That's One for the Books

 

As Always, this years quilt show was spectacular!  There are so many creative and talented people in this world. 
But before I post some quilt pictures (that absolutely do not do the quilts justice) I want to talk about the people of the Quilt Show.

It goes without saying there would be no show without the people...
not only the quilters, and dear husbands, who attend and the quilt creators who display their stunning work, but the vendors and the people who "work" the show, also.

We raise our glass to the People of the Show!

The first is a woman I met tending a booth called Sew Powerful.
"Sew a Purse, Change a Life."  

This is a charity group.  Their current focus is a purse program.  We, the sewing public, download a pattern and make a cross-body purse.  After sending the completed bag to Sew Powerful, they in turn send the purses to under-developed countries where there are more volunteers who fill the purses with reusable hygiene products and then give them to young women.  Click here to read about it.  

I was so impressed.  I'm hoping to get our First Saturday Needle Group to take this on as a charity project.

Of course there were many vendors at the show...after all that's one of reasons we go to shows, we want
to see what's new and different and what we absolutely CAN NOT live without.   

One of the vendors was Glenda Wilder.  She designs patterns.  We had such a nice conversation about quilting and patterns and such.  I need another pattern like nobody's business, but I could not resist. 

I like applique and these boots are too cute!!

Glenda Wilder Designs

While eating lunch, a delightful 90-Y-O lady from Pigeon Forge, TN sat down next to me.  As we ate we talked about quilts (of course) whipping out our phones to share pictures of quilts we have made.

She has been quilting for 50 years! She now lives with her daughter and they BOTH quilt...she was telling me how much chaos they have in their studio.  

Trust me when I say There Are No Strangers at a quilt show.

A big THANK YOU to the Paducah Ambassadors.  There were a lot of ambassadors volunteering at the show.  They were so friendly....reminds me of Portland's Royal Rosarians.  I think this is something I might want to do, someday.

Finally, thank you to the volunteers that make the PaDucky Derby happen.  This charity benefits victims of domestic violence.  It's not too late to adopt a duck.  The race is in October.

Oh, Look.  An entire pond full of MSQC quackers!!*

 

 

 

So, you see, quilting is more than just a hobby; it is fun, educational, good for the local economy, good for our mental health and benefits the community in many ways. 

Quilting checks ALL the boxes! 

 

*MSQC Quackers....Missouri Star Quilt Company Duck.