It All Begins with Destruction

Steve Doolittle, Downtown Development Director, visits with AQS staff Rick Loyd, Billy Schroeder, and Meredith Schroeder about the destruction taking place. Today we were given a tour of the building to see the progress being made. Here are some photos so you, too, can see what will lead to a completely renovated convention center in Paducah. Many of the areas were really destruction zones but we stepped as close as we dared to snap these photos.

The City of Paducah has committed to renovate the convention center compatible with the renovation of the Executive Inn. The classrooms will be completely remodeled with new everything - from top to bottom, and we are especially grateful to have new lighting in these rooms for our workshops. New heating and air conditioning will be installed. The International Rooms will be renovated with new ceiling, lighting, wall treatments, and carpeting.

Steve Doolittle, Meredith Schroeder, AQS President; Mary Hammond, Executive Director of the Paducah/McCracken Convention & Visitors Bureau; and Terry Guill, Director of AQS Show Operations, take a look at where the planter (we always called it the moat) was removed in the lobby of the convention center. It is amazing how much space that planter took up.

The ceilings will be replaced throughout the building. Two shifts a day are working to get the building ready for reconstruction. All they left in place are the metal heat ducts as you can see in this photo. New electrical lines will be installed throughout the building.

The upper hallway was in big time destruction mode today. Won't we all be anxious to see it all put back together?

Workers were busy ripping out wiring and heat registers. This was a pretty big mess.

Carpeting is being ripped out of the classrooms. New ceilings and lighting will be installed in all of the classrooms.

The bathrooms have been gutted and will be brand new from top to bottom.

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Wow, can you believe all that they have torn apart so far? Keep an eye here on our Blog and we'll bring you new photos as the work progresses.

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Can't wait until April? Well, you can see that there is a lot of work to be done, but these crews are up to the task, and the building will all be fresh and new for our 25th Anniversary Celebration. And, we'll also get to celebrate a newly renovated convention center and hotel rooms. Put on your dancing...or your track shoes and come celebrate with us.

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Meanwhile back at the office, Cindy Carrico and Marcelle Cashon are busy working on the Registration Guide for our 25th Anniversary Celebration. It will be later in November before it is all finished. We still have a lot of information to get formatted in our software, and then it goes back to the teachers for proofing, and a final proofing in our office...then we'll get it to the printer and posted for online registration. We'll post a notice on our Web site and here on our Blog when we have a better idea of the date it will be ready.

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Here's a little secret: 19 of the past Best of Show winners will be joining us in Paducah...and you'll be able to take classes from several of them. How great is that... to learn from some of the best!

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Bonnie Browning

Executive Show Director

Olfa Young Designer Okada Award at Paducah

Do you know any young quilt designers who are creating innovative quilts?

One of the categories in the Paducah Quilt Contest is Young Designer Quilts. The quilter can use any technique in making a fabric quilt in a unique interpretation. This category is open to ages 18 to 35 (determined on the opening day of the show). The judges will be looking for originality in this category.

There are some great awards for this category. All quilts in this category are eligible for the $5,000 Olfa Young Designer Okada Award. In addition, there will be 1st ($1,500), 2nd ($1,000), and 3rd ($750) places.

Pass the word around to your quilting friends and to your guild about this special contest geared to young quilters. They can't win if they don't enter.

The rules for the AQS Quilt Contest are available on our AQS Web site, www.AmericanQuilter.com. Just click on Shows & Contests and then choose the Paducah Quilt Show. The deadline for receiving contest entries (entry form and two digital images) is January 5, 2009...so there is still time to work on an entry.

If you have any questions about the Young Designer Quilts category or the Paducah Quilt Contest, please call the AQS office at 270-898-7903.

Executive Inn Update

The contract to purchase the Executive Inn by Space Coast Hospitality has been signed. The contract closing will be in 10 to 14 days. The long-awaited renovations will begin shortly after the closing.

Once the closing has taken place, the new owners will begin to determine the status of the reservations for those who sent checks to the hotel.

If you sent a check to the hotel and have NOT received a confirmation for your room, please forward a copy of the front AND back of your cancelled check to Sylvia Thomas in the AQS office who is collecting this information. Her e-mail address is: sylvia@AQSquilt.com or fax it to 270-898-1173.

A Glimpse of the 2008 AQS Quilt Expo in Des Moines

If you missed the show in Des Moines, here is how it looked through Bonnie Browning's camera lens. You can view them larger by clicking on the photos. Put the dates for next year's AQS Quilt Expo - Des Moines on your calendar now so you don't miss it: October 28 - 31, 2009.

The view from the windows on the third level of the Iowa Events Center was beautiful. The exhibit floor looked like a patchwork quilt. This is only 2/3 of the exhibit hall. There is another room of quilts under where I was standing. More than 900 quilts were on exhibit at this show.

Two familiar faces, Dale Perry and Bill Schroeder, greet quilters as they enter the show.

Winners Marilyn Badger (co-winner with Claudia Clark Myers of the Best Longarm Workmanship Award) and Anne Lullie (winner of the Best Machine Workmanship Award)

visit in front of Anne's quilt.

AQS President Meredith Schroeder presented a contribution to the Des Moines Area Quilters Guild in appreciation of their assistance in providing volunteers for the show. (L to R: Mary Shotwell and Jill Reber, Co-AQS Volunteer Coordinators; Meredith Schroeder; Sherri Street, Guild President; and Doris Rumpp, Guild Treasurer)

With this being an election year, we included a Hooray for the Red, White & Blue exhibit. Nancy Kirk, Kirk Collection, Omaha, Nebraska, shared some of her antique red, white, and blue quilts and costumes.

One of the popular events is the All-Star Review where the instructors demonstrate a technique and the quilters move around the room at their own pace. Each participant receives a booklet of handouts from the instructors so make notes or as a reminder when they get home.

Quilters are getting a close look at one of the quilts in the exhibit by Sandra McMillan, Albion, Nebraska. We all aspire to make such beautiful quilts.

You know how popular aprons are again. MaryJane Butters, Moscow, Idaho, shared her collection of aprons as one of our special exhibits. Do you remember your grandmother wearing one of the aprons that covered her whole front? I do. And it reminds me of her baking cookies.

An exhibit of Judy Martin's quilts was very popular. People loved her Log Cabin quilts. Thanks, Judy, for sharing your beautiful quilts.

The National Quilt Museum displayed two exhibits at the show: New Quilts from an Old Favorite: Sawtooth, and the 2009 Pilgrim/Roy Challenge. The Yoyos from Paducah drew crowds as they demonstrated some tricks for making yoyos and how to use them in a variety of ways.

Here's a great view of the exhibit hall!

This is a view of the exhibit hall from the skywalk windows that overlook the show. Great quilts! Great vendors! Lots of visitors!

Wish you were here.

The show closes at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday - that's tomorrow, so you still have one more day to come see the show.

Sunrise in Des Moines

Here is the view of the Iowa State Capitol from my hotel room window.

Do you need a hotel room for the AQS Quilt Expo in Des Moines?

If you need a hotel for the Des Moines AQS Quilt Expo, the Downtown Marriott still has some rooms available.

The Marriott is located in downtown Des Moines and is connected to the Iowa Events Center via the skywalk system. It is the closest hotel with rooms still available.

To book your room at the Marriott, call 515) 245-5500 today. Rooms at the AQS rate are limited.

Des Moines Marriott Downtown
700 Grand Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50309
515-245-5500

See you in Des Moines, October 8 - 11!

Bonnie Browning

It's Quilt Expo Time in Des Moines

Wow, do you know that AQS will have more than 900 quilts on exhibit at the AQS Quilt Expo in Des Moines? We'll have the AQS Contest quilts - where more than $42,000 in cash will be awarded, and a variety of special quilt exhibits.

The Des Moines Area Quilters Guild will display quilts in their annual show - it's the 25th anniversary of the guild.

When have you seen an exhibit of Judy Martin's quilts? We'll have 25 of them at the Expo. She'll also be giving a lecture on Wednesday evening.

And prizewinning quilter Sandra McMillan, Albion, Nebraska, will exhibit 24 of her beautiful quilts.

Nancy Kirk, Kirk Collection, Omaha, Nebraska, is sharing some of her patriotic quilts and costumes.

And if you have never met MaryJane Butters of Moscow, Idaho, you're in for a treat. You will be able to view her collection of 40 Aprons at the show. MaryJane will be teaching and sharing some of her experiences in developing your own business. One of her classes is making rugs.

Come have some fun at the AQS Quilt Expo -- you'll be in hog.....er...quilt heaven.

And don't forget that Friday is Dressed Up Denim Day - wear your jazzed up denims that are so popular today. If you don't have any jazzed up denims yet, the Dressed Up Denim Lab is located at booth 403/502 on the show floor. Bring a denim garment with you to the show.

You can see how crystals are put on in Cheri's Crystals booth, or how to use Paintstiks in Laura Murray's booth, or how to use Designer Bindings in the Lollipops booth nearby - purchase your supplies and work away on dressing up your own denims. We'll have some practice pieces so you can try it out first if you want.

If you are into hockey, then you'll want to go to the opening game of the season of the Iowa Chops Hockey team. It's on Friday night. Scroll down in this blog for information on ordering tickets. Get your own cow bell to cheer on the Iowa Chops!

See you all at the show - October 8 - 11 at the Iowa Events Center, 730 Third Street, Des Moines, Iowa!

The AQS Quilt Show Staff:
Bonnie, Terry, Cindy, Sharon, Marcelle, Mary Beth, and Tracey

Executive Inn Deposits

We have received calls and e-mails from quilters who submitted checks for the room lottery at the Executive Inn that have been cashed and no confirmations have been received. AQS is working with the attorneys from the City of Paducah and McCracken County, as well as the Kentucky Attorney General to determine what has happened with these monies and who has rooms confirmed.

As soon as we know more, we will post it on our Web site, http://www.americanquilter.com/, and here on our Blog.

Bonnie Browning
Executive Show Director

American Quilter’s Society Night Out with the CHOPS!!!

Don't miss out on the American Quilter’s Society
Night Out with the CHOPS!!!
OPENING NIGHT October 10, 2008 in Des Moines.

The Iowa Chops Hockey team vs. the Peoria Rivermen

Ticket Prices for Quilters:
Center Ice seats $16.00
Endzone seats $9.00

Free Chops Cow Bell for each group ticket purchased!

THERE ARE 2 WAYS TO ORDER YOUR TICKETS:

1) Click on the link below and enter the offer code 1010QUILT, click on the “BUY” logo on the right, and then enter your desired quantity. Do not clicks on best available or you will not be given the discount!

http://ev6.evenue.net/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/ExecMacro/evenue/ev69/se/DisplayPromoList.d2w/report?linkID=global-iowa&RSRC=&RDAT=&caller=PR

2) CONTACT YOUR TICKET REP JARED YOUNGMAN AT 515-564-8043 and order your tickets over the phone.

TICKETS BASED ON AVAILABILITY – ORDER FEES MAY APPLY. THE IOWA EVENTS CENTER WILL NOT REIMBURSE PATRONS THE DIFFERENCE IN TICKET PRICES FOR PREVIOUSLY PURCHASED TICKETS OR TICKETS ORDERED INCORRECTLY THROUGH THE GROUP SALES WEBSITE! THIS OFFER CANNOT BE USED AT ANY DAHL’S FOODS OUTLET

ALL TICKETS MUST BE PURCHASED BY 5:00 PM ON THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9TH

AQS Quilt Expo - Des Moines

Are you coming to the AQS Quilt Expo in Des Moines, October 8 - 11, 2008? There are still some rooms at the Des Moines Marriott, 700 Grand Ave. It's the closest hotel to the Iowa Events Center where the quilt show will be held and you can get there through the skywalks. They have free shuttle service from the airport. Don't miss out on the great AQS Quilt Expo rate of $129 -- the current online rate is $229. To book your room, log on to http://www.desmoinesmarriott.com/ or call 515-245-5500.

Did you know the Iowa State Capitol’s impressive 275-foot golden dome is the largest of any state capitol in the nation, and is flanked by four smaller domes? The largest dome is covered with 23-karat gold sheets, equaling 100 ounces of gold. These sheets are so thin that 250,000 of them piled together would measure about one inch high. The Capitol building, dedicated in 1884 and completed in 1886 at a cost of some $2.8 million, is built of limestone, granite, sandstone and brick. In addition to serving as the seat of Iowa government, the Capitol is a showcase for artwork, woodcarving, artifacts and decorative wall and ceiling painting. Today, the Iowa State Capitol has just finished an extensive interior and exterior restoration. Add a visit to the Capitol to your visit to Des Moines.

Dressed Up Denim Brunch & Fashion Show with Laurie Malm

Laurie Malm, Lollipops Designer Bindings, shows off her denim vest decorated with fancy binding strips.

Her booth will be next to the Dressed Up Denim Lab at the Des Moines show. Stop at her booth and learn all of the tricks in applying binding to your Dressed Up Denims.

Don't mis the Brunch & Dressed Up Denim Fashion Show with Laurie Malm - Friday at 9:00 a.m. at the AQS Quilt Expo in Des Moines.

Dressed Up Denim Lab at Des Moines

Dressed Up Denims

Denim clothing that is decorated...with stitching, appliques, ribbon and trims, and, of course, crystals, is all the rage. Couture clothing by many of the leading designers have picked up this trend in garments of all sizes - from small rompers to elaborate jackets selling for hundreds of dollars.

At this year's AQS Quilt Expo, you can dress up your own denim. Just bring a denim shirt, jacket, jeans, or other garments with you and we'll have a space set up at the show, the Dressed Up Denims Lab, for you to do just that. Some of our vendors with products that you might need will be located nearby. These include Cheri's Crystals, with crystals that are heat set to adhere to the garment; Lollipops Designer Bindings, with binding that can be stitched in a variety of designs; Igolochkoy (Gail Bird), with materials for needlepunching designs, and Laura Murray Designs, with some great fabrics for applique and Paintstiks.

Here's how it works. You can watch demos in their booths to learn the techniques, purchase any supplies you might need, and go to the tables in the Dressed Up Denim Lab to work on your shirt, jacket, or jeans. We'll have some shirts for you to try it on before you begin working on your own jacket.

What fun! You can learn techniques from some of the best and they'll be close by if you have any questions...and you'll end up with your own couture style denims.

Then, be sure to sign up for the Brunch with Laurie Malm on Friday at 9:00 a.m., where we'll have a fashion show of Dressed Up Denims...and you can show off yours too.

Everyone should wear your Dressed Up Denims on Friday at the show.

Des Moines, Iowa - AQS Quilt Expo

And next we will be off to Des Moines, Iowa, for the very first AQS Quilt Expo, October 8 - 11, 2008.

The name badges were mailed on Friday, August 29, to those who registered by Wednesday, August 27. If you registered after August 27, your name badge will be held for pickup at the show. All international name badges will be held for pickup at the show.


The show will be located in Hy-Vee Hall at the Iowa Events Center, 730 3rd Street, in downtown Des Moines.


Lodging: If you still need to make your hotel reservations, here is the link to the list of hotels on the AQS Web site: http://www.americanquilter.com/documents/shows_contests/desmoines/08_desmoines_hotel.pdf.
Just call the hotel directly and tell them you are coming to the AQS Quilt Expo so you'll get our quilt show rates. Don't delay in booking your room though, those rates will end soon and you'll be paying higher rates.


This is going to be an exciting event -- there are 800 quilts on exhibit, including the annual show of the Greater Des Moines Quilters Guild. More than 350 vendor booths will make it a quilt shoppers' paradise - you know they will have all of the latest tools and fabric that you just need to add to your stash.

Check out the next blog entry for information on our special Dressed Up Denim Lab, where you can jazz up your own denim jackets, jeans, vests, and more.

Bonnie Browning
Executive Show Director

Book Your Rooms for Knoxville - July 22 - 25, 2009

It’s easy to book your room for the AQS Quilt Expo in Knoxville, July 22 – 25, 2009. The hotels are all listed by their distance from the Knoxville Convention Center.

For online room reservations, click here.
Or, call 865-588-7426 or 1-800-753-3823.
Book your flights and car rental with discounts to Knoxville by calling 1-800-753-3823.
E-mail reservations@wvtt.com if you have questions related to your reservations.

Shuttle service is not provided from all of the hotels. If you will need shuttle service, look at the hotels in the downtown area. Here is the online map for the free shuttle service:

http://www.knoxville.org/eguide/zoom.php?ID=7&guide=NaN .

If you need additional assistance on whether this service is available from your hotel, please call the phone number above for making reservations.