Terri Tope: Quilting – In Her Own Words

Quilting has been my joy, and sharing it has been one of my greatest pleasures. It seems likeI have sewn all my life – starting with doll clothes and then on to 4-H clothing projects. It wasn't until being put on bed rest while pregnant with my oldest daughter that the quilting bug really took effect. Out of that tiny first apartment came some wonderful quilts and a huge learning curve. 

I have been predominately a quilter for 27 years, and try to stitch a little every single day. I do have a quilting studio that I work from and love – it's my organized chaos. After taking over the formal living room and dining room of our older Worthington, Ohio home, a couple of rooms rarely used are now full of life and fabric. A cutting counter from a local quilt shop that went out of business is the centerpiece of the workspace. It is huge, but also on wheels, with plenty of storage underneath! I don't know how I quilted without it.

When asked about my quilting specialty, my favorite response to give is that "I wear my scarlet letter with pride. I APPLIQUE!" Being a bit dyslexic and due to its shear repetitive nature, piecing is not one of my favorite things to do. (Understatement) In fact it gives me hives and I only do it under duress… just kidding. I currently am on this reverse appliqué adventure and it is taking me to some pretty neat places.

#35502 No Sew Gift Bag

Several years ago I played around with some fusible web and created the "no sew gift bag", which is one of my classes in Des Moines. I was signed up to go with my guild to go on a retreat in the Amish area of Ohio (Holmes County) and decided to use my friends as guinea pigs to test my bag directions. We were rolling along with my little trial class quilt well until we needed to press our bag under weight – a phone book works great. The Amish do not have phones and therefore no phone books were to be found. Our solution... fourteen ladies were pressing their bags by sitting on them under their bed pillows. This gave us some great pictures! Needless to say directions did contain a few corrections. 

Please plan to join us for some great new classroom experiences in Des Moines!

Terri is teaching the following classes at the Des Moines show in October….#33103 Spring Symphony Needle-turn Appliqué; #33503 Reverse Appliqué Lettering; and #35502 No Sew Gift Bag

Click here to register online or call Laura Davis, AQS Registration Coordinator, at 270-898-7903 ext.132 to register by phone.

Here is the latest news on the 2010 AQS Quilt Shows...

AQS Quilt Show - Lancaster, PA, March 24 - 27, 2010:
 It is now just 59 days until the AQS Quilt Show opens at the Lancaster County Convention Center and Liberty Place Conference Center in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. There will be quilts and vendors at both of these locations.

Lancaster Quilt Show Registration: Advance registration is recommended. Here is the direct link to the online registration, or you can call the AQS office at 270-898-7903 and ask for Quilt Show Registration. If you register by February 10, your name badge will be mailed to you. Don't forget to order admission too - all confirmed items you have ordered will be on your name badge and it will admit you to those events. The last day for advance registration is March 3 at 3 p.m. Those registrations received between February 11 and March 3 will be held for pickup at the AQS Workshop Desk in the hallway outside Freedom Hall in the convention center. All international registrations are held for pickup at the show too.

Attention Charter Tour Groups: Have you purchased admission for your Charter group? Avoid standing in a long line at the show waiting to purchase admission tickets for your group - call Laura Davis (270-898-7903, ext. 132) by March 3 to order your tickets and they will be shipped to you.

Lancaster Lodging: Book your hotel room through the Passkey system online by clicking here, or by calling 800-PA-DUTCH,  Monday through Friday, 8:30 – 5:00 eastern time. Those who book their rooms through Passkey will receive a free shuttle pass when you check in to your hotel. If you have booked your room through another source or the hotel directly, you can purchase a shuttle pass online through the PA Dutch Country visitors bureau by clicking here; you will also be able to purchase the shuttle passes at the PA Dutch Country booths at the Lancaster County Convention Center and at the Liberty Place Conference Center. The hotel shuttle buses are only free to those who have booked their rooms through the Passkey system.

Lancaster Parking: To streamline parking and moving quilters to the convention center, two parking lots have been reserved, with free Express Parking Shuttle service to the Lancaster County Convention Center:

Parking Lot at Liberty Place Conference Center is located at 313 West Liberty Street, Lancaster, PA, 17603: the lots are across the street from the building - look for the AQS Quilt Show Parking signs. When you park at Liberty Place, don't miss seeing the quilt exhibits and vendors inside the Liberty Place Conference Center. Then you can hop on the Express Parking Shuttle Bus to the convention center.

The Burle Parking Lot is located at 1000 New Holland Avenue, Lancaster, PA, 17601. There is a stoplight at the entrance to this parking area, and it is just a short distance from Highway 30 if you are traveling from the direction of Philadelphia. When you see T and V on the light poles, you are in the right parking lot for AQS attendees - watch for the AQS Quilt Show Parking signs. (There is a separate lot at this location for AQS vendors who are in the convention center, and for charter buses attending the show - these signs will say AQS Vendors & Charter Bus Parking).

Parking in the Liberty Place and Burle lots is $5 per vehicle, to be paid as you enter the lot. Free Express Parking Shuttle service will run continuously between these two AQS Quilt Show parking lots and the convention center. The Express Parking Shuttle Bus Stop will be located in front of the Marriott Penn Square Grill on King Street... that's just outside the doors of the Marriott at Penn Square Hotel (attached to the Lancaster County Convention Center).

There are a number of pay-to-park parking garages in downtown Lancaster: Duke Street, Prince Street, Penn Square, Water Street, and E. King Street. Daily Rates: $2.00 for the first hour; $1.00 per hour (or any fraction thereof) for each additional hour up to a maximum of $14.00 per day.


AQS Quilt Show - Paducah, April 21 - 24, 2010:

Paducah Quilt Show Registration: Online registration is open for the Paducah Show. Here is the link to take you directly to online registration. Telephone registration for Paducah will open on January 27; then you can call 270-898-7903 and ask for Quilt Show Registration.

Paducah Lodging: If you need lodging in Paducah, check out the listing for rooms that is available on the Paducah Convention and Visitor Bureau's Web site. Also, the AQS Home Bed and Breakfast program, with lodging in private homes, is coordinated by the Paducah Convention and Visitors Bureau. Beginning February 1, you can call 1-800-PADUCAH to request an application for the home bed and breakfast. Hundreds of quilters and vendors stay in private homes every year through this program.

Special Evening Events: One of the changes we have made in the Paducah show this year is to have all reserved seating for the evening events (Kaffe Fassett on Wednesday, 7 - 9 p.m.; Eleanor Burns on Thursday, 8 - 9:30 p.m.; and Ricky Tims on Friday, 7 - 9 p.m.) at the Carson Four Rivers Center. This will eliminate having to stand in line for hours in the rain or heat. For tickets, call 270-450-4444, Monday - Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. or stop at the Box Office at the Carson Four Rivers Center, 100 Kentucky Avenue, in downtown Paducah, Kentucky. (Note: AQS will not be selling tickets for these three events - you must order them through the Carson Four Rivers Center.)

AQS Quilt Show - Knoxville, July 14 - 17, 2010:

Knoxville Quilt Show Registration: We are currently working on the Knoxville registration materials, and they will be available by mid-March. We will post information on this AQS Quilt News Blog as soon as registration is open.

Knoxville Lodging: Book your room by March 15 and you could be the lucky winner of a $500 gift certificate!

You can participate in the Passkey Early Bird Booking Contest for the Knoxville Show. Book your hotel rooms for the AQS Quilt Show and Contest - Knoxville online or by calling 800-753-3823, using the Passkey reservation system, and be entered for a chance to win a $500 gift certificate to a local Knoxville quilt store! Reservations for this early bird booking contest must be made by March 15, 2010. The winner will be announced March 18, 2010 and notified prior to the show by email/mail. Certificate provided at the Knoxville Show (details will be provided to winner on where to pick up certificate). Each name in a reservation will be entered. No other promotions apply.


AQS Quilt Show - Des Moines, October 6 - 9, 2010:
Don't miss seeing 1,000 quilts at this show!

Des Moines Registration: Registration materials for the Des Moines show will be available in May.


Make Your Plans Now...
AQS has a busy year of holding quilt shows in Lancaster, Paducah, Knoxville, and Des Moines. Have you made your plans to attend one of these shows yet?

See you there!

Bonnie Browning, Executive Show Director

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.

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!

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

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!

Next AQS Quilt Expo is in Des Moines, Iowa

Have you made your plans to attend the AQS Quilt Expo in Des Moines, Iowa, October 28 - 31, 2009? You won't want to miss seeing more than 1,000 quilts on display, along with nearly 400 vendor booths in the Merchant Mall. The Iowa Events Center will be a quilter's playground - full of inspiration, every imaginable product for making quilts, and quilters from all across the country and beyond.

Des Moines skyline

The quilt show will be located in Hy-Vee Hall at the Iowa Events Center, 730 Third Street, in downtown Des Moines. All of the quilts and the Merchant Mall are in this one large hall.

You can still register for workshops, lectures, and special events for the Des Moines show. Call Laura Davis at 270-898-7903 to register by phone, or log on to www.AmericanQuilter.com to register online.

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Name badges will be mailed for all registrations received by September 16. Name badges for registration received between September 17 and October 7 will be held for pickup at the show.

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Advance registration closes at 3 p.m. on October 7. You will need to check at the show for availability if you do not register by October 7.

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1,000 quilts on display * 400 vendor booths

* special events with Christopher Nejman,

Laurie Malm & Cheri Meineke-Johnson,

Eleanor Burns, Ami Simms, and Karen Kay Buckley

www.AmericanQuilter.com

Des Moines Registration Guide is HERE!

The printed registration guide for the AQS Quilt Expo in Des Moines, October 28 - 31, 2009, has arrived and is being mailed today to those who ordered a copy.

You can go to our Web site and print a copy of the guide by clicking on the link below:

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

Advance registration is recommended. Workshops are filled on a first-come basis. Registrations can be faxed (270-898-1173) or mailed to the AQS office (AQS, PO Box 3290, Paducah, KY 42002-3290). For registration questions, please contact Laura Davis, Registration Coordinator, at lauradavis@AQSquilt.com or 270-898-7903, ext. 132.

Online registration will be open in a few days - our Webmaster is busy getting it formatted for us now.

We have a great line-up of instructors for Des Moines: Frieda Anderson, Bobbie Aug, Kim Brunner, Karen Kay Buckley, Eleanor Burns, Carol Butzke, Darlene Christopherson, Mickey Depre, Karen Gibbs, Renae Haddadin, Klaudeen Hansen, Linda Honsberger, Laurie Malm, Cheri Meineke-Johnson, ReNae Merrill, Marti Michell, Nannette Moore, Christopher Nejman, Marsha Radtke, Andi Reynolds, Florence Reisen, Nadine Ruggles, Ami Simms, Mildred Sorrells, Helen Squire, and Terry White.

The 2-day Insurance Appraisal workshop is scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday, and the 1-day Fair-Market Value Appraisal workshop is available on Friday at the Des Moines show.

Thursday is Dressed-Up Denim Day in Des Moines. Now is the time to be dressing up your own denim vests, jackets, jeans, dressed, etc., with trims, embroidery, applique, crystals, decorative stitches, stencils, and whatever else you want to do. Be sure to register for the Denim Divas Fashion Show to share your beautiful hand-crafted couture denims. This event was so much fun last year that those who attended asked to do it again! And wait until you see the couture garments that the Denim Divas (Laurie Malm and Cheri Meineke-Johnson) have made!

See you in Des Moines in October.

AQS Staff....

Des Moines Registration Guide

Make your plans now to attend the 2nd AQS Quilt Expo in Des Moines, Iowa. The listing of hotels is on the AQS Web site. Here is a link that will take you right there:
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http://www.americanquilter.com/documents/shows_contests/desmoines/09_desmoines_hotel_list.pdf .
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You should call the hotel directly to make your reservation and be sure to tell them you will be attending the AQS Quilt Expo.
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The AQS Quilt Expo is held in Hy-Vee Hall at the Iowa Events Center. Classrooms are on the first floor, and the exhibit hall is on the second floor. A food court is on level 3, and other food venues are located in the hallways throughout the building.

The Des Moines Botanical & Environmental Center is one of our Sanctioned Events. They will be having floral displays in quilt designs, and an exhibit of quilts sponsored by American Patchwork & Quilting magazine. Admission is free with your show name badge.

See the state capital at night.

These photos are courtesty of the Greater Des Moines Convention & Visitors Bureau.


The Registration Guide for the AQS Quilt Expo in Des Moines is being printed.
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We are busy working on getting all of that information online so we can begin online registration as soon as possible. We will post here when the online registration is ready.
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If you want a copy of the printed Des Moines Registration Guide, you can send an e-mail to Laura Davis, lauradavis@AQSquilt.com or fax your request to 270-898-1173. The cost of the printed guide is $2.00.
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We have some fun events in Des Moines, including a fashion show of Celebrity Bags by Christopher Nejman - wait until you see the techniques he uses; An Evening with Ami Simms; The Denim Divas fashion show where you can show off your own embellished and decorated denims; a fun time with Eleanor Burns; and Brunch with Karen Kay Buckley. That's a sneak peak of what's happening in Des Moines.
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Bonnie Browning