By Jody Norwood

Tribune-Courier News Editor

jnorwood@tribunecourier.com

PADUCAH – Marshall County quilter June Krause said she couldn’t believe the news after returning home from a trip to find a letter waiting. She expected the envelope– addressed from the American Quilter Society– to be a polite notification thanking her for submitting an entry that wouldn’t be included in their annual contest.

Instead, Krause said it was a notification her entry would be among the best of quilting’s best in the 2012 AQS Quilt Show and Contest.

“I was just shocked,” Krause said. “We had to have all the entries in by January 1. It wasn’t until after the first of March that I got my letter saying I’d been picked.”

Despite quilting for nearly 50 years with around 12 quilts made, and attending all but two of the AQS shows, Krause had never entered one of her works to quilting’s top show.

“This is the first time I ever got brave enough to enter the competition,” Krause said. “I just love seeing all the quilts and going to the show.”

In another twist, Krause said her selected work– The ABC’s of Re-Cycling- The Cat’s Meow– was made from denim of used blue jeans. The material was similar to her very first quilt, which had been made using patches from old coveralls brought to her by a relative.

The quilt will be among 376 entries this year in Paducah. The contest will take place April 25-28 at the Paducah Expo Center, with winners in 15 categories being announced April 24 at the Carson Four Rivers Center. Cash awards totaling $120,000, including the $20,000 Best of Show prize, will be awarded.

And while the show draws international interest with contestants from 11 countries, Krause said she believes she may be the first contestant from Marshall County.

“From what I understand, I’m the first Marshall Countian to be picked,” Krause said. Krause said she knew of only two other west Kentucky quilters chosen in AQS’s 28 year history.