Enter Your Quilt Today for the AQS Quilt Show in Lancaster

There are just 14 days left to enter your quilt in the AQS Quilt Show & Contest - Lancaster, PA. The postmarked deadline is December 1, 2009. More than $42,000 in cash prizes will be awarded, with $10,000 going to the Best of Show winner. The rules for the AQS shows have changed - now you can enter your quilt in more than one AQS show. Click here to print a copy of the contest rules.

In July, Linda French won the Best of Show at the AQS Quilt Expo in Knoxville, Tennessee. It was her first entry in any contest. You could be the next big winner. Send your digital images and entry form to AQS today.

If you have any questions, contact Erin Ulrich, Contest Coordinator, at 270-898-7903, ext. 174, or erinulrich@AQSquilt.com.

Good Luck!

AQS Give-away - Des Moines

Did you register for the 2009 AQS Des Moines Give-away? Below is the sewing room and HandiQuilter machine that was won by Sandy Norris, Colorado Springs, Colorado.


Here is what Sandy won: One HandiQuilter® Machine Quilting System including HQ Sixteen™ with Table and Frame, and a training retreat at the HandiQuilter offices; a complete sewing room of tables from Tracey's Tables including a Cutting Table, Hideaway, Quilters Cabinet, and Thread Cabinet; a collection of fabric from Moda designers including Jelly Rolls, Honey Buns, Layer Cakes, and fat quarter bundles; a trip to the 2009 AQS Quilt Expo in Des Moines, and $200 cash. Congratulations Sandy...we all envy your new sewing room!

Gloria Bolden, AQS Advertising Manager, Chuck Fresina representing HandiQuilter, Give-away winner Sandy Norris, Mike Spangler representing Tracey's Tables, and AQS President Meredith Schroeder gather for the presentation of the prizes in the 2009 AQS Des Moines Give-away.

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Special thanks to the sponsors of the Give-away: HandiQuilter, Tracey's Table, Moda Fabrics.

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Watch for the next AQS Give-away for the 26th Annual AQS Quilt Show & Contest - Paducah, Kentucky, starting in January 2010. Be sure to enter, you could be the next big winner of some great prizes!

Halloween at the Des Moines Quilt Show

Kids of all ages can have fun at Halloween. Since Halloween was on Saturday during the AQS Quilt Expo, several of our vendors (and AQS staff) dressed for the occasion.

President Meredith Schroeder (the one dressed as a flapper) presents a check to the Des Moines Area Quilters Guild (L to R: Mary Shotwell & Jill Reber, AQS Volunteer Coordinators; and Guild President Anita Gogerty) for assisting AQS with the show. Thanks to all of the Guild members who helped hang and take down quilts, as hosts and hostesses in the quilt exhibits, and assisted with lectures and special events.

The entire crew from American Professional Quilting Systems had a fun day. Now which one is Marilyn Badger?

Witchy Jane Garrison tended the YLI booth.

Helen Squire celebrated the day - green hair and all.

The Omaha quilters came by bus and had a costume contest. Here are a few of their group all dressed for the holiday.

Lancaster Quilt Contest Deadline is December 1

Calling all quilters! The deadline for contest entries for our AQS Quilt Show & Contest - Lancaster show is fast approaching. It doesn't seem possible, but November is already here! With the December 1st deadline less than a month away, there is still time to send in your contest entries. This is the first year for AQS to be in Lancaster, and with over $40,000 in prize money to be awarded, your chances of winning will never be better!

Our categories for the first annual AQS Lancaster Quilt Contest are Bed Quilts – Pieced; Bed Quilts – Appliquéd; Wall Quilts; Pictorial Wall Quilts; and Grand Geometrics – Created the Amish Way. These are fun categories and will make a beautiful show.

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For details, complete rules, and contest entry forms, please click on the title above or visit our website at http://www.americanquilter.com/ .

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For any questions regarding the contest, you can contact Erin Ulrich at erinulrich@AQSquilt.com or (270) 898-7903 ext. 174.

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Send in those entries – we can't wait to see them!

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Erin Ulrich, Quilt Contest Coordinator

One More Day to attend the AQS Quilt Expo in Des Moines

Today is the last day of the AQS Quilt Expo in Des Moines, Iowa. The show hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. There are 1,001 quilts to see. Here's a peak at some of the special quilt exhibits.

The Des Moines Area Quilters Guild shows off the beautiful quilts made by its members. They also have a raffle quilt and small quilt silent auction. Don't miss them in Hall A of Hy-Vee Hall.

Best of Show winner standing in front of her winning quilt, Arabesque. It is located in aisle 100 in the left rear section of the exhibit hall. Don't miss seeing this beauty.

Foreground: Applique and Piecing: A Perfect Union by Darlene Christopherson

Center: New Quilts from an Old Favorite: Burgoyne Surrounded, semifinalists in the 2009 contest by the National Quilt Museum

Left rear: Pilgrim/Roy Challenge 2010

Quilts by Prizewinning Quiltmaker Mildred Sorrells

More quilts by Mildred Sorrells

The Quilting Tradition - Amish & English (Any non-Amish person is called English)

Amish Quilts

English Quilts

Artfull Bras by Quilters of South Carolina - these can't help but make you smile

Mid-nineteenth Century Red and Green Quilts from the collection of Anita Shackelford

More of the Red and Green quilts

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Thank you to the quiltmakers and owners of these special exhibit quilts so everyone could enjoy them at the show.

Happy Halloween!

Bonnie Browning, Executive Show Director, reporting from the show

Denim Day at the Quilt Show

Thursday was Denim Day at the AQS Quilt Expo - Des Moines.

The staff at the Iowa Events Center participated in the AQS Denim Day. They all wore jeans to work on Thursday too.

Laurie Malm, Cheri Meineke-Johnson - Authors of Dressed Up Denim

Laurie Malm and Cheri Meineke-Johnson hosted the The Denim Divas Fashion Show on Thursday afternoon. They shared many techniques for jazzing up denim clothing for all ages. Quilters also shared their dressed-up denim and the audience chose their favorites.

Those who attended the fashion show voted for Viewer's Choice - the winner won a $100 gift certificate from Cheri's Crystals. Three tied for second and they each also won a prize. We'll do this again in 2010, so use your favorite quilting technique to dress up your denim and register for the fashion show. All of the winners are show above with Laurie Malm and Cheri Meineke-Johnson.

Cheri Meineke-Johnson added some bling to this little girl's outfit. Check out your local thrift stores, Goodwill, and the Salvation Army for denim to dress up.

Kelly Meyer holds "Nanner" dog, the quilt show team's mascot. Nanner even had its own custom-made jeans and jacket, designed and stitched by Marcelle Cashon.

Marcelle Cashon shows off her jeans and denim jacket - she used fabric backed with fusible and cut out the motifs, with crystals added for some bling.

Viewer's Choice winner used needlepunching to decorate her denim jacket.

At the Des Moines AQS Quilt Expo

Here is a sneak peak at what's in store for you when you arrive at the Iowa Events Center in Downtown Des Moines for the AQS Quilt Expo.


A crowd of quilters gathered for the opening of the show on Wednesday morning.

A variety of quilts are featured in special exhibits, including the Des Moines Area Quilters Guild's Annual Quilt Show, Quilts by Prizewinning Quiltmaker Millie Sorrells, The Quilting Tradition - Amish & English, and Artfull Bras by Quilters of South Carolina.

The exhibit hall is full of quilts and vendors with quilt-related merchandise - a quilter's shopping paradise.

These special exhibits are located at the front right section of Hy-Vee Hall:

New Quilts from an Old Favorite: Burgoyne Surrounded; Applique and Piecing: A Perfect Union by Darlene Christopherson; Mid-nineteenth Century Red and Green Quilts from the collection of Anita Shackelford; National Quilt Museum's School Block Challenge; and the Pilgrim/Roy Challenge 2010.

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The show continues on Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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Come see all 1,001 quilts on display at this year's show!

Winners are Announced at AQS Quilt Expo - Des Moines

The winners of the second annual AQS Quilt Expo in Des Moines, Iowa were announced at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, October 28, just prior to the opening of the show.



The following winners were present (left to right): Karen Kay Buckley - Best of Show; Marilyn Badger - Best Longarm Workmanship Award; Mary V. Shotwell - 1st Place, Wall Quilts, Traditional; Patricia Johnson & Dawn Cavanaugh - Honorable Mention, Wall Quilts Traditional & Patricia Johnson - Second Place, Bed Quilts, Traditional; Meredith Schroeder, President, American Quilter's Society


Congratulations to all of the winners! Here is the entire list of winners:

Best of Show Award
#204 ARABESQUE, Karen Kay Buckley, Carlisle, PA

Best Hand Workmanship Award
#206 SPRINGTIME, Nancy Hahn, St. Peters, MO

Best Machine Workmanship Award
#403 SUNSET AND SANDHILL CRANES, Joanne Baeth, Bonanza, OR

Best Longarm Workmanship Award
#102 BALI HAI, Marilyn Badger, St. George, UT

Best Wall Quilt Award
#562 ALPHABET ALCHEMY, Janet Stone, Overland Park, KS

Bed Quilts, Traditional
First #118 FLORA ELENA, Doris Morelock Hendrickson & Theresa Ward, Basehor, KS
Second #123 ENCHANTED WOODS, Patricia Johnson, West Des Moines, IA
Third #101 BEYOND THE TREES, Linda Arndt, West Des Moines, IA
Hon. Mention #134 LET’S PICK FLOWERS, Rosillis Rosario, Davenport, FL

Bed Quilts, Innovative
First #210 ALPHA “BAA” SAMPLER, Janet Stone, Overland Park, KS
Second #205 JUNGLE FEVER, Joan Davis & Judy Woodworth, Hill City, SD
Third #202 REJOICE, Eileen Rose Bien, Ludington, MI

Wall Quilts, Traditional
First #329 MY ELEGANT GARDEN, Mary V. Shotwell, Des Moines, IA
Second #305 STARS ILLUMINATE THE NIGHT, Mary C. Dyer, Flagstaff, AZ
Third #316 TRELLIS OF RED FLOWERS, Deborah Kemball, Baie D’Urfe QC, Canada
Hon. Mention #314 GARDEN FROST, Patricia Johnson & Dawn Cavanaugh, West Des Moines, IA

Wall Quilts, Innovative
First #435 SILHOUETTES, Carol Taylor, Pittsford, NY
Second #412 PIECES OF DREAMS, Diane J. Evans, Schenectady, NY
Third #432 LILIAS DEL DIA, Nancy J. Steidle, Santa Fe, NM
Hon. Mention #406 CONVERSATIONS I, Peggy Brown, Nashville, IN

Fabric Art
First #529 JUBILATION, Janeen Herchold, Redding, CA
Second #566 MADONNA, Laurie Tigner, Rapid City, SD
Third #559 BURANO AFTER THE RAIN, Melissa Sobotka, Richardson, TX
Hon. Mention #515 CLEARLY NOW, Mickey Depre, Oak Lawn, IL

Lancaster Registration is Now Open!

Registration is now OPEN for the AQS Quilt Show & Contest in Lancaster, PA, March 24 - 27, 2010. If you ordered a printed registration guide, it was mailed yesterday (10/21/09). You can also print a copy of the registration guide from our Web site.

Here is the link for the Lancaster registration site: http://www.americanquilter.com/shows_contests/lancaster/2010/general_info/ .To navigate, click on one of the buttons related to the information you need: General Information, Contests, Registration, Vendors, or Teachers. You can register by U.S. Mail (just print and complete the registration form and mail it to us with your payment), by fax with credit card payment (270-898-1173), online with credit card payment, and by telephone (270-898-7903) beginning on November 3, 2009. As a reminder, you can only register for yourself online; if you need to register for additional people, call the AQS Show Office at 270-898-7903.

The show will be held at the Lancaster County Convention Center (LCCC – 3 East Vine Street) and Lancaster Marriott at Penn Square (headquarters hotel at 25 S. Queen St.), with quilt exhibits and vendors in Freedom Hall, the Commonwealth Ballroom, and the Heritage Ballroom. Additional special quilt exhibits and vendors will be located at Liberty Place Theatre & Conference Center (313 W. Liberty St.), a short shuttle ride away. Classrooms will be at the convention center, and more classrooms and the lecture hall will be across the street in Southern Market Center – all are located in downtown Lancaster. The Spring Quilt Blossom Festival is an AQS-sanctioned event and is located at the Continental Inn, Route 30 (2285 Lincoln Hwy E).

Quilt Contest: You can submit entries for the quilt contest now too. The deadline for submitting quilt entries is December 1...there are five categories:
Bed Quilts: A-Pieced
Bed Quilts: B-Appliqué
Wall Quilts: C-Wall Quilts
Wall Quilts: D-Pictorial Quilts
Special Category: E-Grand Geometrics - Created the Amish Way

Lodging: Now is the time to book your hotel room. Shuttle service will be provided complimentary to all attendees staying at AQS-approved lodging properties who booked through the Passkey reservation system. You can book online by visiting https://resweb.passkey.com/go/quilting, or by calling 1-800-PA Dutch (800-723-8824) for housing assistance.

Come enjoy the pastoral scenery in Amish country, hundreds of quilts, and a quilter's shopping paradise in the Merchant Mall. Make your plans today!

Photo credit: www.discoverlancasterpa.com / Terry Ross

AQS-Sanctioned Events in Des Moines

As you are making your plans to attend the AQS Quilt Expo in Des Moines, be sure to include these AQS-sanctioned events in your schedule. There will be a free shuttle from the Iowa Events Center to these locations. There are more quilts to see in each of these sanctioned event locations!


Des Moines Botanical & Environmental Center
Go to the Des Moines Botanical Center for a fresh taste of fall and quilt displays. AQS members will enjoy FREE admission to the Center with their AQS badge. A FREE shuttle will run to and from the Iowa Events Center to transport you to and from the Botanical Center. There will be quilt displays in the North Wing Gallery, Scarecrow Display and refreshing Fall flower beds in the Dome. The Garden Gate Gift Shop will have Fall specials. The Riverwalk Cafe will be open each day of the show from 11 a.m.- 2 p.m. for an outstanding lunch opportunity!

Historic East Village – Welcomes the American Quilters’ Society
Visit this historic area in Downtown Des Moines. Shops and galleries in the East Village feature quilt and fabric art exhibits. Visit these locations in the East Village:

From Our Hands, 400 East Locust, Ste 8, Whimsical and quirky fabric pictures by Iowa artist Meg Prange

Arte’ Gallery, 400 East Locust, Ste 3, The Water Series: Environmental Awareness Quilts by Omaha artist Jean B. Mills (Part of the proceeds of the sale of these quilts goes to water conservation projects)

Colores by Nita, Learning Quilts by Iowa artist Nita Allen

Sticks Gallery, 521 East Locust, Fabric Paintings by Michigan artist, Cris Roberts-Antieau, featuring appliqués of vintage fabrics and hand painted frames

Found Things, 520 East Grand Ave., Contemporary Art Quilt Exhibit

Pick up a map for the locations of all of the quilts on display throughout East Village. For more information, e-mail ann@from-our-hands.com. Hours: Wednesday – Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Free admission. Free shuttle bus from the Iowa Events Center.

Historic Valley Junction Quilt Walk and Quilter’s Open House, Valley Junction, West Des Moines

Historic Valley Junction will again be hosting quilters during the AQS Quilt Expo featuring new and antique traditional quilts; contemporary art quilts; vintage textiles; pieced art quilts from antique kimonos; fiber art; museum-quality antique textiles, and handcrafted, traditional textiles from 40 countries. The quilt stores carry fabric that ranges from 1930s-era reproductions to contemporary chic material.

Also, Valley Junction stores will showcase quilts in their stores for the Quilt Walk in this quaint area of West Des Moines. The award-winning Quilt Walk and special exhibitions will run from Wednesday through Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Attend the Quilter’s Open House on Thursday from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m.; enjoy a pleasant evening of unique shopping, distinctive quilt exhibits, special events, complimentary refreshments, and delightful dining.

Free shuttle bus from the Iowa Events Center (ends at 5:00 p.m. each day, except during the Open House on Thursday when the bus ends at 8:00 p.m.)

For more information, e-mail Nicole Selser: nicole@walnutplaceretreat.com. Free admission.
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See you all at the show in Des Moines....where 1,001 quilts will be on display!

Des Moines Advanced Registration is Now Closed

You can check out Des Moines, the Iowa capitol city, at night, but during the day you need to be at the Iowa Events Center for the AQS Quilt Expo - Des Moines, October 28 - 31, 2009. Show hours are Wednesday, October 28 - Friday, October 30, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Saturday, October 31, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Halloween). Daily admission is $11.

Yesterday at 3:00 p.m., the advanced registration for the AQS Quilt Expo was closed. The AQS staff is now preparing the name badges for those who registered between September 17 and October 7; you will need to stop at the Workshop Desk inside Hy-Vee Hall (at the Iowa Events Center) to pick up your name badge. Name badges are being held for pickup at the show for all international registrants too.

Name badges were mailed to those who registered before September 17. If you registered early and have not received your name badge (along with the name badge cover letter) via U.S. mail, please call Laura Davis, Registration Coordinator, at 270-898-7903, ext. 132 immediately.

There are still openings in some classes and tickets are available for lectures and special events (Eleanor Burns is sold out). Check at the Workshop Desk for ticket availability. The Workshop Desk will be open on Tuesday, October 27, from 12 - 6 p.m., and from 8 a.m. on show days.

This view of Hy-Vee Hall at the Iowa Events Center shows a portion of the Merchant Mall and some of the quilts on exhibit at last year's show.

Hotel rooms in downtown Des Moines, close to the Iowa Events Center, are still available. The complete listing of hotels with special rates for quilters is on the AQS Web site:

http://www.americanquilter.com/documents/shows_contests/desmoines/09_desmoines_hotel_list.pdf

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The contest quilts have arrived and are being opened right now. We look forward to hanging more than 1,000 quilts for you to enjoy. Bring your best walking shoes!
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See you in Des Moines

Read the Latest News from AQS

Click on this link to read the latest news from AQS:

http://www.thequiltshow.com/os/blog.php/blog_id/2173

It will also give you a link to order your subscription to The Quilt Life with Ricky Tims & Alex Anderson, published by AQS.

Book Your Rooms in Des Moines

This is a reminder that you need to book your hotel rooms for the AQS Quilt Expo - Des Moines now to get the AQS-negotiated rates. After that date the rooms will be released to the public at the higher regular rates.

There are still some rooms available in the hotels downtown that are connected to the Iowa Events Center by skywalk (air conditioned and heated, as needed). The hotels listed in the top group on the hotel list are the closest hotels to the Iowa Events Center.

Here is the link to lodging on the AQS Web site:

http://www.americanquilter.com/documents/shows_contests/desmoines/09_desmoines_hotel_list.pdf

Contact the hotel using the telephone number listed, and be sure to tell them you are attending the AQS Quilt Expo.

Book your rooms today. Come see more than 1,000 quilts on display in Des Moines!

See you there.

Bonnie Browning

Great Instructors - Great All-Star Review in Des Moines

Don't miss one of the most fun events at the AQS Quilt Expo in Des Moines - the All-Star demonstrations by the instructors. It will be held on Saturday afternoon from 1 to 3 p.m. in Meeting Rooms 7 & 8.

Here are the demonstrations you will see:

Prairie Point Plates by Klaudeen Hansen

Create Your Own Machine Freehand Allover Patterns by Nan Moore

Getting Started with Crazy Patchwork by Alice Wilhoit

Spiral Neck Pocket by RaNae Merrill

Making Perfect Circles, Points, and Stems by Karen Kay Buckley

Flying Geese Borders by Marti Michell

Invisible Appliqué: The Versatile Ladder Stitch by Ami Simms

Drafting New York Beauty by Renae Haddadin

Twirly Whirly Feathers by Kim Brunner

Failsafe Way to End Your Binding, Perfectly, Every Time by Marsha Radtke

Sign up now to learn ten new techniques. You will receive a handout with instructions from each of the teachers.

All-Star Review, Saturday, October 31, 2009, 1 p.m. in Meeting Rooms 7 & 8, $15 fee.

Call Laura Davis at 270-898-7903 to register for the All-Star Review.

Special Events - Come have fun with these Celebrities

Don't miss any of the special events at the AQS Quilt Expo in Des Moines, October 28 - 31. Whether you want to see the latest in handbags by Christopher Nejman, have fun with the Queen of strip quilting - Eleanor Burns, see some great techniques for denim by the Denim Divas - Laurie Malm and Cheri Meineke-Johnson, find out how to live with your quilts from Ami Simms, or hear the latest in adding (or not) borders to your quilts from Karen Kay Buckley - there is something for you.

Christpher Nejman Celebrity Bags: A Fashion Show
Wednesday, 6 - 7:30 p.m.


An Evening with Eleanor Burns
Thursday, 6 - 7:30 p.m.


















The Denim Divas Fashion Show with Laurie Malm and Cheri Meineke-Johnson.
Thursday, 3 - 4 p.m.




Living with Quilts: A Survival Guide - Ami Simms
Friday, 6 - 7:30 p.m.

Brunch with Karen Kay Buckley: To Border or Not to Border - That Is the Question

Saturday, 9:30 - 11:00 a.m.

To register, call Laura Davis at 270-898-7903, or go online to:

https://events.americanquilter.com/getdemo.ei?id=53&s=_2YS0TWMGH

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Come have some fun at the quilt show in Des Moines!