Very well said, Jan! If I stuck with my taste from my first year of quilting my quilts would be really boring. I like to try everything and pick the things I like from each technique, genre, color palette, etc. Right now I'm in a bit of a scrappy mood; who knows what the next wave will bring?
I'd definitely want to check out QuiltCon if I was in the area, and I'd probably first sign up for any classes that interested me and then leave the rest of the time for the show and vendors. I've also found that when I look at classes I need to base my decision not on whether the quilt or theme interests me but if I can adapt the technique to projects I'm working on. For example, I'm taking an applique class with a well known "home decor" quilter. Her class calls for warm fall colors - very folksy. I don't have a big interest in that style right now, but I know I'll use her applique technique in a batik quilt I have planned. So off to class I go!
Enjoy the show - can't wait to hear how it is!