AQS Quilt Show & Contest - Des Moines, IA

I know it has been a while since my last post...and I do have a good reason...I have been preparing for two large events I am teaching on the East Coast later this month...and I will share more with you in the next few days...

I did manage to take the day off today to visit the AQS Quilt Show & Contest being held at the Iowa Events Center (October 3-6). My dear friend Kimber and her husband Tom were kind enough to invite me along to view the show with them...and it truly was a splendid day! We headed downtown bright and early, so we could see everything in one day. We started by walking the vendor area (I will blog about that tomorrow), then we perused the Des Moines Area Quilters Guild 29th Annual Quilt Show...and finally we walked the AQS Quilt Contest Exhibit. It was sensory overload as we visited an array of fabulous vendors, then took in all the incredible quilts on display...I was so inspired by the creativity and talent, that I completely forgot how much walking we were doing and the day evaporated without a second thought. If you are in the Des Moines area or plan to be this week, this show is a MUST SEE. After we finished our visit to the quilt show, we headed to the Brass Armadillo Antique Mall to see the antique and vintage quilts, sewing notions, and sewing memorabilia vendors prominently placed about their booths...and yes, we did find a few goodies. After our day of shopping, viewing and walking, we had all built up quite an appetite...so we headed to The Drake Diner - a local favorite/landmark for a delicious late lunch/early dinner. It was the perfect day off!

Here is my view of the Des Moines Area Quilters Guild 29th Annual Quilt Show through my camera lens...I truly took hundreds of photos - but here are some that stood out to me (click on each photo for an enlarged view). This year's annual show was titled "Welcome to the World of Quilting" and included over 425 quilts made by guild members. The show also included a silent auction with over 100 small quilts...

Small Quilts in the Silent Auction

Small Quilts in the Silent Auction

Missie Carpenter
Applique Medium
168J: Charmed Beginnings

Gretta Wilkinson
Mixed Technique X-Large
520J: Wedge - Red/White

Patty Barrett
Applique Large
122J: The Bride's Quilt

Patty Barrett
Applique Large
122J: The Bride's Quilt - Close-up Owls

Patty Barrett
Applique Large
122J: The Bride's Quilt - Close-up Peacocks

Barbara Blair
Pieced Medium
151J: Diamond LeMoyne Star

Leigh Lussie
Applique Medium
337J: Pineapples and Carnations

Leigh Lussie
Applique X-Large
335J: McLean Family Album

Leigh Lussie
Applique X-Large
335J: McLean Family Album - Close-up

Missie Carpenter
Mixed Technique Small
171J: Primitive Pineapple Welcome
Loved the punch needle center!

Julee Prose
Applique X-Large
410J: A Floral Celebration

Mary Shotwell
Applique Large
462J: Auntie's Red Hot Garden

Next, here is the AQS Quilt Contest display through my camera lens - there were so many breathtaking quilts on exhibit...again, I took hundreds of photos...here are just a few of the highlights for me....

Ruth Ann Reynolds - Raymore, MO
Super Sweet Ambrosia
Wall Quilts

Leigh Lussie - Windsor Heights, IA
An Abundance of Flowers
2nd Place - Bed Quilts - Machine Quilted

Carolyn H. Stine - Springfield, IL
My First Trip To Baltimore
Bed Quilts - Machine Quilted

Carolyn H. Stine - Springfield, IL
My First Trip To Baltimore (Close-up Fruit)
Bed Quilts - Machine Quilted

Ann Feitelson - Montague, MA
Basket Weave II: See Saw
1st Place - Wall Quilts - Machine Quilted

Carole J. Floyd - West Des Moines, IA
Miss Emily's Garden
Honorable Mention - Wall Quilts - Machine Quilted

Barbara Clem - Rockford, IL
Symphony of Roses
Best Hand Workmanship Award
Bed Quilts - Hand Quilted

Dolores Easter - Urbana, IL
Ladies of the Sea
2nd Place - Bed Quilts - Hand Quilted

Jean Clark - Mt. Horeb, WI
Scarlet Fever
3rd Place - Bed Quilts - Hand Quilted

Joyce L. Wuehle - Galesburg, IL
Onward
Bed Quilts - Hand Quilted

Joyce L. Wuehle - Galesburg, IL
Onward (Close-up Owls)
Bed Quilts - Hand Quilted

Wilhelmina Vandevoorde - Maryville, TN
Tree of Life
1st Place - Bed Quilts - Hand Quilted

Helen Williams Butler - Alpine, UT
Turkish Delight
1st Place - Bed Quilts - Machine Quilted

Janet Stone - Overland Park, KS
Letter Carriers
Best Machine Workmanship Award
Wall Quilts - Machine Quilted
My personal favorite of the show - the detail was incredible!

Marilyn Badger - Saint George, UT
Eureka!
Best of Show
Bed Quilts - Machine Quilted

Marilyn Badger - Saint George, UT
Eureka! (Close-up)
Best of Show
Bed Quilts - Machine Quilted

Marilyn Badger - Saint George, UT
Eureka! (Close-up)
Best of Show
Bed Quilts - Machine Quilted

It was truly a spectacular event and exhibit! I was completely mesmerized by the talent and creativity - it was a succulent feast for the eyes. Tomorrow, I will return with photos from a few of my favorite vendors...