behind the scenes « The Backroads to Road to California

Archive for the ‘behind the scenes’ Category

Why I Came To Road…The Three Top Reasons

Wednesday, May 15th, 2013

We know that Road to California is the “Best in the West” Quilter’s Conference and Showcase. And we are grateful that over 20,000 attendees who visited this year’s show felt the same way. What brings our guests to Road? During the past show, we asked around and got all kinds of great responses. Here were the top three:

1) Variety: Alice from Reno, Nevada, was invited by her cousin to attend. She remarked, “I didn’t realize there was so much to see.” From the quilt displays, special exhibits, vendor booths to the classes and lectures, “There’s too much to get it all in a day.”(Most guests attend a minimum of two days) Valerie, a first time guest from Novato, California, observed, “The quality of the quilts is impressive. So many different techniques and styles to see and appreciate.”

2) Fellowship and Friendship: Joyce, has been coming for the past four years from a remote town in Washington. She has to travel by boat, then prop lane, and finally a jet to reach Ontario, California. Coming to Road gives her a chance to meet up with fellow quilters, buy supplies, and be exposed to things that aren’t available at her distant home.

Then there are the four friends, Betty, Karen, Norma and another Karen, each from a different city around the state of Washington State. They became interested when they saw an advertisement for Road and thought it would be a good place to stay connected.

Debbi and Golda have been friends for over 58 years. Originally from Tucson, Arizona, Debbi now lives in Alaska and Golda lives in Barstow, California. Since 2007, they have met up at Road, take a couple of classes together, then go back to Golda’s house and spend a week or two finishing their projects before Debbi heads back to Alaska.

3) Inspiration: Judy, from Florida, finds Road to be the perfect outlet to” get her out of her comfort zone,” and find new challenges to explore. By watching demonstrations, she finds out about the latest techniques to take back and try at home. She makes the most of her week by signing up for three night time events and a lecture a day. For Linda, from Mission Viejo, California, Road is “my vacation—I love it!!” When you are relaxed and away from it all, you can let the creative juices flow.

Road to California is a great place to be inspired, find friends, and be exposed to all kinds of quilting delight. Mark your calendars now for next year’s show. The dates for Road to California 2014 are January 23-26. Hotel reservations can be made now. Show and Class Registration starts on July 13, 2013. For more information, check our web site: www.road2ca.com.

What brings you to Road?

]]>

Tags: Friendship, Inspiration, Quilt Show, Variety
Posted in behind the scenes, classes, Road 2 CA Blog, Road 2013, Road to California | No Comments »

A Fraternity That Mixes Music With Quilting Service

Wednesday, May 8th, 2013

There always seems to be a lot of bad press when you hear about fraternity activities. But you won’t hear anything negative at Road to California where the talent and giving spirit of a local fraternity truly makes a difference.

Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia is the world’s oldest and largest secret national fraternal society in music. The objects of this fraternity are to encourage the best and truest fraternal spirit; the mutual welfare and brotherhood of musical students; the advancement of music in America and a loyalty to the Alma Mater. A key component of this fraternity is charity. Sinfonians are called to serve mankind through ideals and music in “uplifting his fellow man.”

Matt Reese is an alumnus of the Kappa Omicron Chapter of Phi Mu Alpha at California State University-Long Beach. For the past two years, he has enlisted the brothers of Kappa Omicron to help Road’s vendors haul their merchandise to and from their vehicles. While these young men are super busy helping to get everything in order in time for Preview Night, they do also get to visit with some of the participants. Said Robert Tovar, current Chapter Secretary, “I love hearing the stories from all the quilters. They are very friendly.”

The fraternity brothers return to the Convention Center Sunday afternoon, when everything is over, to tear down the show.

Each student spends about 17 hours completing their assignments. All of the money raised by these young men during Road goes towards their fund raising efforts to provide aid to inner city school music programs. In fact, their fund raising concert, Sinfonia Helps Music, will take place on May 10 at 7:00 PM at the Unitarian Universalist church in Long Beach, CA.

Robert sums up the fraternity’s participation: “It is just one art helping another art.”

Thank you Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia for your hard work at Road and in the community.

]]>

Tags: Cal State Long Beach, Inner City Schools, Kappa Omicron Chapter, Music, Phi Mu Alpha, Service
Posted in behind the scenes, Road 2 CA Blog, Road 2013, Road to California | 2 Comments »

The Three R's: Rest, Relaxation, and Road

Saturday, March 30th, 2013

Being a quilting fan can get pretty exhausting. Meandering through exhibits, vendor booths, and the various other activities at Road requires a lot of standing, walking, and just plain moving around. Not to worry. Joyful Healing has been available to provide guests with a little rest and relaxation break. From Orange, California, Joyful Healing is a completely mobile massage therapy program with lots of experience dealing with quilters and their unique needs.

Certified Massage Therapist, Dawn Castiglione, says quilters are her favorite group to massage because their energy is positive and uplifting. Dawn especially appreciates how quilters are always on time for their appointments and that they always have exact change. She attributes this to the fact that quilters are so precise in all they do.

What is the most requested service by quilters at Road? Feet massages, of course. Next are neck and shoulder massages due to carrying heavy bags or from leaning over sewing machines in the classes. Also popular are hand massages. All that attention to fine handiwork can take its toll.

There is nothing better than a little massage to reinvigorate a creative quilter.

What do you do to rejuvenate yourself during a quilt project?

]]>

Tags: Joyful Healing, Massage Therapy, Relaxation, Rest
Posted in behind the scenes, Road 2 CA Blog, Road 2013, Road to California | 2 Comments »

What's Your Quilt Worth?

Wednesday, March 20th, 2013

For many years, Road to California has offered the service of representatives from the Professional Association of Appraisers-Quilted Textiles to give qualified appraisals for any attendee. Appraisers are certified by the American Quilters Society. For a nominal fee, they will give verbal or written notification of a quilt’s value. One of this year’s appraisers, Anne Copeland, answered some commonly asked questions about quilt appraisals:

Why would I want to have a quilt appraised?

1. Economics– If the quilt is worth something, you might want to sell it;

2. Displaying at a Quilt Show– If a quilt is going to be shown outside of your home, it no longer falls under your regular homeowner’s insurance. A quilt rider (requiring an appraisal) is required to extend your policy to include protection at a venue;

3.When Purchasing a Quilt– You want to make sure of the quilt’s actual value before making an offer;

4. When Making a Donation– Museums and charitable organizations require an appraisal before accepting quilts as gifts;

5. Settling an Estate – Due to death or divorce, quilts are sometimes included in an estate’s value, and therefore need to be assessed of their worth.

What is the difference between an Evaluation and an Appraisal? An evaluation is a verbal acknowledgement that the quilt has some monetary worth. You would get an evaluation if you just want to know if your quilt has any value. An appraisal is more formal. It is actual written documentation showing the worth of the quilt and is needed whenever a monetary transaction is involved (like selling the quilt).

What is considered when appraising a quilt?

Age– This is determined by the prints and colors of the fabrics used. Also, whether the quilt’s design is scrappy or fancy.

Purpose– Is it a utilitarian quilt or was it made for a special purpose like a wedding celebration or birth of a baby?

Style– Is the quilt style antique, contemporary, or traditional? Is it an art quilt or wearable art?

How long does an appraisal take? The appraisal begins with the owner filling out a questionnaire on what basic information they know about the quilt. Then, depending on how unique the quilt it is, the appraisal can take anywhere from 15 minutes to a half hour to complete.

Whether your quilt is a family heirloom, personal treasure, or historic relic, having it appraised provides valuable information and peace of mind.

Have you had any of your quilts appraised? Why or why not?

]]>

Tags: American Quilter's Society, Professional Association of Appraisers-Quilted Textiles, Quilt Appraisal
Posted in behind the scenes, Road 2 CA Blog, Road 2013, Road to California | No Comments »

The Road to California: It's "All in the Family"

Tuesday, February 5th, 2013

Did you know that Road to California is a family owned and operated business? You’re probably familiar with Carolyn Reese and her grandson, Matt, as being the names and faces behind Road. But when the conference begins, the whole Reese clan is involved with making the conference “the best in the west.” Having the Reese family touch is what makes this quilt show so unique.

Carolyn has three sons, Mike, David, and Darrell. They, along with their wives and children, take the week of Road off from their day jobs and school, dedicating long hours insuring a seamless experience for everyone who attends.

Mike, the oldest of Carolyn’s three sons, is Matt’s dad. Mike and his wife Shellee, own a full service machine shop in Upland, California: M & S Screw Products. Mike’s main role with Road to California is Financial Officer. But you’ll also find him on the floor, assisting conference goers with anything that may come up during the week. And with over 20,000 guests attending, you can bet his hands are full. Mike enjoys boating and his Harley Davidson Motorcycle. It was Mike that worked with Pomona Valley Harley Davidson to provide the Harley motorcycle in front of the Route 66 Quilt Exhibit this year.

Dave provides the technical assistance for Road to California all year long. He is the one who designed the on-line registering system for the conference. Dave and his wife Susan also contribute by photographing all of the winning quilts entered for judging. This year, there were 84 winners and it took them two days to capture all of the images and create the beautiful CD’s of this year’s entries. When Dave isn’t at Road, he is the Vice-President and CPO of CENIC, the Corporation for Education Network Initiatives in California, an organization that designs, implements, and operates the high-bandwidth, high-capacity Internet network for the majority of California’s K-20 educational institutions.

Darrell is charge of equipment logistics. He oversees the set up and take down for the entire show. Darrell spends the week roaming the conference center floor, overseeing the physical details of this huge production. During the rest of the year, Darrell is employed with M & S Screw Products.

In addition to Matt, Carolyn was assisted this year by four other grandchildren. They filled in in many areas from sitting at the registration table to helping customers at the Road to California Booth to assisting teachers and lecturers with the evening classes.

Carolyn Reese and her family take great pride in providing an exceptional quilt conference. Road to California is definitely a one-of-a-kind, all in the family, experience.

]]>

Posted in behind the scenes, Road 2 CA Blog, Road 2013, Road to California | 8 Comments »

Celebrating Inspiration – Road to California 2013 Winners

Tuesday, January 29th, 2013

What a Conference!!!

The number one response I heard when asking attendees what they thought about this year’s Road to California was, “It was so inspiring.” And who wouldn’t be inspired what with so many beautiful quilts on display. Among those on the showroom floor, were the 84 winning entries. How exactly were those winning quilts chosen?

Judging was again supervised by Road to California’s capable and experienced staff member, Stevii Graves. She oversaw an extensive process that involved not only our three judges (Kathy McNeil, Marti Michell, and Linda Taylor) but an additional volunteer force of 17 people working the judging floor. These volunteers — many who are skilled quilt judges in their own right — assisted the judges by keeping the quilts in order, fanning them out for viewing, and writing down notes as the judges dictated their responses.

Judging was over a period of two days. The judging floor was located in a locked area of the convention center. Uniformed guards maintained security of the quilts over night. Efficiency was the key in the judging process. Each and every quilt received its’ opportunity to be viewed by the judges. They worked in a team, discussing all aspects of the quilt and sharing their opinions. Every comment was recorded by four scribes to make sure that every assessment was remembered. While the judging was gong on, additional Road staff assisted in taking the final photographs of all the entries. Those were the pictures used to announce the winners on our website and on the official Road to California DVD.

When everything was said and done, the winning quilts were determined. All entrants received an email Tuesday evening, notifying them of the top winners as well as receiving feedback from the judges on their entry. The prize winning quilters also received an additional congratulatory email.

So, what was the $5,000 Grand Prize Winner this year? Red Feathers by Marilyn Badger:

A huge thank you to everyone who entered. Stay tuned for more winners and news from this year’s conference.

]]>

Posted in behind the scenes, quilt entries, Road 2 CA Blog, Road 2013, Road to California | No Comments »

The Food at Road is Mmm Mmm Good

Wednesday, January 9th, 2013

If you like to eat good food, (and who doesn’t ) than come hungry to this year’s conference. The Reese family knows that a key ingredient to any successful gathering is the food that is served. That is why Carolyn puts a lot of time and enthusiasm in planning the food choices available at Road.

For the past seven years, Savor…Catering at the Ontario Convention Center, has been providing the delicious meals, snacks, and beverages served during the week-long event. Victoria Van Damme, Director of Food and Beverage, says she enjoys providing the food for Road because “It is a very special show. The women who attend are appreciative of everything and have so much energy. It is a great event to relax, shop and eat.”

Monday through Sunday, a different buffet lunch is offered featuring comfort food and international cuisine. Beef Brisket, Shepherd’s Pie, Italian, Mexican, and a Soup and Salad Bar are just a sampling of the main courses that will be served. For just $12, guests can enjoy a full array of side dishes, desserts, and choice of beverage to go along with the main dish of the day. Yum. Yum. Yum.

A la carte items are also available for purchase. Everything from burritos, chili dogs, French dip sandwiches to pretzels, popcorn, churros, fresh fruit and cupcakes. These items can be found in The Market located in the rear of the exhibit hall or at The Express Cafe in the pre-function area of the Convention Center.

And if that isn’t enough choices, for the third year in a row, California Pizza Kitchen and All American Softie ice cream truck will be on hand for your dining pleasure.

New this year is the O Lounge—a full service sit down bar. Seating 30 people, the O Lounge will be the perfect meeting spot to unwind and visit while enjoying a cup of coffee, a glass of wine (Victoria commented that quilters love their wine!!), or other adult beverages for purchase. Meet you at the “O.”

Good friends. Good fun. Good food.

What favorite food are you going to try this year?

]]>

Tags: Food
Posted in behind the scenes, Road 2 CA Blog, Road to California | No Comments »

Are You Roadie Material?

Friday, December 21st, 2012

Any big undertaking requires many people working together to insure an optimal experience and Road to California is no different. After all, there are only so many members of the Reese family to go around and there are so many tasks that need to be attended to during “The Best in the West” Quilters’ Conference. While there are a few paid employees outside of the Reese family, a majority of the service given during the week-long event is provided by our wonderful volunteers, affectionately known as Roadies.

Roadies volunteer a minimum of two hours per shift during the course of the quilt show. Their contributions include setting up the quilt displays prior to the show’s opening, closing down the exhibits each evening of the show, and the most important need: serving as white glove hosts throughout the event. In order to qualify for a Roadie position, an individual needs to be 18 years of age, in good physical health, and be able to stand and walk for two hours at a time. These requirements are necessary for Road to California’s insurance requirements.

Because our Roadies are so essential to the success of Road to California, gratitude is shown not only in hugs and words of appreciation, but with some additional perks as well. Depending on the amount of time served, Roadies can receive Multi Day Admission tickets, a Special Event or Lecture Ticket, or Priority Registration when enrolling online for the 2014Class Sessions.

Perhaps the most fun honor for being a Roadie is receiving a coveted “Roadie Pin” with specially designed bars for each year served. When you see a Roadie wearing the Road to California pin adorned with collector bars, you know that they have volunteered a minimum of four hours to the quilt show in a particular year. During Road to California’s tenure, over 700 pins have been given out to wonderful men and women for their dedicated volunteer service. Many of our volunteers help out year after year. Not only do they enjoy the “free stuff,” but they report they like meeting other like-minded quilters, meeting the quilt designers, and learning about the quilts and the techniques used for the quilts they lovingly attend to.

We are always looking for additional volunteers to assist with the event. If you would be interested in serving at the 2013 Road to California, please fill out the volunteer form located on our web site: http://www.road2ca.com/volunteer.html

Simply put: Road to California loves its’ Roadies.

]]>

Posted in behind the scenes, Road 2 CA Blog, Road to California | No Comments »

The Jury Is In

Tuesday, November 20th, 2012

The Quilters’ Showcase is one of the highlights of Road to California. We love providing the opportunity to display and honor up to 250 original quilt masterpieces that bring not only recognition to accomplished quilters, but some nifty cash prizes too. For 2013, over $30,000 in cash prizes is at stake.

How does a quilt make it to the convention center floor? This year’s process began almost as soon as we turned off the lights to the 2012 Road to California. Applications explaining the rules and the eight eligible categories became available late last winter. Prospective entrants had until October 1^st to submit the required paperwork along with digital pictures of their quilts for jury consideration.

Technology has made the jurying process more streamlined. A special computer program was specially designed for Road to California to insure a process that is secure and fair for all entrants. Three jurors are selected each year from around the country who have experience with quilting as well as art. Each of the jurors view anonymously the digital representations for every quilt submitted in every category. Consideration is given for workmanship, design and use of color. The quality of the picture and the way a quilt is visually represented truly aids a juror in making their decisions. All entries are given a rating of either Accept, Reject, or Undecided. Individual jurors can also make additional comments regarding an entry or even suggest a category change. When all the quilts in a particular category have been rated, each juror can then view the other jurors’ comments and decisions. In order to be accepted for the showcase judging, a quilt must have a unanimous vote from all three jurors. A second round of jurying is conducted to re-examine all Undecided votes to determine whether those quilts will receive a new Accept or Reject status. Jurying is completed when the available number of quilts for judging and floor space has been reached.

Jurying for 2013 is currently going on. All entrants will be notified by email on or around December 1^st of their status. We are so excited to see which quilts will be on display at Road to California. How about you?

Best of Show 2012- Molly Y. Hamilton-McNally

]]>

Tags: Jurying, Quilt Entries, Quilters' Showcase
Posted in behind the scenes, quilt entries, Road 2 CA Blog, Road 2012, Road to California | 4 Comments »

Buy admission bracelets before show

Tuesday, December 4th, 2007

purchase on the internet.
Each day is a different color and is valid only on that day. One day admission is $10 plus a handling fee of $1.50 per bracelets. Multi-day bracelets are $20 plus the handling fee of $1.50.
Children 12 and under are free. Strollers are permitted on Sunday only.
Quilt shops in Southern California may sell the multi-day bracelets, they just need to call our office to make arrangements. Currently The Fabric Patch in Montclair and Ginger’s Quilt Shoppe in Upland have the bracelets. We have added another lecture on Thread Facts and Fiction by Bob Purcell, from Superior Threads on Saturday at 2 PM. LE 08. The cost is $5.00. This is one of the most informative lectures I have ever attended. I have been sewing for over 55 years and thought I was well-informed. Well, I learned a lot in his lecture. Bob also makes regular appearances on The Quilt Show. If you have not checked out Ricky Tims and Alex Anderson’s The Quilt Show you should pay them a visit. It is almost like a video/web magazine. I have heard rumors that the Sunday Morning Show on CBS is planning an episode on Quilting in America on a Sunday in December. The camera man who was filming Custom Creation’s booth at Houston Quilt Festival did not know when the show would be aired. Keep your eyes open.]]>

Posted in behind the scenes, Road 2 CA Blog | No Comments »