Page Alexander’s work “Variegated,“ shown above, will be featured at the 2014 AQS QuiltWeek, set for Charlotte, N.C.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. ­— Easley resident Paige Alexander is a semifinalist for the 2014 AQS QuiltWeek, set to be held in Charlotte, N.C., from July 30-Aug. 2 at the Charlotte Convention Center.

Paige Alexander

Alexander has been chosen to display her quilt, “Variegated,” along with 182 others in the AQS contest. First-, second-, and third-place prizes in seven categories will be awarded, along with seven overall awards, including best of show.

Winners will be announced at the show and posted on the AQS website, AQSshows.com. More than $50,000 will be granted, including $10,000 for the best of show and $3,500 each for best wall, traditional, innovative, modern, and computer-aided quilt. Regardless of how Alexander’s quilt places in the final judging, all semifinalists’ quilts will be displayed at the show, which is expected to draw more than 15,000 people.

“Quilting has a long history in North Carolina, (and) quilts in the AQS QuiltWeek contest will display the wide variety of techniques being used by today’s quilt makers,” AQS founder and president Meredith Schroeder said. “Visitors to the show will see the traditional-style bed quilts, as well as those meant to hang on the wall as art.”

Quilts were entered in the international contest from 37 U.S. states and seven other countries. Visitors will be able to see a wide range of special exhibit quilts including: Stitch Like an Egyptian, GO! Have Fun Quilt Challenge; Quilted in Honor, SAQA Masters II, the Modern Quilt Challenge and the Pilgrim/Roy 2015 Invitational Challenge.

The American Quilter’s Society hosts seven shows annually, each with its own quilt contest.

Besides the Charlotte show, AQS hosts other prestigious shows in Albuquerque, N.M.; Paducah, Ky.; Lancaster, Pa.; Grand Rapids, Mich.; Chattanooga, Tenn.; and Des Moines, Iowa.

For more information, visit www.americanquilter.com.