And the Executive Inn Continues to Tumble Down

The demolition crew is making good progress in knocking down the Executive Inn. I stopped on Friday evening and snapped a couple of photos. It is getting harder to get everything from the convention center to the far end of the hotel in one photo. I went across the street this time to try to give you some perspective on the progress.

From this photo you can see what's left of the restaurant end of the hotel on the left. The restaurants and shops section are gone, and so is the lobby section of the hotel. When you see that big hole now, you realize how long this hotel was... and they aren't quite done yet.

This photo will give you some perspective on what is left of the hotel. The white building on the left is part of the Pavilion, and the street in the center is the main entrance to the hotel. All that is left now is the swimming pool section.

By the time you arrive for the Paducah AQS Quilt Show, this will be a bare lot; we'll have some additional parking on the grounds this year. We are working on the parking entrance and shuttle bus routes now and will post a map on our website as soon as it is finished.

We are looking forward to seeing you in Paducah -- have you registered yet? Classes are filling, so don't delay in getting your registration to us.  Don't miss seeing the movie "Stitched"; Quilter's Fun Night; the Evening with Charlotte Angotti; the National Quilt Museum's annual quilt auction; or the Ricky Tims Concert, Quilts & More.

You can register for Paducah online here, or call 270-898-7903 and ask for Quilt Show Registration.

Bonnie Browning

Executive Show Director

Fun and Classes in Lancaster

Want to have some fun and learn from some of the best teacher at the AQS Quilt Show in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, March 16 - 19, 2011? There are still some spots left in workshops... here are some samples. You can register online, or call 270-898-7903 and ask for Quilt Show Registration.

Whether you quilt on a home sewing machine or on a longtarm/midarm machine, Sally Terry will give you lots of tips for quilting those continuous line quilting designs that go around the corners and on patterns like Log Cabin. Discover a new way of easy pattern placement without centering the design in the block for beautiful results. You'll learn all of this in #48506 Terry Twist and a Splash of Inspiration and Asymmetrical Continuous Curve.

In Scrap-Lique with Sherry Rogers-Harrison, you will begin with a prequilted block, add some Jelly Roll ink pens and tons of ideas to use in your quilts and scrapbooking albums. Sherry just won the Best Wall Quilt award at the Road to California quilt show. Here's your chance to learn from a winner! Choose #46504 Scrap-Lique.

If you want to learn about using some new materials - Lutrador and tulle - with your applique, then class #43508 Fabric Vases with Laurel Anderson is the perfect way to try them out. You will applique a vase filled with three tulips - bring spring into your home with this wall quilt!

And then for some fun - if you like quilts and music, then you are in for a real treat at the evening with Ricky Tims in the beautiful Chapel at Lancaster Bible College on Friday at 7 p.m. during the Ricky Tims Concert, Quilts & More, #42301. They have plenty of free parking at the Chapel, located just a short ride from the convention center at 901 Eden Road in Lancaster. Or, if you need transportation from the Lancaster County Convention Center to the Bible College, choose #42350; this bus will return to the Convention Center at the conclusion of the evening program. Be sure to purchase #42301 to get your ticket for the program as well as the ticket for the bus.

Book your room! We have negotiated reduced rates for attendees at the AQS Quilt Show. You can book your room online, click here or call 1-800-723-8824.

Progress Report - Big E Demolition

Work continues on the demolition of the Executive Inn in Paducah.

This photo was taken this morning from the Jefferson classroom in the convention center. You can see that the whole center section where the shops were located is gone now and you can see across the Ohio River into Illinois.

There will be additional parking for the quilt show in this space when the Executive Inn is gone. Yeah!

Stay tuned for more on the demolition progress...

Let's Go Quilting

Are you ready for the Spring quilt show season? Here in our AQS office, the quilt show staff is busy preparing for the spring AQS Quilt Shows in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and in Paducah, Kentucky.

LANCASTER...
The Lancaster AQS Quilt Show, March 16 - 19, is in the heart of Amish country, where you can spend four wonderful days at a national AQS Quilt Show, take an Amish buggy ride, and visit other Amish attractions in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch country.

* All quilts and vendors are at the Lancaster County Convention Center this year.

* Park at the Burle Business Park for $7 (that includes shuttle service to/from the convention center).

* It is EASY to register -
____ Book your hotel room online, or call toll free:  800-723-8824

____ Register online for workshops, lectures, and special events, or call 270-898-7903

____ Purchase admission to the show online, or call 270-898-7903

If you need help in registering, watch this video where Marcelle Cashon, Education Coordinator, walks you through the registration website.

Contestants: Letters have been sent notifying quilters who entered the Lancaster Quilt Contest. It's going to be a great show. Good luck to all of the contestants. Someone will win that $10,000 Best of Show award!

PADUCAH...
The 27th Annual AQS Quilt Show, April 27 - 30, is held at the Paducah Expo and Convention Center and the Pavilion (near the Convention Center).

* The quilt exhibits are in the Paducah Expo Center, both levels of the Convention Center, and the Pavilion. The city is tearing down the Executive Inn but the Expo and Convention Centers will still be there for us to use.

* Vendors are located in the Paducah Expo Center, both levels of the Convention Center, the Pavilion, and the AQS Vendors on Kentucky in the Finkel Building (home of the AQS "Hurt" Book Sale).

* Parking is available at the Convention Center (with more parking available in the Executive Inn area), downtown parking lots, and additional parking with shuttle service at Carson Park.

* Participating hotels provide shuttle service to/from the Convention Center - check with your hotel to make sure they are providing this service.

It is EASY to register for Paducah too:

____ Book your room - check hotel availability on the Paducah Visitors Bureau site or ask about the AQS Home Bed & Breakfast (stay in a private home) on February 1 on their website or by calling 1-800-PADUCAH

____ Register online for workshops, lectures, and special events, or call 270-898-7903

____ Purchase admission to the show online, or call 270-898-7903

Contestants: The deadline has passed for entering the Paducah quilt show. The quilts will be juried in February and contestants will be notified in March.

See you soon in Lancaster and Paducah!

Sunbonnet Sue Hits the Road...

The American Quilter's Society starts 2011 with the announcement of a new contest - the International Sunbonnet Sue Quilt Contest! Let's see how far Sue can travel...

You can use the new book by Debra Kimball, M.D., International Sunbonnet Sue, as your inspiration, or create your own design representing the country where you live or countries you have visited. You'll fall in love with Sunbonnet Sue all over again when you see the creativity Debra has exhibited in her designs.

These contest quilts will be displayed at the 2011 AQS Quilt Show & Contest in Des Moines, Iowa, September 28 - October 1, 2011.

The deadline for submitting your completed quilt, entry form, and entry fee is September 9, 2011.

Click here to print the contest rules. Have fun making your International Sunbonnet Sue quilt!