“King’s Quilting Studio, a Paducah Treasure Trove”
By Bonnie Ouellette

If you have never been to Paducah, Kentucky to visit the American Quilter’s Society Museum or the annual AQS show, you have missed a quilting extravaganza. An equally great pleasure is the wonderful shop of Sara King, King’s Quilting Studio just a few blocks away from the museum.

Located in a beautifully restored 100 year old brick building is a shop that holds one of the largest surface design and art quilt inventories that I have ever seen. The shop carries every imaginable supply for dyeing, painting, stenciling, shibori, trapunto and wonderfully unique textiles to enhance. Sara has just returned from a fabric-buying trip to Thailand and now carries loomed Thai cotton, silk brocade and Thai silk along with packages of 7” squares of Thai silk (125 squares). The shop also carries one of the largest selections of books and patterns on surface design, dyeing and painting fabric.

Sara King, the shop owner, is an avid fiber artist who loves the creative aspects of quilt making and surface design. She has a line of patterns under the name of “Kings’ Kreations”. She has won awards across the country for her original designs, and has lectured across the country and in Europe. Sara’s latest work is mostly commissions, and her work is held in collections around the world. Sara has also written a book, “Dye and Discharge: Playing on Fabric” where she shares her knowledge of fabric surface design.

Classes at King’s Quilting Studio are as unique as it’s inventory with classes held in silk dyeing, cotton painting, shibori, crazy quilting for beginners, and “A Class Just For You” where you can arrange for a private class for $10 per hour. This summer there will be a 3-day class in surface design covering all of her regular class offerings. Workshops and lectures are also available for guilds. The lectures and workshops offered include; “Watercolor Wallhanging”, “Quilts in my Life” (with an accompanying trunk show), “Seeing Italy Through The Eyes of a Quilter”, “Shibori” and “Wearable Art Fashion Show”

The most unique opportunities offered at King’s Studio are guided textile related tours. Sara is leading a trip in September 2004 to the Amalfi Coast and Tuscany for 18 days and in 2005 a trip to China and Tibet to visit textile artists. This trip is co-sponsored by the Surface Design Association.

This spring there was some rather bittersweet news when Sara announced that her shop and business is for sale. Sara and her husband are moving to be closer to family in Minnesota. What an opportunity for the right dedicated person to own this beautiful shop in downtown Paducah, Kentucky, “Quilt City USA”.

King’s Quilting Studio
Paducah, Kentucky
270.444.7577
sara@paducahquilts.com

©2004 Bonnie Ouellette
“On The Road” Reporter
www.theQuilterCommunity.com