After the first night in the hotel, things were calm and uneventful. We had nice quilters staying all around us and we talked to them at night.
The quilts in the show were outstanding, as usual. I’m always amazed at the amount of talent and work that goes into those quilts. I cannot even comprehend how Sharon Schamber designs and makes her quilts. Her piecing/applique, her quilting and the border/binding work she does is amazing/outstanding/spectacular. I just can’t think of enough words to describe it.
The crowds didn’t seem quite as bad to me this year but there were so many of those motorized wheel chair type things. It was hard to get around for those of us walking and it had to be hard for those in the chairs. There were 2 or 3 ladies together in them (separate chairs of course!) and they obviously weren’t used to using them and they were having trouble turning the corners — they’d have to back up and pull up, back up and pull up and whew . . it made for some backlogs in traffic. After seeing the quilts, I was pretty happy to get out of the crowds.
We ate lunch two day sat Kirchoff’s Bakery & Deli. The sandwiches were so good and the bakery is great too. That’s where I usually get the salt rising bread but they didn’t have any last week. Darn it! If you go to Paducah, you should try to visit Kirchoff’s.
Day by day as I remember the events:
Monday was the drive to Paducah and the visit to Hancock’s Fabrics. I bought a few pieces but nothing like some people do. It was mostly a yard of this and a yard of that.
On Tuesday, we went to the Rotary Club Show at the Civic Center. One of my favorite vendors, Cherrywood Fabrics, is in there. I bought two jacket kits in there and a couple of pieces of fabric.
Eleanor Burns’ tent city also opens on Tuesday so Becky, Elaine and I managed to find a few pieces of fabric there. All of the fabric in the tent is $4/yard.
On Tuesday evening, we drove out to Grand Rivers. My friend, Betty Cummings from The
Village Mercantile in Boonville, IN has a booth at that little show. I had a quilt to deliver to her and we visited with her for a few minutes. Then we met Connie and Jenniebeth on Tuesday night at Patti’s Settlement. Here we are: Left to Right – Connie, Jenniebeth, Elaine, Becky and me.
Looks like sweet Becky isn’t always so sweet! 
Wednesday was our day at the big show. We got almost all the way back to the lodge and realized we had forgotten to go to Eleanor Burns’ show but we weren’t going back!
Thursday, we went to Eleanor’s show. She is always entertaining and we love her free shows. From there, we went to the mall where there are additional vendors. Becky decided she wa
s going to go skip the mall so we said our goodbyes in the Taco Bell parking lot. Elaine and I bought a few things in the mall and then hit the road for our trip home. We spent one night along the way and got home on Friday.
About those purchases, my big purchase was a sewing machine! I did what most of you would not have done, according to the poll, and I bought a Baby Lock. Elaine has one and she loves it. For the past couple of years, Becky and I have planned to buy machines at the Paducah show. Every year, we’d look at all of them and then 
walk away. I simply need a machine that makes a good 1/4″ stitch. I’m not going to be quilting on it but I wanted a knee lift, a walking foot and needle up. Nothing fancy or expensive. I was torn between getting the Decorator’s Choice or the one below it. Becky decided on the Decorator’s Choice. They had such a great deal on them and then we realized the guy had quoted us over $100 less than they were supposed to be charging so they ladies were going to honor the price. This made the deal too good to pass up so, Becky and I both bought the Decorator’s Choice.
When Elaine and I got to the room Thursday night, we spread out all our purchases. The first two are Elaine’s and the last two are mine. She was buying for a pink and black project she has in mind. It’s going to be beautiful!
The sewing machine is being mailed so it isn’t in the pictures.
These are my purchases. A few patterns, a few yards of fabric, a couple of packets of paper for English paper piecing.
And, those Cherrywood kits!
We have reservations for next year (and the next and the next!) and I can’t wait til show time in 2008!
Judy L.
{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
What fun you had…there is noting better than taking everything out of the bags and spreading it out on the bed in a hotel…we do that every time we go to Market or on a road trip. FUN! FUN! FUN!
I have a Babylock serger and love it. It is the only self-threading serger. I got it before I started quilting. Now I don’t use it as much as before. I’m sure you’ll love your new Babylock.
Judy, Is that the machine we talked about at dinner? I thought it was Becky who ‘almost bought one’ but was it you? I’m SO confused! LOL Anyway, you got one so congratulations! It looks wonderful.
Ohh Judy, with every word you brought back memories of my trip last year. I loved the deli/bakery, we had sandwiches in baskets, and then went next door and bought cookies – ohhh so good. I’ll never forget the 7 layer cookies. I loved the Eleanor Burns show too – being an Aussie, I never saw a quilter treated quite like a rock star before.
I love seeing all your purchases, sounds like you had the very best time! Enjoy your new machine!
*hugs*
Tazzie
Great travelogue, Judy! And OMG, I gotta get up the road from Nashville soon, to get some of that salt-risen bread! (Is that just a Southern thang?) Wonder if they’ll ship …
I loved reading your report.. and I followed the link to the Kirchoff Bakery (I’ll follow anything to a bakery). Did you notice at their web site the pictures of the renovated apartment above the bakery?? I want to live there!!!!!! So I’d gain 800 lbs. Who cares?? I just hafta get to Paducah one of these days.
Congratulations on the new machine! LOve the pictures of all of your purchases – lots of really cool stuff there!
My QFAH quilt is on the longarm and should be done in a week or so. I’ll send a photo when it’s done.
Congratulations on your new machine, Hallmark should make a card for occasions like this; you know? It’s a huge reason to celebrate when a woman acquires a new sewing machine… I, too, am tempted beyond reason and control when it comes to Cherrywood!
It sounds (and looks) like you all had a blast. Great purchases for both of you!
It all sounds like so much fun! The fabrics look wonderful.
Oh man! Lucky you for getting to spend time with Elaine. She’s one of my favorite people in the whole world!! Glad you had such a good time, Judy. That’s always nice when you plan it a year in advance (or more!) LOL
Peace,
neen