Reporting from Lancaster, Pennsylvania

There's nothing like row upon row of stunningly beautiful quilts to rev up the creative juices. It's not just the workmanship, which you know is good if a quilt has been juried into an AQS show, but the imagination! It never ceases to amaze at what quilters see, what they visualize, and how they manifest their visions in fabric, thread and embellishment.

And the support quilters receive from the quilting industry via manufacturers and vendors is staggering. If it doesn't exist, someone will find a way to make it for you. These people really do listen when quilters talk about their needs.

And then there's the venue. Lancaster is a fascinating city and there is much to be seen - and eaten! - within easy walking distance from the Convention Center, which itself is a very nice facility, along with the Marriott.

This is AQS's second year here, and if you haven't been, you really would enjoy coming next year. Better yet, enter a quilt! Take some classes! There really is something for everyone in the land of Virtue, Liberty and Independence (motto on a flag flying from the hotel).

Look Me Up in Lancaster

Andi Reynolds here, sniffing wonderful things in the air. It’s not just Spring—it’s the start of Show Season in the Quilt world. A most exciting time!

Next week AQS will host the first of our four American Quilter’s Society Shows & Contests in 2011. We will be at the Lancaster County Convention Center in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, March 16 – 19.

Being at each AQS quilt show is always exciting for me, because as the executive book editor for AQS, I get to meet so many creative people with such interesting ideas. If you have given some thought to writing a quilt book, come to the quilt show and see me! Bring just an idea or a full-blown proposal or anything in between.

My office will be the Susquehanna Board room, which is on the fourth floor of the Marriott at Penn Square. The Marriott and convention center are attached; just use the hotel’s elevators and you’ll find me.

If you'd like to talk about a book idea, you can prepare in advance by reviewing our proposal guidelines. Go to www.americanquilter.com and click on “Authors.”

You can also attend my lecture, Quilt Book Publishing 101, which will be Thursday, March 17 (Happy St. Patrick’s Day!) from 12 pm to 1 pm in the Southern Market Council Chamber. Southern Market is across Vine Street from the convention center. Tickets for Lecture # 42805 will be available at the Workshop Desk.

Later that afternoon, also at Southern Market, I will moderate the Author's Roundtable. From 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm come hear what four AQS authors have to say about what it’s like to publish with AQS. This is your time to ask all the nitty-gritty questions you can think of about what it is like to write a quilt book. Invited authors are Kathie Alyce (Flip Flop Block Quilts); Dianne S. Hire (Vivacious Curvy Quilts); Sally Terry (Pathways from Quilt Top to Quilted); and Sue Nickels (Machine Quilting: A Primer of Techniques). Tickets for Special Event # 42201 will be available at the Workshop Desk—and it’s free!

Both events should help explain the process of becoming an AQS author, but you don't need to attend them to talk with me. Walk-ins are welcome (leave me a note with your phone number if I’m not around), or you may make an appointment by noon on Friday, March 11, by emailing me at andi@aqsquilt.com. You can always ask for me at the Workshop Desk, too. I hope to see you in Lancaster!

Making Quilt History One Show at a Time

If you've been to more than one national or international quilt show, you know what to expect -- amazing, mind-blowing quilts; inspirational vendor displays and unlimited shopping opportunities; and life-changing special quilt exhibits.

Thus it was at this past week's third annual AQS Quilt Show and Contest in Des Moines, Iowa. Contest quilts came from 40 states and five countries; winners came from 18 states and 1 country. Vendors came from all over, as did the special exhibits. And there was also the always-terrific, prolific, prodigious display from the Des Moines Area Quilt Guild.

Aside: Lest you think hand quilting has finally lost out to machine quilting except for major hand quilting or hand workmanship awards, check out the Des Moines winners, especially the Best Wall Quilt award:

http://www.americanquilter.com/shows_contests/desmoines/2010/quilt_contest/quilt_winners.php

Even in a job where we see quilts day in and day out, the show displays never cease to make us stop, take a deep breath, and appreciate the creativity and artistry of the quilt makers who enter the show.

And every once in a while, something special comes along. AQS tries to bring the best of these once-in-a-lifetime exhibit experiences to every show. Des Moines 2010 was no exception, but I had a personal favorite: Men and the Art of Quiltmaking, curated by Joe Cunningham. Joe is the author of the recent AQS eponymous book describing the quiltmaking art of 30 guys who make quilts. (Call 1-800-626-5420 to ask about buying a copy.)

The exhibit wasn't the first display of quilts made by men, and it wasn't intended to make any statement other than to represent the book, says Joe. It was history-making, all the same. None of these quilts had ever been seen together before and it is highly unlikely they will ever be together again. Voila - history. Furthermore, several of the artists were on hand during the show to discuss their work. This may be common at gallery exhibits, but not so much at large quilt shows. Voila - history encore.

The longer we have a robust quilting tradition and open venues in guilds, clubs and shows, the less "rare" will be any of the anomalies that have flavored the c. 1976 quilt revival -- e.g., 3-D quilts, art quilts, quilts by men, quilts from specific materials, etc. So it's one for the history books each time an exhibit is mounted for us to behold, admire, draw from, and remember.

Join us for the next piece of quilt history making in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, March 16 - 19, 2011. Enter or attend; either way, you'll be a part of creating quilt history.

'Tis the Season

If you're a gardener as well as a quilter, as many of us are, then Spring and Summer are joyously creative seasons for you indoors (sewing) and out (planting). Here at AQS Publishing, mid-May is a bonanza of beautiful quilts and creative ideas as our latest round of manuscripts and finished projects arrive.

If you think you have a good quilt book idea, you may submit a book proposal anytime. The guidelines are on our web site under the "Authors" tab. As you develop your proposal, never hesitate to call or email with any questions or concerns you may have. That's what I'm here for!

We review book proposals mid-month in January, February, May, June, August, September, November and December, so you never have to wait long for our response to your book idea. In the other four months, we are hosting quilt shows, and I am there to meet you in person to discuss your ideas (see the schedule below). I also give a lecture -- it's free -- on publishing with AQS, and it's a wonderful way to discover what's involved in getting from idea to book with us. We also host either an Authors' Roundtable or a Book Fair so you can meet and speak with AQS authors and talk with them about their publishing experiences.

Come see me and everyone at AQS at these upcoming shows and bring your best book ideas!

Lancaster, Pennsylvania: March 16-19, 2011; March 14-17, 2012
Paducah, Kentucky: April 27-30, 2011;  April 25-28, 2012
Knoxville, Tennessee: July 14-17, 2010; July 13-16, 2011; July 18-21, 2012
Des Moines, Iowa: October 6-9, 2010; September 28-October 1, 2011; October 3-6, 2012; October 2-5, 2013

Andi

Lancaster or Bust!

If you've ever planned a birthday party, a wedding, even a potluck dinner, you know what a mad scramble it can be as the time draws near. Add hundreds of quilts, dozens of teachers, hundreds of vendors and thousands of quilters and you can imagine life at AQS this last week before we open in Lancaster on March 24!

Our first show in that lovely city will be like our other shows, only different, because each show has its own "flavor," depending on so many variables -- the city, the local volunteers, the weather (!), and most importantly, the attendees. This show we expect to have many, many more people from the East than we usually see, certainly in Knoxville and Des Moines. Be prepared to hear a wide variety of accents, y'all and you guys!

Not only is this our first event in Lancaster, the show will be the first big event in the brand new Lancaster County Convention Center. Everyone there is excited and probably a little nervous. Truth to tell, so are we, for although we've put on big quilt shows for 25 years, and have become accustomed to being in new-to-us venues, every show is different. We can only hope we've planned the best to make this a memorable time for everyone involved.

We are thrilled with the enthusiastic reception we've received from Lancaster folks and from people long accustomed to attending a quilt show in Southeastern Pennsylvania. The area is a must-visit Mecca for quilters, and we're delighted to keep the quilting spirit alive there. See you next week!

Lancaster or Bust!

AQS is delighted to announce our new show in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Join us there next March 24 - 27 in a great facility in a wonderful tourism area.

The Quilter's Heritage Show is no more, and we really wanted to continue the support and enthusiasm for quilting longstanding in Lancaster, so we'll be there with bells on!

Plans for the Paducah 2010 show are pending while space issues are being resolved.

But there will be AQS in Lancaster! Hope to see you there!