Whew, I've survived April! In the last few weeks I've been to two major quilt show (MQX New England in New Hampshire and AQS Quilt Week in Paducah), visited the set of Fons & Porter's Love of Quilting, and hosted a Road Show. Like I said, I survived! Today I wanted to share a few of my favorite quilts from the show in Paducah. There were so many beautiful quilts this year that I'll be splitting them up into two posts, check back soon for even more quilts! Be sure to like and follow me on Facebook and Instagram! You'll get a sneak peek at some of my favorite quilts on the show before I can post them here, and lots more quilty goodness! The images are a little small, but you can click each image to enlarge it and really see those quilting details!

Hopeless by Janneke de Vries-Bodzinga

Janneke has a series of wall hangings tackling this subject, and each one is beautiful. She quilts on an APQS George, and I’m in awe of her ability to create texture and use the thread to create wind-like movement across the landscape of this quilt. That texture really helps bring the fabrics to life! Janneke was a a Purchase Award winner this year.

Bodacious by Claudia Clark Myers & Marilyn Badger

Claudia Clark Myers and Marilyn Badger are two APQS icons, so when they come together you know you’re about to see one heck of a quilt! This was paper pieced and be sure to admire the dimensionality of the checker boards. I love how they’re stretched towards the center of the quilt.

Paradise in Blooms by Cathy Burk

This quilt was foundation-pieced with fusible applique, designed by Judy Niemeyer of Quiltworx. I loved the quiltmaker’s color choices. The quilting is very nicely done – not too over-the-top, but enough to enhance the elements of the top well.

Color Flow by Brenda S. Roach

Would you believe Brenda was one of my beginning longarm students?! It’s so special seeing a quilt at a show like Paducah and realizing you know the person who made it! Brenda was playing with color when she made this quilt, and I love the way it transitions throughout her quilt. And how about those skewed flying geese flying through space? Very cool!

Oscar the Great by Nancy Sterett Martin & Karen Sistek

Nancy Sterett Martin is quickly becoming one of my favorite quilters. I previously showed you Captain Kimo, which was on display at the Lancaster show. For Oscar the Great she teamed up with Karen Sistek. This quilt is a mix of thread painting with an APQS George and painting. Take a look at the detail work on this quilt, based solely on the ripples and and shadowing you can clearly tell this is a calm day. And the feather details are just amazing!

Red December by Gail H. Smith & Angela McCorkle

I was really impressed with how Gail and Angela used the quilting to create secondary designs within the quilt. They took advantage of all the negative space in the center to create setting triangles that don’t exist within the piecing. And I loved how they used the applique stems as spines for their feathers.

My View, Those Darn Hats! Who Won the Derby? by Tami Graeber

The timing for this quilt couldn’t have been better! We’re Derby crazy here in Louisville, so when I saw this quilt I immediately thought it must be from a fellow Kentucky girl. But no, Tami is from Tucson! She added lots of fun 3D elements for the flowers and ribbons in the Derby hats. The feathers in the big red hat were lovely as well.

A King on His Throne by Nancy Sterrett Martin

Remember how I said Nancy is becoming one of my favorite quilters? If they let me pick best of show, this is quilt would have a big purple ribbon on it. I’m so in awe of this incredible quilt! The painting and thread painting is so realistic. I’m just waiting for the bird to fly off the quilt! Click the close up photo so you can see it enlarged and look at the details on his face and especially his eyes. Simply amazing!

Arandano by Marilyn Badger, Winner Best of Show!

Arandano is Marilyn’s latest masterpiece and won Best of Show this year! Would you believe this was Marilyn’s first Best of Show win at Paducah? I shared many more closeups of this quilt from the Lancaster show, but I like it so much I thought I’d share it again!

Janneke has a series of wall hangings tackling this subject, and each one is beautiful. She quilts on an APQS George, and I'm in awe of her ability to create texture and use the thread to create wind-like movement across the landscape of this quilt. That texture really helps bring the fabrics to life! Janneke was a a Purchase Award winner this year.

Bodacious by Claudia Clark Myers & Marilyn Badger

Claudia Clark Myers and Marilyn Badger are two APQS icons, so when they come together you know you're about to see one heck of a quilt! This was paper pieced and be sure to admire the dimensionality of the checker boards. I love how they're stretched towards the center of the quilt.

Paradise in Blooms by Cathy Burk

This quilt was foundation-pieced with fusible applique, designed by Judy Niemeyer of Quiltworx. I loved the quiltmaker's color choices. The quilting is very nicely done - not too over-the-top, but enough to enhance the elements of the top well.

Color Flow by Brenda S. Roach

Would you believe Brenda was one of my beginning longarm students?! It's so special seeing a quilt at a show like Paducah and realizing you know the person who made it! Brenda was playing with color when she made this quilt, and I love the way it transitions throughout her quilt. And how about those skewed flying geese flying through space? Very cool!

Oscar the Great by Nancy Sterett Martin & Karen Sistek

Nancy Sterett Martin is quickly becoming one of my favorite quilters. I previously showed you Captain Kimo, which was on display at the Lancaster show. For Oscar the Great she teamed up with Karen Sistek. This quilt is a mix of thread painting with an APQS George and painting. Take a look at the detail work on this quilt, based solely on the ripples and and shadowing you can clearly tell this is a calm day. And the feather details are just amazing!

Red December by Gail H. Smith & Angela McCorkle

I was really impressed with how Gail and Angela used the quilting to create secondary designs within the quilt. They took advantage of all the negative space in the center to create setting triangles that don't exist within the piecing. And I loved how they used the applique stems as spines for their feathers.

My View, Those Darn Hats! Who Won the Derby? by Tami Graeber

The timing for this quilt couldn't have been better! We're Derby crazy here in Louisville, so when I saw this quilt I immediately thought it must be from a fellow Kentucky girl. But no, Tami is from Tucson! She added lots of fun 3D elements for the flowers and ribbons in the Derby hats. The feathers in the big red hat were lovely as well.

A King on His Throne by Nancy Sterrett Martin

Remember how I said Nancy is becoming one of my favorite quilters? If they let me pick best of show, this is quilt would have a big purple ribbon on it. I'm so in awe of this incredible quilt! The painting and thread painting is so realistic. I'm just waiting for the bird to fly off the quilt! Click the close up photo so you can see it enlarged and look at the details on his face and especially his eyes. Simply amazing!

Arandano by Marilyn Badger, Winner Best of Show!

Arandano is Marilyn's latest masterpiece and won Best of Show this year! Would you believe this was Marilyn's first Best of Show win at Paducah? I shared many more closeups of this quilt from the Lancaster show, but I like it so much I thought I'd share it again!