Today at the AQS Show in Paducah

The past few days here in Paducah have been wet but it hasn't kept the quilter's from coming out to the AQS Show in Paducah. This year they had to evacuate the Expo Center for the safety of the quilts in the show and the people all coming to the show. AQS really had to scramble this year to get areas for all the vendors that were vending here. Some of the vendors had to go across town to the mall and set up This is not in the mall but past it on the side street in the old Circuit City building and the Office Max building.  Please check all the areas out when you come to the show.

In the picture below you'll see Mark Sherman signing autographs in a magazine which feature his fabric and art quilts you'll also see the stack of fabric he is going through to purchase. Another great day at the AQS quilt show.

home again

The Paducah show was slow, the crowds weren't there and the sales were down. The Executive Inn was not renovated and was extremely hot. The vendor areas to the left and right of the galleria were not marked adequately, there were small 4x8 signs and tape on the floor, the sun blasted down through the ceiling and people just were to hot to shop, now for the main expo center it was actually cold in there and there were crowds there. Alot of people say they just didn't know about all the little rooms off to the sides. I will not do the Paducah show again unless there are better facilities. I'm home again for a short 3 weeks then off to Overland Park for the MQS show.

Paducah

There was a note in our vendor packages that there isn't a contract for next year and that they suggest that we don't make a reservation anywhere that has a nonreturnable deposit and to watch the AQS website for further details.
This picture is of our room. There is also a small frig under the counter next to the bathroom. We did bring a microwave and small coffee pot with us so we will cook most of the time in our room.
Our room overlooks the river we do see a little of the roof but a great view otherwise. Marc watched a barge dock today.
We got up this morning and got all set up. We had a ramp we had to go up and down to bring everything in. I'm so glad Marc is feeling better and was able to help me get everything in. I set up differently this time. The first picture is my booth from the aisle and the other 3 are different areas inside my booth. I was suppose to get an end but since I didn't I'm making due. Actually I can't believe how much I got in my booth just by adding the racks and baskets.



A few booths setting up in the center area of the Galleria. See the bright sunshine coming in? It is rather warm in this area but where my booth is located on the left from the center it is darker and cooler.
Here are a couple pictures of the cafe area and some of the booths in the Galleria.

Paducah, bad checks

We made it to Paducah today, the weather was a sunny 75 degrees after dinner we got a good thunderstorm. I did get to get a peak inside the newly redone convention center and it is absolutely wonderful. If your coming to the show you won't believe what they did to it now for the Galleria, The center section is really nice but the left and right sections aren't complete, there are areas where you can tell all they did was take a saws all and cut out the wall. It will be okay for the show. I paid for a corner booth and I didn't get one, gee I wonder how hard it will be to get the extra money I paid back.

I heard from the gal that wrote the bad check, she wanted my address to send me a money order, I told her it was out of my hands since I turned it over to the Prosecuting Attorney's office. I did this on April 8th she said she just heard from her bank on Friday and that I should of called her. She was very upset to say the least and said I had a low opinion of all people. I have always been told not to mess with it when you get one to just turn it over, what is everyone else's opinion? She said she will be returning my merchandise that she bought and find someone else to do business with at least I won't get anymore bad checks from her.

Getting Ready for Paducah

Today I got 4 shirts snowdyed and my dh said lets get the van loaded for Paducah since it is suppose to rain all day tomorrow and we leave Sunday morning. Here is the back of the van and it is full except for the spot to put our suitcases and coolers.
The van is full and I still have all this to put in it so we decided to go to Sears and get a car top carrier.
Here it is on the van and we now have it full and ready to go.

t-shirts

Today I got a box of t-shirts from Dharma in the mail some white and some black, tomorrow I will spend the day getting a few of the white ones snowdyed and scouring the black ones. I did get the white ones scoured and a few soaking in soda ash. I'm hoping to get the last of what I need together tomorrow for the show in Paducah. I sure hope all my bins fit in the van otherwise we will take the truck and pull a trailer which we really don't want to have to do. The rain is suppose to start on Friday night and rain all weekend it's about a 6 hour drive to Paducah and set up is on Monday so we leave home on Sunday, we will probably get most of the van or trailer packed tomorrow all but the last few things I need.

Paducah,meeting Dyehards

Today was the last day of the show. I'm sad it's over but happy I was able to enjoy a wonderful week vending. I meet so many people from all over the world. I was asked to vend at a few other venues. I had people saying they wished they had found my handdyes first they liked them so much better then what they had bought at the convention center.

I also got to meet a gal from the dyehard runoff group I belong to she lives here in KY. I got to see another gal from the dyehard group she is from CO I have meet her almost a year ago. It's always fun to have the Dyehards get together.
It was also good to see a friend I haven't seen in at least 5 years she now lives in Mississippi. There are a few pictures posted below of the gals from my different dyeing groups.

Tomorrow I head to Ohio for my class with Carol Soderlund and looking forward to seeing friends I have meet in her class previously. Look for pictures in the next week of my adventure there.

Paducah,meeting Dyehards

WOW it's been a busy week and today is already Friday. Only today and tomorrow to go and then on to Ohio for a class with Carol Soderlund at The Crow Barn. Many people didn't know that we were even there (The Shops on Park Ave) but they did find us. The first day was slow the second day picked up and yesterday was really good. This is an adventure I will never forget and hope to vend here in Paducah again in the years to come. My dh came with me but ended up sick so I have been going it alone yesterday and again today. He does come to releave me for lunch but other then that I am alone. The gals in the booth across from me are really nice and if I need a bathroom break they are happy to watch my booth.

Below are pictures of my booth and also pictures of me and meeting my online friends from my Dyeing group. It's always great to meet in person someone you talk with almost daily on line. Now you have a voice to put with a name and it makes it much more personal talking to them. The Dyehards are a group of women that enjoy dyeing fabric, swapping fabric and just talking to each other. We come from all over the world, The Netherlands, England, France, Canada and ofcourse the US. Several have meet in the past and we are always meeting in different places.

I did get to run through the main show on Tuesday evening but like I said run. We had only 2 hours to see everything and that just wasn't enough time.

Paducah

We made it to Paducah today. It's a beautiful day in the mid 70's here and tomorrow will be just as nice.

We went to the Texas Road House for Ribs tonight and they were excellent. Shortly after returning to our hotel we felt an aftershock. The entire building was shaking that was a first for me.

Tomorrow we will get some breakfast and set up our booth. I can't believe we are finally here and the show starts Tuesday in my area.

PADUCAH BOUND

I was invited today to be a vendor in Paducah at the big AQS show. I can't pass this rare opportunity up. I'll be vending at the Shops on Park Ave. They open up on Tuesday the day before the main show opens and remain open the entire show.