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Unique International Flair at Road 2015

Friday, October 10th, 2014

What is the next international group to visit Road? The Tentmakers of Cairo with their exhibit Stitch Like an Egyptian.

Curated by international textile artist Jenny Bowker, this exhibit sheds light on the art of Egyptian tent making. This ancient, intricate craft has been facing struggles, as machines try to replace hand-made items and unscrupulous businesses copy and sell their unique designs. By hosting Stitch Like an Egyptian’s California premiere, Road hopes to bring attention to the beautiful yet shrinking art of the few remaining Tentmakers who continue to ply their trade.

Originally, this type of artwork used to line tents or screens covered in appliqué that could decorate a whole street. The brilliantly colored appliqué are still used today for ceremonial purposes at weddings, funerals, henna parties, or Ramadan celebrations.

The artists who will be at Road to California are from Khan Khayamiya—the Market of the Tentmakers in the heart of Old Islamic Cairo. Hosam Hanafy Ahmed Mahmoud and Tarek Abdelhay Hafez Abouelenin will be on hand at the exhibit to demonstrate their method of appliqué. The amazing patterns in their pieces are based on geometry, sacred texts, and ancient artwork and convey much of the intricacy and relevance of today’s world of quilts. In addition to their demonstrations, some of their appliqué art will be on sale as well.

Please join us in welcoming The Tentmakers of Cairo and their special exhibit, Stitch Like an Egyptian this January.

Tags: Applique, Bohin, East Los Angeles Stitchers, Tentmakers of Cairo
Posted in Road 2 CA Blog, Road 2015- 20th Anniversary Show, Vendors | No Comments »

Road 2015 Faculty Spotlight: Meet Annie Unrein

Monday, October 6th, 2014

Annie will be teaching three evening classes: 4074C Cosmetic Clutches on Thursday; 5074C Project Bags on Friday; and 6075C iCases on Saturday.

Personal: Annie Unrein was born in Hereford, Texas, the second of five girls. She has two grown children, a son and a daughter. Her son is a CPA/MBA who along with his wife, work with Annie at ByAnnie.com. They are expecting Annie’s first grandchild in the spring.

How did you get started in quilting? Both of my grandmothers were quilters and I loved the look and feel of the quilts that they made. Neither of them lived close enough to teach me how to quilt, so I taught myself by studying the quilts that they’d made me and by reading the limited articles about quilting that were available in the early 1970s.

Does anyone else in your family quilt? I share my interest in quilting with several cousins. My cousin Cindy (who lives in Ojai, California) and I reconnect at Road to California every year!

Where do you find your inspiration for your projects? I now primarily use quilted fabric to make purses and bags to organize my quilting supplies. Seeing a mess and figuring out how to clean it up and organize it serves as inspiration for many of my patterns!

What is the one sewing tool you can’t live without? My trusty stiletto/pressing tool helps me hold pieces in place as I sew, protects my fingers, and enables me to attach beautiful bindings. I feel that it is every bit as important as a rotary cutter!

What has been the best class you have taken? Learning how to use Electric Quilt software opened up a world of design and exploration to me. Working through the lessons in the various EQ books really helped me to understand the many facets of the program.

What do you like best about teaching? I love showing students how to break down a project into manageable steps so that they can make projects that look like they bought them rather than like they made them. . . and seeing the pride on students faces when they finish a professional-looking project.

What is the funniest or most embarrassing moment that you’ve had while you were teaching? I taught EQ classes at a state-wide guild event several years ago. There were so many students registered for the class that tables were packed from wall to wall. There was no easy way to get around them, so I had to crawl under the tables and around the cords to help people who had questions!

What is your best tip for quilters? My best tip that applies to quilting can also be applied to just about anything in life: If you think you can, you can. If you think you can’t, you can’t. Go for it with confidence!

What do you hope your students will get out of your classes? Students will leave my class with the confidence to install zippers in purses and bags and the skills to use ByAnnie’s Soft and Stable in their projects.

You can find Annie at: https://www.byannie.com

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Tags: ByAnnie.com, Cosmetic clutches, iCases, Purses and bags
Posted in classes, Faculty, Road 2 CA Blog, Road 2015- 20th Anniversary Show | No Comments »

So You Want To Make A Winning Quilt: 2014 Outstanding Innovative Quilt

Wednesday, October 1st, 2014

You may have missed our deadline this year to enter your promising award winning quilt for Road to California 2015 – 20^th Anniversary Show competition, but there is always next year!!

Gail Stepanek began her journey of making an award winning quilt by taking a quilt class at a local church in the early 80’s. It was a quilt trimmed in lace. Four quilts later, she learned that there was supposed to be binding on a quilt. On the fifth quilt she made, she learned that she was supposed to make her own matching binding…not buy packages of blanket binding. “Talk about being a slow learner!” recalls Gail.

How did Stars to Mars come about? Gail likes to paper piece and she decided to try her hand at designing several stars. She didn’t feel that she was proficient enough to draft the quilt in EQ7, so she asked Barb Vlack to help her and Barb was kind enough to draft it for her. Gail learned that all she needed was one star pattern. By changing fabrics and sewing lines, she could create different looking stars.

It took over a year and a half to make the top and her collaborative partner, Jan Hutchison spent three months quilting it. Road to California 2014 was the first show that Stars On Mars was entered in and we were overjoyed at winning such a great award. Jan and Gail shared the award money– $3,000 given by Handi Quilter. Gail has used her winnings to attend several quilts shows throughout the year. In fact, she just booked her flight to Ontario, California for the 2015 Road to California show!!

What does the future hold for this award winning quilt maker? Gail and Jan hope to continue their collaboration for years to come. She just received another quilt that Jan had recently finished quilting. Gail was burning the midnight oil to make the deadline for Road 2015 so watch for it in next year’s competition.

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Tags: Handi Quilter, Winning Quilt
Posted in Road 2 CA Blog, Road 2014, Road to California | No Comments »

Quilt Guild Spotlight: Valley Of The Mist Quilters

Saturday, September 27th, 2014

Formed in 1990 and located in Temecula, California, Valley of the Mist Quilters has 125 members who meet the second Tuesday of each month. Regular meetings with guest speakers are held seven months out of the year. In July, they host a Quilt University where members present different quilt techniques in 15 minute segments.

One of Valley of the Mist Quilters philanthropies is a school for homeless children in San Diego, California. Last year, they donated over 100 quilts to the school. The guild has also donated quilts to flood victims in Colorado.

Each fall, Valley of the Mist Quilters host a unique quilt show that is completely outdoors. This year, on Saturday, October 4^th, hundreds of quilts will be displayed throughout western themed Old Town Temecula from porches, eaves, and balconies. The opportunity quit they displayed during Road to California 2014, Garden Delights, will be auctioned during the show. The guild will also be hosting quilter Karen Brow of javahousequilts.com, during their event. It promises to be a great day to share the love of quilting.

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Tags: Old Town Temecula, Quilt Guilds, Temecula
Posted in Road 2 CA Blog, Road 2014 | No Comments »

Road 2015 Challenge: I Love Embroidery

Thursday, September 25th, 2014

Sandy’s Scarecrow[/caption]

Robin Kingsley of Bird Brain Designs is overseeing the I Love Embroidery Challenge for Road to California 2015 – 20^th Anniversary Show. The purpose of this challenge is to showcase embroiderers using Bird Brain Designs embroidery pattern designs. As Robin points out, “It is surprising how embroidery as an “old fashioned” needle art is growing in popularity. Not only are ladies who say, “I haven’t done embroidery for years,” rediscovering this art but also much younger folks are becoming interested in learning to do this portable and relaxing form of needle art.”

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Friendships Garden Embroidery Quilt[/caption]

What are the requirements for the I Love Embroidery Challenge? The key for this challenge is to show off what you can do with Bird Brain Designs basic embroidery patterns and put them together to make a quilt. Participants can use any Bird Brain Designs pattern, embroidering it in multi-color stitching or selecting a favorite single color to embroider the design. Embroidering can either be hand or machine stitched on plain or patterned, neutral background fabric (like muslin or similar fabrics). Several Bird Brain Designs patterns—including the “free designs” found on their website– can be combined to create a unique design. Glitz and glamour embellishments can also be incorporated in to the design. Completed embroidery is to be showcased in a quilt which has a sleeve added to the back for hanging. The deadline for the challenge is January 8, 2015.

Prizes for the I Love Embroidery Challenge include a $10 Gift Certificate from the Bird Brain Designs website given to every entry displayed in the challenge. Three $50 Gift Certificates will be awarded for “Viewers’ Favorite RedWork” as judged by the audience at Road to California.

[caption id="attachment_2227" align="aligncenter" width="602"]

Patty’s Seasons Quilt[/caption]

Robin and Bird Brain Designs is hoping that this challenge will do much to further increase the interest and popularity of embroidery, both by handwork and by embroidery machines. She is excited to see how everyone’s handiwork will be shown off and hopes guests at the show will enjoy seeing these interesting, embroidered inspired quilts. The challenge will be showcased in 50 feet of space in the ballroom during Road to California.

If you are interested in participating in this challenge, please send an email to infor@BirdBrainDesigns.net You can also contact Bird Brain Designs at their email address for additional information or answers to questions; for sending pictures of work in progress, and to alert them when a finished quilt will be arriving at their office.

Robin and Bird Brain Designs are excited for this challenge. Says Robin, “We look forward to seeing the many interesting quilts — both small and large — at the I Love Embroidery Challenge in January, 2015.”

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Tags: Bird Brain Designs, Embroidery Challenge
Posted in Road 2 CA Blog, Road 2015- 20th Anniversary Show, Road to California | No Comments »

2015 Challenge: African Folklore Embroidery Fiber Art And Quilt Challenge

Thursday, September 11th, 2014

Leora Raiken is a familiar face with Road to California patrons. Owner of African Folklore Embroidery, Leora has hosted vendor booths and has taught at past Road shows.

For 2015, Leora and African Folklore Embroidery will again be sponsoring the African Folklore Embroidery Fiber Art and Quilt Challenge, offering cash prizes totaling $500.

[caption id="attachment_2195" align="aligncenter" width="325"]

Roberta Peterson, Washington[/caption]

This is the fifth year of the challenge. As a teacher, for Leora, the most rewarding part is seeing the completed work of her students and customers that have purchased an African Folklore Embroidery kit or attended a class. She especially loves seeing how each person interprets the designs. One of Leora’s students completed six designs and made it into a fabric book which Leora reports as “stunning.” Other people have made the kits into quilts, table runners, jackets and pillows. One woman made “the most beautiful purse” and another woman, a tea cozy.

[caption id="attachment_2196" align="aligncenter" width="437"]

Meagan Luck[/caption]

In order to participate in this year’s challenge, one or more of the current African Folklore Embroidery kit designs on their website must be included in the entry. Completed entries can be incorporated or made into quilts, wearable art, wall hangings, pillows, or they can be mailed in “as is.” They do not have to be “made” into anything to be entered. Judging emphasizes the creative use of African Folklore Embroidery kits with regard to fabrics, visual impact, workmanship and uniqueness. Multiple entries can be entered as well as entries from previous challenges so long as the entry is a kit design currently offered on the African Folklore Embroidery website: www.aflembroidery.com

[caption id="attachment_2197" align="aligncenter" width="458"]

Mona Doshay[/caption]

There will also be a separate children’s category. Leora firmly believes that if we can get the next generation to love stitching and handwork, they will remember this skill forever.

Deadline for submissions is December 15th 2014. A full list of the entry rules can be found on the web site. Completed entries need to be mailed with the official entry form to 7258 Pondera Circle, West Hills, CA 91307. Any questions can be emailed to info@aflembroidery.com. Many of the completed entries from the 2015 and previous challenges will be incorporated into Leora’s new book, Fibers, Fabric and Fun with African Folklore Embroidery, which will be available for pre-ordering at Road to California 2015 20^th Anniversary Show.

[caption id="attachment_2198" align="aligncenter" width="556"]

Catherine Redford, Illinois[/caption]

Leora hopes that this exhibit will show how easy it is to do African Folklore Embroidery and that it will inspire others to create their own hand work using African Folklore Embroidery kits and threads.

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Tags: Quilt Challenge
Posted in Road 2 CA Blog, Road 2015- 20th Anniversary Show | No Comments »

Happy Grandparents Day

Saturday, September 6th, 2014

Carolyn Reese has nine grandchildren and most have been involved one way or another with Road to California.

[caption id="attachment_2187" align="aligncenter" width="609"]

Carolyn with son Mike’s family that includes grandson Matt and granddaughter Sarah[/caption]

Sarah Reese Moore and Matt Reese are the children of Carolyn’s oldest son, Mike. Sarah has had all sorts of involvement with Road from modeling as a kid at the Hoffman Challenge Fashion Show, handling Road quilt entries and helping out with customer service. She has worked in the Road Booth and currently oversees the accounting and tax responsibilities for the show. Matt is Road to California’s current Show manager.

Erika Reese, Carie Reese Ruiz, and Mary Beth Reese are the daughters of Carolyn’s second son, David. When the Reese family started with Road to California, these three granddaughters were freckled faced little girls who asked guests for their tickets at the dinner tent and modeled in some of the fashion show events. Erika is Carolyn’s oldest grandchild. When she was in junior high, Erika worked in the Fabric Patch booth. In 2003, she and Carie took over as co-coordinators doing all the planning and prep with Carolyn and were also co-show managers during the show. In 2005, Erika began working for Road full time as the lead Show Manager. At the time, she was the only other full-time employee (besides Carolyn) that worked year round in planning the show. Erika left full time work with the show after the 2008 Road to California to pursue a career based on her bachelor’s degree in science. She still helps out at night and on weekends as needed.

[caption id="attachment_2188" align="aligncenter" width="639"]

Carolyn with David and Susan Reese and granddaughters Erika and Mary Beth

Carolyn with David and Susan Reese and granddaughters Ericka and Mary Beth[/caption]

Carie, is a full-time wife and mother living in Virginia, and is not able to be actively involved with Road at this time.

Mary Beth has worked at the Road souvenir booth and currently is the Night Manager for the show, overseeing all of the evening classes. Her day job is an insurance underwriter at Mercury Insurance.

Carolyn’s youngest son, Darrell, has three children: Rachel, Glenn, and Jillianne. All three have helped their dad with the set-up and taking down of the show and have worked at the Road Booth. In addition, Glenn has worked at the Information Booth and Jillianne has assisted with Vendor Relations.

[caption id="attachment_2186" align="aligncenter" width="618"]

Carolyn with son Darrell's family which includes grandson and granddaughter Jillianne

Carolyn with son Darrell’s family which includes grandson Glenn and granddaughter Jillianne[/caption]

Now, the next generation is getting on board!! Carolyn has five great-grandchildren and one on the way, a great-grandson due in October.

Great-granddaughters Adrienne (5) and Paighten (3) are the daughters of Sarah and her husband, Adrian Moore, Jr. When they come to visit Road with their parents, the girls like to ride around with Gg (Carolyn) on her motorized cart, meeting all the guests and getting lots of attention!!!

Kevin Junior (KJ) (4), Laura (20 months) and Robert Glenn (6 weeks) are the children of Carie and Kevin Ruiz. Hopefully, they will be able to visit Road to California soon.

Being a grandparent and great-grandparent, not to mention owner of the Best in the West Quilt Show, is hard work—and a lot of fun!!!

Happy Grandparents Day to Carolyn Reese.

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Tags: Family, Grandchildren, Great Grandchildren
Posted in Reese Family, Road 2 CA Blog, Road to California | No Comments »

So You Want To Make A Winning Quilt? 2014 Best of Show

Wednesday, September 3rd, 2014

Sharon Schamber of Payson, Arizona created the Best of Show winning entry, Once Upon a Time, and received $6,000 from sponsor, Gammill Quilting Systems.

Sharon Schamber began quilting in 1999. Her winning entry, Once Upon A Time, took 14 years to complete. This quilt was inspired by her love for the romantic and delicate details of the Victorian era. Says Sharon, “I love how things are both simple and complex at the same time. I wanted to create a medallion quilt that spoke to that romantic notion.”

Sharon chose blue roses because “they were unique and the quilt asked/demanded something special like them.” At the time she started on the quilt, there were no actual blue roses, but by the time she had finished, they became available. Sharon likes to think that “maybe the quilt knew something that the rest of the world hadn’t thought about yet.” Talk about romantic!!!

When Sharon started the quilt in 2000, her plan was to finish it as any other quilt she had worked on. But that didn’t happen. Sharon would work for a while, and then stop because she didn’t feel like she knew what she needed to do next. During each pause, she learned and developed additional techniques to have the tools needed to continue on. This lengthy process taught Sharon that each quilt truly has its own schedule and identity. “You have to follow the clues it gives you if you want the best out of it and yourself,” remarked Sharon. Even though it took 14 years to finish, Sharon felt it was an amazing adventure and she “enjoyed every minute of it.”

How did Sharon feel after she won Best of the Show?“I was ecstatic. Road to California is a prestigious and well respected show. The best quilts in the world are competing here, so winning Best of Show was an honor.”

What did she do with her prize money? “Since winning any award is a surprise, I never have plans to spend the money. I am passionate about machine embroidery, so I bought a few things that’ll allow me to explore this art form in new and different ways.”

What does the quilting future hold for Sharon? “My plan for the future is to combine every aspect of quilting into one piece. Traditional piecing; hand embroidery; needleturn appliqué; machine appliqué and machine embroidery. Each technique has its own strengths and weaknesses and I am exploring the limits of each. You name it, and it will be in my work.”

Congratulations Sharon for winning Road to California’s 2014 Best of Show.

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Tags: Best of Show Quilt, Gammill
Posted in quilt entries, Road 2 CA Blog, Road 2014, Road to California | 2 Comments »

Quilt Challenge 2015: Step Out Of The Box

Thursday, August 28th, 2014

Road to California 2014 started out with a parade. Led by members of the Colony High School Drum Corps, followed by dignitaries from the show’s host city, Ontario, the entourage marched in to the vendor hall, and stopped near the Quilted with Honor Exhibit, a fitting backdrop for the veteran presentation that followed.

All quilts in the Quilted in Honor Exhibit were made with patriotic fabrics designed by IslandBatik.

These quilts made such a huge impression that Road wanted to extend their versatility by offering a new challenge using these fabrics: Step Out of the Box.

The Step Out of the Box Challenge requires all submitted quilts to be a modern aesthetic design that incorporates at least 50% Island Batik Quilted in Honor fabrics. Quilters are also encouraged, but not required, to use additional materials from other Quilted in Honor sponsors such as Aurifill thread, Pellon batting, OESD embroidery designs, or patterns from Quilted in Honor designers.

Due by October 1, 2014, quilters can submit more than one entry. After the show, all quilts for this exhibit will be donated to Operation Homefront. You can find additional entry rules on our web site.

A fun and unique way to bring together modern quilt design, patriotism and our 20^th Anniversary.

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Tags: Island Batik, Patriotism, Quilt Challenge, Quilted in Honor
Posted in quilt entries, Road 2 CA Blog, Road 2015- 20th Anniversary Show | 3 Comments »

So You Want To Make A Winning Quilt? 2014 Best Modern Quilt

Tuesday, August 26th, 2014

Claire Victor won $2,000 for her Modern Quilt Entry, Lost in Space, from sponsor, Modern Quilt’s Unlimited

About 15 years ago, Claire Victor decided she wanted to sew her own clothing. Inspired by her mother who was a great home seamstress, she started taking lessons at her local sewing store, Hartsdale Fabrics in Hartsdale, NY. Downstairs in the store, they had a quilt shop; something she had never seen before. What she saw there was so much more interesting than any preconceived notion she had had of what quilting was, and they had classes! Because of her work schedule, she was unable to take a class at that time but she sent ahead and bought the Eleanor Burns – Log Cabin Quilt-in-a-Day book, picked out some fabrics and off she went. She figured it all out on her own, laughed a lot along the way, had fun throughout the entire process and never looked back.

What inspired Claire’s winning design, Lost in Space? “I am interested in geometric patterns, especially ones with illusion. The tumbling block is my “block of choice.” I do them every which way I can think of. Recently, I had the chance to join a hand sewing group at Monica’s Quilt and Bead in Palm Desert, CA and I started to learn appliqué. All the ladies were doing more traditional patterns which did not interest me so I designed my own, an elongated tumbling block. The group came up with the name “Lost in Space”. My favorite reference books are from Sara Nephew and Marci Baker. I had also been studying an old Katie Pasquini-Masopust book.

How long did it take to make your winning quilt? What did you learn along the way? “I decided long ago to never pay attention to how long it takes to make a quilt; I just do it until it’s finished. But if I had to guess, I would say three or four months. It was a great journey; since this was my first appliqué quilt. I was (and still am) having trouble with the technique but it was very interesting to figure out the design and combine machine piecing, English paper piecing, hand sewing and then machine quilting.

What was your reaction when you won? “My first reaction was complete disbelief, and then I cried (a little). You might wish and dream about these moments but believe me they come when you least expect them. Needless to say, once I recovered, I was extremely honored.”

Did you do anything special with your prize money? “Almost immediately I ordered a custom made Sew Steady Table and the rest just went into my general sewing fund.”

Where do you go from here with your quilting? “I just continue…open to future possibilities. After saying I would ‘NEVER do appliqué’ it has turned out to be so interesting and challenging. I can achieve things with appliqué that I could not with regular piecing. I am now working on my fourth appliqué quilt.

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Tags: Applique, Eleanor Burns, Katie Pasquini-Masopust, Modern Quilting, Modern Quilts Unlimited, Monica's Quilt and Bead, Winning Quilt
Posted in quilt entries, Road 2 CA Blog, Road 2014 | 4 Comments »