From Mesa to Metropolis

No I am not talking about Superman's Metropolis. The Metropolis I mean is across the river from Paducah Kentucky. 

Paducah just happens to be the home of the National Quilt Museum and a huge Quilt Convention every April. I am a couple weeks too early for the convention but I did have a couple hours to spend at the museum. WHAT A TREAT!

On entering the lobby I met a very friendly woman at the desk and I liked her instantly...and no it was not just because she couldn't believe I qualified for a senior discount! Well Okay maybe that had a little to do with it. <grin>

I gave her some i.d. And paid my admission. She told me to be sure and see the wooden quilt in the conference room before leaving, so while waiting for my tour guide I thought I would go see the wooden quilt. I went in the room and took notice of several stained glass windows in a quilt pattern, and one modern quilt on the opposite wall.

No wooden quilts in that room so I moved on. Took a peek in the next room and glanced into the gift shop, and by then my guide had arrived, so I decided to look for the wooden quilt later. Unfortunately I was not allowed to take pics of any kind in the galleries...no touching, no pictures...pure torture! I was so blown away by the workmanship. I especially wanted to see a quilt called Ms. McDonald's Farm because one of the ladies who worked on this collaborative project is a friend and fellow quilter in our little group in Mesa, Arizona.

(Photo courtesy of American Quilter Magazine.com

This photo does not come close to doing this quilt justice, but believe me when I say it was a real feast for the eyes! Well done Mary Fran and friends!

There was a nine patch display. Quilts from the 1800's to 2014.  Truley inspirational!

Check them out here

The miniature quilt display was almost unbelievable. It was all I could do not to sneak a photo or two, but I behaved...honest.

On my way out of the gallery my guide said don't forget to check the gift shop and the wooden quilt...ah yes...the wooden quilt. Off I went again in search of the wooden quilt. I had seen a wooden quilt last week, done with wooden blocks where you can play around and change the pattern as you wish so this was what I expected to see. Back into the conference room and i walked up to the quilt on the wall only to see that it was indeed made of wood! Standing 6" away from it, I still had a hard time to believe it was not fabric. Painted in flat paint gave it a fabric appearance and it had folds in it hanging over the display rod. Beside it was a cross section of a piece of a cast off. 

Stunning!!!

A few small purchases ( museum pin, a charm, and a mug) from the shop and it was closing time. 

There was a lot more that caught my eye but The car is a bit loaded down...

It's hard to believe winter is over and we are on our way home. It has been a wonderful return trip so far. Hamilton, Missouri with a big stop at Missouri Star Quilt Company, hitting some amazing quilt shops, taking a break at Big Cedar Lodge outside of Branson Missouri.

I am still wearing sandals but I am told that that might change by the time I reach New Brunswick...we'll see....