AQS Bag Contest - March 1 Deadline

There are just a few more days until the March 1 deadline for the AQS "It's In the Bag" Contest.

Don't have a pattern for a tote bag - then just click here to find free patterns in any style you might want to make.

The rules are simple:


1. You may enter up to three bags; all bags will be donated to The National Quilt

Museum for their annual auction held during the AQS Quilt Show in Paducah.

2. Entry should be made of fabric and include some quiltmaking techniques (piecing,

appliqué, quilting); other materials can be added to fit the theme of the bag.

3. The bag must be functional and be a minimum of 6” square; any size (6” x 6” or
larger) or any shape (square, rectangular, round, half-round, triangular, hexagon or

other shapes) can be submitted.

4. Handles, if included, can be made from fabric or can be purchased hardware.

Zippers, feet, and other hardware can be added.

5. Complete bag(s) and entry form must be received by AQS or postmarked by

March 1, 2011.
 
Download the rules here.
 
Good Luck!

Happy President's Day!

Today is President's Day, and we have a free pattern for you, courtesy of Michael Buckingham, author of Presidential Redwork.

Click here to download a PDF of the redwork pattern for President Obama, current President of the United States.

Patterns for all of the other U.S. Presidents are available on a CD-ROM so you can just print out the patterns.

Click here to order the CD for $9.98 retail; $7.99 for AQS members.

Webcasting at the AQS Quilt Show - Lancaster

Lectures and Special Events are being Webcast.

Want to watch your favorite quilt instructors?

Can't attend the show?

Then watching on your computer is the next best thing.

Click here for more information on subscribing

for Live viewing or "on demand" anytime

up to three months following the event.

Paducah named 2011 Distinctive Destination

This morning, Karen Nickless, Field Representative from the Southern Office of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, announced that Paducah has been named one of the Dozen Distinctive Destinations* for 2011!

If you are a quilter who loves Paducah, please click here to cast your vote for Paducah as the Fan Favorite Distinctive Destination. (You will need to register to vote and there is no cost to do that.) Votes can be cast from February 15 to March 15. Any legal resident 18 years or older can vote once per day for his or her favorite. The winner of the popular vote will be announced on March 16, 2011.

So, quilters, let's show our support for Paducah. Your votes count! 


*Since 2000, the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Dozen Distinctive Destination program has recognized cities and towns that offer an authentic visitor experience by combining dynamic downtowns, cultural diversity, attractive architecture, cultural landscapes and a strong commitment to historic preservation, sustainability and revitalization. In each community, residents have joined together and taken action to protect their town’s character.

Scrap-Lique Class by Sherry Rogers-Harrison

Sherry Rogers-Harrison just sent me some great new samples of her Scrap-Lique technique that she will be teaching on Friday, March 18 at the AQS Quilt Show in Lancaster.

Check out these photos:

You will get a pre-quilted piece in your kit (fee payable to instructor in class) to work on and you'll add all sorts of goodies to the piece. Imagine what you can do to your quilts once you learn Sherry's techniques.

There are still a few seats left in this class. It is class #46504 Scrap-Lique, 1 - 4 p.m. on Friday, March 18.

Click here to register for this class.

NEW Webcasts from Lancaster Show

We know that not everyone can attend every show, so now we are bringing the shows to you via live webcasting directly from the show. You will be able to register for webcasts of some lectures and special events and view them while they are happening... or you can view them anytime up to 90 days after the show.

A new feature of the AQS Quilt Show in Lancaster this year is the live webcasting of some lectures and special events on Thursday and Friday, sponsored by Pfaff.


How does this work? Just click on this link and follow these easy steps:

• Click the Live Webcast button to open the AQS Webcast eTicket Office.

• Select the items you want to watch. Here are the lectures and special events that will be webcast on Thursday and Friday during this year's Lancaster show:. You can select individual events, choose all of the events on a single day, or choose the best deal -- the all-inclusive ticket:

• Why We Quilt - Let Us Count the Ways w/Edyta Sitar (Thurs 10am) $10.00
• Quilt Book Publishing 101 w/ Andi Reynolds (Thurs Noon) $10.00
• Buy Everything! A Practical Approach to Fabric Selection w/ Mary Sorensen (Thurs 2pm) $10.00
• AQS Authors' Roundtable (Thurs 4:30pm) $15.00
• Quilter's Fun Night w/ Dianne S. Hire & Bonnie Browning (Thurs 7pm) $15.00
• Machine Quilting Tips and Tricks w/ Sue Nickels (Friday 2pm) $10.00

• Select “Show My Order.”

• Select “Buy Now”; payment is Safe & Secure via PayPal.

• Here you have a choice to use your PayPal account if you have one. If not, choose Pay with Debit or Credit card, or call 800-361-0987 for other payment options.

• An eTicket number will be sent to you via the e-mail address you provide so you can log on to watch the event.

• You can watch the events live, or you can view them “on demand” for up to three months following the event.

Now you don’t have to miss the whole show if you can’t travel to Lancaster – view the webcasts online!

Register now for the online webcasts!

Great Recipe - Perfect for Guild Potlucks

Once each moneh, we at the AQS office celebrate the birthdays for that month. We had our Snack Day for February yesterday and everyone enjoyed the Spaghetti Slaw made by Lynn VanVactor. You can try it too because the recipe is on the AQS website. It's under the Quilt World Connections tab.

You can use this link to get to the Recipe section on the AQS website.

You can add some of your own favorite recipes there too. You'll see that I've added several make-ahead recipes so you have time to quilt and feed the family some good dishes too.

Bonnie Browning
Executive Show Director

The Executive Inn is Falling Down, Falling Down

This week I decided to give you a different perspective on the demolition of the Executive Inn in Paducah. Caryl Bryer Fallert's studio/shop/home is located just two blocks from the Executive Inn. I visited Caryl to see how the hotel looked from her home.

Note: You can make the photos larger by clicking on them.



From Caryl Fallert's second level back porch, you can see the first and second floors
of the hotel disappearing from the last remaining section - the pool end of the hotel.

This view is from behind Caryl's home, shot with a wide angle lens.
You can see one small section still there on the left - this is where the adjoining wall
with the Convention Center is being worked on so they haven't yet removed all of that
section of the hotel. The restaurant, shops, and the center lobby sections  of
the hotel have been completely removed now.

I asked Caryl how she felt about the Executive Inn coming down. She said, "it can't come down fast enough. It is so nice to be able to see across the (Ohio) river into Illinois. It will be nice for the people of Paducah to have use of that section of the riverfront. The river is a great asset for Paducah and the new marina there will make a big difference."

This week on Facebook I saw a picture of the demolition that was taken by photographer Glenn Hall; he gave me permission to share his photo which he titled A Room with a View... and here it is.

This view is from the convention center looking toward the pool end of the hotel. You see piles of rubble where the building has been torn down. They are recycling as many materials as they can from this huge building, including the concrete.

Next, I stopped in Schultz Park to give you a view from the pool end of the hotel.


You can see the first and second floors of the pool section disappearing from this angle.

That's all of our photos for today. Soon we should be able to show you photos without any hotel at all. What happens next to this property? During the quilt show in April we will be using this area for additional parking. After the demolition is complete, the City will be entertaining proposals from developers to build a new hotel in downtown Paducah.

Don't forget to register for the Paducah quilt show. You can register online or call 270-898-7903 and ask for Quilt Show Registration.

If you still need lodging for the Paducah show, the AQS Home Bed & Breakfast application is now available. Click here to go directly to the online AQS Home B&B application form. This program is coordinated by the Paducah-McCracken County Convention & Visitor's Bureau - if you have questions about the program, call 1-800-PADUCAH.

Bonnie Browning
Executive Show Director

Lancaster Show in Just 42 Days

Wow, do you know that the doors will open for the AQS Quilt Show in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in just 42 days? The show is March 16 - 19. We don't want you to miss a thing -- so here are some upcoming deadlines related to the Lancaster show:

* February 2: Last day to register to receive your name badge in the mail. Watch your mail for the envelope containing your name badge -- it will have a letter confirming all of the events for which you have paid and the badge will be a 3" x 4" piece of paper with your name and item numbers on it. This will be your admission to these events so put the name badge in a safe place and bring it to the show.

* February 23: Last day to process name badges for the show - if you register between February 3 and February 23, your registration will be processed for payment and your name badge will be printed and held for pickup at the Workshop Desk at the show.

* February 24 - March 4: You can still call the AQS office (270-898-7903, ask for Quilt Show Registration) for tickets to workshops, lectures, and special events and they will be held at the show for pickup and payment.

* February 25: All quilts in the Lancaster Quilt Contest must be received at the AQS office today. Contact Terry Guill (terryguill@AQSquilt.com or 270-898-7903, ext. 152) if you have any questions about shipping your quilt.

* After March 4: Registration is closed so we can load the truck, and you will need to check at the Workshop Desk at the show for ticket availability.

* Tuesday, March 15, 12 - 6 p.m.: Workshop Desk is open in the lobby outside Freedom Hall at the Lancaster County Convention Center.

* March 16 - 19: Show Days -- show hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday; and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday. The Workshop Desk opens at 8 a.m. each day of the show.

You can avoid standing in lines at the show if you purchase your admission, workshops, lectures, and special events in advance. Register now!

Click here to book your lodging or call 1-800-723-8824 to receive the special reduced hotel rates for quilters attending the show. Call for assistance with stays in Amish B&B's.

We will see you soon in the heart of Amish country - Lancaster, Pennsylvania!