Paducah and Quilts

  This past week Paducah Ky hosted it's 28th annual Quilt show.  I doubt that I would have ever attended if I didn't have family that quilts.  My mother grew up quilting and made her first one at age 19 as a young married woman.  It was the way that scraps of fabric could be used to make something useful.  It also became a creative expression for those that did the piecing of the quilts.  The actual quilting was laborious, so women often got together to share the work.  I'm happy to say that women are still getting together in quilting guilds, bees or shows, not so much to hand quilt together any more but to share ideas and fabric and friendships.  All of this was very apparent this year at the quilt show.   
       My older sister has been sewing forever and more recently quilting.  She owns a gammel quilting machine and turns out hundreds of quilts every year.  For a number of years she has been coming to the Paducah quilt show and I go when I can.  I really consider it an art show.  The work is awe inspiring and mind boggling.  I still have no concept of how these women can make life like paintings out of fabric.  Even some of the simple techniques seem a bit complicated to me.  (My seamstress gene has never been fully developed)  As I long as I'm the recipient of such family heirlooms, I doubt I'll have any reason to develop it either.
    Paducah has been blessed by hosting these quilters for the last 28 years, both economically and spiritually. The quilts come from as far away as Japan and Australia. It's amazing the way women (and men) all over the world can find inspiration in the everyday. Quilting has come a long way since my mother made her first quilt.

  

   

Bikes and Blooms and contradictions

  Recently I got myself a new ride.  My old bike was a faithful friend.  It's been with me from Canada to the gulf coast and I hate to get rid of it, but it was starting to show it's age.  My new bike is a commuter friendly trek.  I've ridden it to work for the last two days and loved every minute of it.  You see I'm a practical person and,  it feels so much more right to me to use my muscles and energy for something useful like commuting.  The gym will always seem artificial to me.  Let me haul some mulch or garden any day to burn calories.  Anyway my new ride has a basket and a light and I'm so proud.  I can't wait to take it camping soon.

       This spring has just been unusually early and extra pretty.  The azaelas and dogwoods have been gorgeous. (My new white azaelas have bloomed this spring)   I have some beautiful wisteria and lilacs. My new buckeye tree bloomed.   I love growing flowers.  This goes against my above practical nature but I have gotten over it. My husband can grow food- I put my efforts into flowers.  I felt guilty for just a little while.  I have really enjoyed my flowers this spring.