Paducah Fiber Artists is showcased in this first exhibit at their new gallery and Helene's hand dyed fabrics are also available for sale.  Do not be intimidated by the location!  It's only a short six or so blocks off the beaten track and truly worth the visit.  For more info: http://www.hand-dye.com/

LowerTown is Paducah's artist neighborhood, peppered with wonderful galleries, all of which will have special events during the Quilt Show.  We are especially grateful to Carol Gabany of "The Egg and I" for organizing an Art Walk which displays works by the Paducah Fiber Artists at various LowerTown galleries.  Go find us!

"Exuberance" by Susan Mogan at The Egg and I Gallery

• Karen Hampton, "Orchid Splendor" and "Rhubarb" - Stornoway House Gallery 513 N. 6th  and "Relief" at Studio 7 on 6th -  314 N. 6TH
• Linda Baxter Lasco, "Tree Skin Canyon" -  Bryerpatch Studio - 502 N. 5th
• Deb Lyons, "Blue Quilt" -  Etcetera Coffeehouse -  320  N. 6th and "Shiva Dance"  - Reilly Ursury Studio - 527 N. 5th and "Invitation" -  Pinecone Studio -  421 N. 7th
• Susan Mogan, "Exuberance" and "Jubilee", - The Egg & I - 335 N. 6th
• Rachel Biel (yep!  That's me! A new dogfood purse...), "Doggy Soul" - Mentor House Gallery - 332 N. 6th
• Lili Lui, 4 Monofilament, knitted necklaces -  The Egg & I - 335 N. 6th
• Christi Bonds-Garrett, "Green Spirit II" - Studio 7 on 6th - 314 N. 6th and "Harmony Bone Hole" - Judeen's Art Studio - 720 Harrison St.  and "Spirit Ruins" - The Egg & I - 335 N. 6th
• Pam Heavrin, "Shelly by the Sea" -  Pinecone Studio - 421 N. 7th
• Robert Davis, "Reflections"  - Co Op Gallery corner of 5th and MLK
• Helene Davis, "Flags II" and "Nexus"  - Reilly Ursury Studio, 527 N. 5th - and "Parameters", Bryerpatch Studio, 502 N. 5th
• Karen Linduska, "Fantasy Garden #12" and "Fantasy Garden #20",  The Egg & I - 335 N. 6th St
• Rosemary Claus-Gray, "Balance II" at Etcetera Coffeehouse - 320 N. 6th and "Folk Art Critter, Kevin" at Mentor House Gallery - 332 N. 6th

Here is an article on the walk: LowerTown Art Walk

Both Lily Liu and Helene Davis have work at the Yeiser Art Gallery's must-see exhibit "Fantastic Fibers".  Lily's piece at the left, "Make Every Minute Count" is a theme she brings up often at our meetings.  You can be sure that some of these rolled pieces were assembled during our show and tell times as she literally does keep her fingers busy at all times, either caring for her young ones or making a crazy new fiber invention. 


PFA member Sally Terry has a lot going on:

She will have “Nature’s Fireworks” hanging at Bob and Helene’s (Jefferson Street Studios). It is the cover quilt for “Pathways To Better Quilting”, Published by AQS. It is a wholecloth with Langa Lapu Fabric from South Africa. Machine quilted with over 40 different threads, including specialty threads. It has traveled in a National Wholecloth Exhibit.

Sally will be teaching a Running Threads Class and Quilt This-Machine Quilting How To Work  and Choose Patterns at AQS Show. 

She is also the author of the No. 1 Quilt Book “Hooked On Feathers” Published by AQS for 2009. The Quilt Channel will also feature Sally quilting the new Hooked On Feathers technique. She has a new book with a working title of “From Quilt Top To Quilted” to be published later this year.

 

Last, but surely not least, my hope is that every one of you will come and find me at my booth housed at Antique Galleria, 212 Broadway in downtown Paducah.  

 Charlotte Erwin leading 

a marbling workshop at Working Artist Studio.

Interested in learning how to marble fabric?  You can learn from our local guru, Charlotte Erwin:

Quilt Fabric Marbling Workshop

April 19, 2010 - April 24, 2010 Times: 10 AM-5 PM
Location:  Working Artist Studio, 303 N. 8th St.
Phone:  270.441.7844
Admission:  $65 person. $120 two people. Price includes 10 pieces of prepared fabric & supplies.
Hands-on one-hour fabric or paper marbling workshop with LowerTown artist Charlotte Erwin. Reservations suggested for two or more participants.

I sell cultural textiles from around the world and my booth will be loaded with great examples of these long time traditions.  My special focus is Central and South Asia, but I have some things from South America and Africa as well.  I will be depleting my Etsy store of its best pieces for the show, too, so if you like ethnic textiles, you will not be disappointed.  Dr. Christi Bonds Garrett of HeArt of Healing Gallery also moved her inventory to Antique Galleria and our booths face each other.  She also focuses on cultural textiles and has an incredible collection of molas, vintage Japanese kimono and other Asian textiles.  Between the two of us, you will be walking into paradise.

Clearly, there will be a lot to see and explore when you come to Paducah!   Bring good walking shoes and be prepared for sensory overload as you experience one great exhibit after another.  The dogwood trees are in full bloom, Spring is here in all its glory, and we welcome you with open arms!

For posts on this blog on past quilt shows, click here and click here for more stories on the Paducah Fiber Artists.

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Paducah Fiber Artists: See us at the Quilt Show!

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

Fabric: The Search for the Perfect Piece Transforms Paducah During the AQS Show

Beautiful Batiks from Indonesia, A Favorite Among Quilters

If you are a quilter, you most probably have a stash of fabric that's taking over part of your house and your life. Quilters need a selection to pick from and that elusive perfect color or design ever calls us to adding to our stash, "just in case"... For some, it can actually become a disease, an urge to have and collect more than could ever possibly be used in a lifetime. Most artists struggle with this need to have supplies on hand, "Oh, I will use it someday..." which competes with the reality of storage demands and the ever-present war against clutter.

Rolls of complimenting colors allow a quilter
to have a nice selection without purchasing too much fabric.

At almost $10 a yard in most specialty stores, purchasing fabric can be a serious financial investment. So, a quilter will go glassy eyed when they see fabric on sale. And, when you have a large gathering of quilters such as the AQS Show in Paducah, a whole city will transform itself to try to meet this need and reinvent itself in fabric opportunities. Paducah is known as "Quilt City, USA" and local businesses join in the fun, hoping to attract visiting quilters in for their non-fabric wares.

"How about a coffee and cookie, dear Quilter?"

The show itself is hosted in the Convention Center which is located right on the river, downtown, within walking distance from the Quilt Museum and the downtown businesses. Half of the space at the Convention Center is dedicated to vendors who come with their wares from all over the world. Then, AQS sponsors other sites around town for satellite vendors.

The Finkel's Building downtown on Kentucky Avenue,
normally empty, becomes a satellite space for AQS during the Quilt Show.

Non-AQS businesses and groups also set up vending opportunities. The Rotary Club of Paducah/McCracken County hosts an annual show of antique quilts and also rents vendor spaces.

The guys at the door collect $5 per visitor, money that is used to fund educational and scholarship programs.

Inside, quilters become inspired by the quilts they see.

Inspiration leads to temptation.... "Hmmm.... I think I need some more fabric for my stash..." Vendors are there to supply the need. "What to get? What to get? ..."

Fabric makes the quilting world go around.

And, for those who don't want to go to the trouble of making it, there are plenty of lovely finished quilts available...



Oh, and quilters also need their tools: scissors, thimbles, thread, templates, batting, rulers, glues, special paint sticks, and on and on. Every year there are new inventions that help expand the quilter's universe of possibilities.

Quilting templates, a coveted accessory for some.

Many of these things are not easily accessible in most towns or cities. You can find almost everything online, but that's never the same as seeing something right in front of your face where you can size it and touch it. And, of course, there are all those one of a kind pieces that you will not see on the internet, things that can be incorporated into a quilt, or that you just have to have.

Vintage lace and doilies.

Informal vendors also have wares to sell. The streets are filled with tents and people trying to get in on the action.

When else will Paducah fill up with 30,000 women or more, all with big bags they just might fill?

Charter buses take the quilters to the different points in the city that have vendors or exhibited quilts. Parking, of course, becomes difficult downtown. A couple of fun modes of transport include the trolley or you can go by horse and buggy!

Paducah's trolley.

Horse and buggy, a fun way to see Paducah's downtown.

Others just enjoy being outside and seeing the city come alive. I ran into my friend, Stefanie Graves of Cowango, working on a watercolor down by the gazebo.

Stefanie Graves talking to a visiting quilter.

One of the best things about this invasion of quilters and vendors in Paducah is that most of the people that come are really, really nice. (Note emphasis on Most...) This kind visitor took a photo of Stefanie and me. She modelled Stefanie's hat...

Me with Stefanie Graves.

Well, I had done my rounds and it was time to get back to work. Yep. I'm a vendor, too, hoping like everyone else that some green dollars will make there way into my grubby hands... My niche is a small but special one in the quilting world. I sell ethnic textiles online and in my permanent booth at English's Antiques at 212 Broadway, downtown Paducah.

Rachel Biel Taibi of Rayela Art

You can find the links to my stores on the third column of this blog. Rayela Art has stores on Etsy, eBay and 1,000 Markets. They are a bit depleted right now as I pulled a lot out for the show, but will be restocking soon.

I find it fascinating to see what people do with their hoards of fabric. I have my own stash that keeps growing and am committed to also using it up, making new pieces as time goes on. I always push myself to learn something new, to push the boundaries of what I have seen and translate it into something that becomes mine. Sometimes it works and sometimes it's an "Now what have I done?" experience. I am definitely inspired by cultural textiles, but also by contemporary fiber artists. The possibilites seem limitless...

Today is the last day of the show here in Paducah. Life will resume its normal pace and we will all play with our new fabric and supplies. We are all grateful for those of you who have been here and hope to see you again next year. And, for those of you who have not been to Paducah, do visit us sometime! It's a great community with wonderful galleries and year round, we are

"Quilt City, USA"!!!

Fabric: The Search for the Perfect Piece Transforms Paducah During the AQS Show