Episode 33: Inside Quilt Week 2022
For two consecutive years Quilt Week, an event that virtually triples the population of Paducah, Kentucky was derailed by Covid. In 2020 the pandemic had just begun. In 2021, it was still raging. Now it’s 2022, and the high school marching band welcomes visitors to Quilt Week. From exhibit floor conversations, to interviews with exhibitors and attendees, the excitement is palpable.
Bonnie Browning, Executive Show Director at AQS has a deep passion for quilting and for Quilt Week. As she talks about all the hard work that goes into making Quilt Week happen, you can hear the pride in her voice. “Every year we say the quilts can’t get any better. Every year, the quilts get better.”
Janet Stone, recipient of the Best of Show award for Quilt Week 2022 talks about the inspiration for her winning quilt, “Crazy Four Ewe.” She also shares her evolution from cross-stitch to quilting, and her inspiration for making a series of 26 quilts that feature the alphabet. Crazy Four Ewe is the 20th in this series. (5:08-8:47)
There’s a lot of diversity in the types of quilts exhibited, and many fascinating stories. While Julia Quiltoff specializes in boutique quilts and memory keeper quilts, Karen Stone’s inspiration consists equally of innovation and tradition. This year, Karen displayed a wave quilt from new and old Japanese fabrics, and a smaller, more modern Ogee Lotus quilt. She received a first-place judge’s award. As we continue our conversations, we speak with Susan Carlson who developed her own technique of collage quilting, and who has 12 quilts in her Specimens Collection. The most prominent one is Stevie the Saltwater Crocodile, which is a 20-ft piece. (8:47 - 19:38)
From exhibitors to vendors to attendees, there was a lot of talk about the joy and exhilaration of finally being able to reunite with kindred spirits beyond the screen, and to share their passion, the creativity, and the sense of community, live and in person. A vendor and show attendee, Kathrine Gross, a BERNINA Regional Manager, shares her unique perspective on Quilt Week in Paducah and conversing with quilters from around the world.
The passion was originally ignited in 1984 when Meredith and Bill Schroeder and their daughter Lynn Loyd founded AQS and launched Quilt Week. We hear how, for the past 38 years, many family members have worked side by side to make Quilt Week the phenomenon it is today. The family is equally proud of founding the Quilt Museum, and for playing a vital role in Paducah becoming known as Quilt City, USA. Bill Schroeder III has been involved in Quilt Week since he was 5 years old, and now co-owns the business. The most exciting thing to him is that he’s continuing the family legacy and ensuring that AQS and Quilt Week live on. (30-38:28)
When you listen to this exciting podcast, you’ll learn that quilts aren’t the only worldwide phenomenon at the event. The strawberry shortcake made by Boy Scout Troop 200 has been a perennial favorite since the year after Quilt Festival opened. Scout Master Mark Ashburn shares how the Troop’s shortcake was the topic of conversation on an international flight from Brisbane to LA. After having it tasted it, Meg agrees with the passengers on that flight, “It’s the absolute bomb!”
To learn more about this amazing organization and celebrate all things quilting, be sure to visit Americanquilter.com
If you know someone who has an outstanding story that should be shared on this podcast, drop Meg a note to info@sewandsopodcast.com or complete the form on our website.