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Road 2015 Faculty Spotlight: Meet Rob Appell

Tuesday, December 16th, 2014

Rob will be teaching a three day class, Monday through Wednesday, 1302R Seascape/Landscape Extravaganza

Personal: Rob Appell is a husband, father of two young children (a son 11 years old and a daughter who is 9), caretaker of “too many pets to list, including a Chameleon and miniature Lab (Chihuahua with big personality)” and an “accidental” quilter. He wanted to try the free motion machine quilting, so he created a few quilt tops to play with, and he was hooked. Last summer, he went on a 25 day teaching spree from California to Sisters, Oregon, then to Quilt Colorado, onto Quilting on the Beach in Kona, Hawaii and back to California. When Rob isn’t quilting or teaching, he likes to surf, hike, play guitar, draw, and whittle away on “a mile long honey do list.”

Where do you find inspiration for your quilting? Mostly deadlines now a days. I am blessed to be a very busy quilt maker, so as I am finishing one project there is always another to start. For the actual designs, it is sometimes market driven, and if not, then I look to Nature and Tattoo design.

What is the one quilting tool you can’t live without? “The Shark Applicutter” that is as soon as I can get it to the market. It’s the new 15 mm cutter that I have invented that works awesome with cutting fusible appliqués. I do love my Pfaff sewing machines as well.

What do you like best about teaching? I love watching the students’ faces as they realize that the work I create is so much less complicated than it looks. I get great compliments on how fun my classes are and how much the students take away out side of the course work.

What is the funniest or most embarrassing moment that you’ve had while you were teaching? I taught on a 14 day cruise to Hawaii, and was sea sick the entire time. I would teach for about thirty minutes, then go be sick for thirty minutes, I did that for two weeks and it became a fun joke that the guy who surfs gets sea sick. After two years I am beginning to see the humor in that…

What do you want your students to get out of your class? I want them to enjoy themselves, and learn how my landscaping background technique can apply to so many different styles of quilts. I also will show them how to use prints and batik blenders for their appliqués, how to read and work with the fabrics, as well as how to layout their seascapes so that they look natural.

What is your best quilting tip? Do not take it so seriously. Enjoy the process and try things you have not done before.

Learn more about Rob and his work on his web site: Rob Appell Designs

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Tags: Rob Appell Designs, Seascape Quilter
Posted in Faculty, Road 2015- 20th Anniversary Show | No Comments »

Road 2015 Faculty Spotlight: Meet Deb Tucker

Thursday, December 11th, 2014

Deb will be teaching 1010C Constellation on Monday and 2015C Rapid Fire Hunter’s Star on Tuesday.

Personal: Deb Tucker’s Studio 180 Design is a family business. Her husband of 32 years, Jeff, is the CEO, daughter Haley is the art director, and sister-in-law Sue is the “business guru,” keeping the taxes paid, the bills paid, and all of the business’ future planning on track. Even her 5 cats are involved. They all think that every quilt Deb makes is just for them!! Only son Toby is not involved — yet.

How did you get involved in quilting? I started quilting in 1981. It was the year before I was to get married and I thought that the tradition of every girl having a quilt when she got married seemed like a good idea so I headed off to the local adult education center for my first classes. It didn’t take long for me to realize that quilting was a perfect fit for my love of creating, making something useful, and drafting (I started out in college studying Architecture). Teaching ended up being my chosen profession in college and that too has served me well over the years.

Where do you find inspiration for your designs? Everywhere. Generally, I lean toward traditional type designs, but I’m always motivated to add a current twist to a pattern or a technique.

What is your favorite quilting tool? Well that’s like asking me to choose a favorite child!!! As a tool designer, I truly love all the tools that I’ve created, but there are several that always seem to be out on my cutting table when I’m making quilts. First choice would probably be my Tucker Trimmer, but hot on its heels would be my Wing Clipper and Rapid Fire Lemoyne Star. They are two of my oldest tools and one of my newest. Basically my favorite Studio 180 Design tool is the one that I’m using to complete the current project!

When you aren’t quilting, what do you like to do? I love to walk, bike, garden, and cook for family and friends.

What do you like best about teaching? The best thing about teaching is the “Ah Ha” moment. It’s that moment when students discover the secret to high success with something that may have frustrated or eluded them for years. I thrive on smiles from happy quilters when they see the end results of a day’s efforts.

What would you like students to get out of your class? I would like for every student in my classes to leave with two things: 1) increased knowledge and 2) motivation. Knowledge will guide your choices and decisions about how you approach future projects and how you will spend your time. Motivation will carry you through so your projects will be completed. These two factors, along with high success from the techniques being taught, will be key to their long term addiction to quilt making.

What is your best quilting tip? Learn all that you can about every aspect of your craft – techniques, tools, processes, products – so that you can create the quilts that best fit your life style. There’s room in the quilt world for every type of artisan. Do what makes you happy!

To learn more about Deb, visit her web site: www.studio180design.net

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Tags: Rapid Fire Lemoyne Star, Studio 180 Design, Tucker Trimmer, Wing Clipper
Posted in Faculty, Road 2015- 20th Anniversary Show | 1 Comment »

Road 2015 Faculty Spotlight: Meet Heidi Stagno

Monday, December 8th, 2014

Heidi is teaching two day classes: 1008R Grid It and Stitch It on Monday; and 2011R Texturize on Tuesday. She will also be teaching three evening classes: 4075R Super Size Your Sashing on Thursday, 5078R Super Simple Stipple on Friday and 6077C Make It and Take It on Saturday.

Heidi Stagno learned to love and appreciate quilting from her Grandma Leota while growing up in Pocatello, Idaho. Remembers Heidi, “Grandma Leota came from a humble household. She put grandpa through medical school and he later became the Chief of Staff of the Idaho State Mental Hospital. So needless to say grandma was no longer poor. My sister and I did not learn to piece quilts because that was for ‘poor people.’ Grandma Leota would purchase yardage and match the print and sew-up two widths of fabric for the top and it was nothing but flannel for the back. We stretched the fabric and attached it to the frame and hand tied each quilt. Grandma Leota found many other ways to keep my sister and I busy on those cold, long Idaho nights. That’s how my quilting journey began.”

Today, Heidi lives with her husband John and twin, 6 year old daughters. Her mother Judy is also an accomplished quilter.

Heidi loves to quilt on her Longarm machine. “I bought my first longarm machine 14 years ago. For the first year my machine and I just dated and we got to know each other. The second year we got engaged and I really started bringing in the customers. I was booked with more quilts than I could keep up with. So sometime between year three and four we got married and I quit my full time career job. At that time, I also let go of a husband. He just didn’t get the quilting thing, so out he went. I spent two years single, supporting myself completely on my longarm quilting. Then I found a new husband. The quilting machine gave her stitch of approval and we got married, to Mr. Right this time. In the span of one year I got married, bought a house, bought a quilt shop and I was pregnant with twins by the end of the first year.” Heidi recently sold the quilt shop and is back to quilting full time. In addition to her machine, she also has two machines that she rents out and she teaches longarm quilting on. And, she is a Handi-Quilter Dealer.

What is Heidi’s method for longarm quilting? “I love developing the depth, dimension, and texture on quilt tops. My students ask me, ‘How do you know what to quilt on so many different quilts?’ My answer is: look into the quilt and it will tell you. While I have not experienced a quilt that will actually talk to me, I do investigate the piecing, the fabric, and the scale of design, the style or theme. The answer is very simple “opposites attract.” If the quilt has busy fabric or lots of piecing, I go simple. If the quilt is plain and simple I dress it up with fancy stuff. Then I go to work auditioning designs with preview film.

During her two years of supporting herself with her quilting, Heidi says she learned a thing or two that can help other longarm quilters:

#1 If your machine is broke you will be too. So keep it clean!! Keep it happy!! Keep quilting!!

#2 Learn how to fix your machine so you don’t have to live with-out it while it’s at the dealer. No machine=no quilting=no money=homeless. ( lol)

#3 Some quilters say “get known for one style” No way. I love all types and style and techniques. Learn them all.

Heidi hopes the students in her classes first learn to relax a bit. She says that her quilting went to the next level when she finally said to myself, “Well… either they will bring me their quilt or they won’t. Get over it. Let go of the unrealistic self-inflicted pressures. Just enjoy and have fun and it will come.” She also tells her students that they will not leave the class being proficient at that particular technique. What she teaches is HOW to practice the technique. She also likes to share her “pea brain analogies.” Heidi has a specific thought process while quilting each and every design. She likes to teach her students the theory behind free-motion quilting not just tricks. For Heidi, it’s all about the ELEMENT, REPEAT, ROTATE and TRAVEL!!!

You can learn more about Heidi on her blog: http://quiltingwithheidi.blogspot.com/

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Tags: Handi Quilter, Longarm Quilting
Posted in classes, Faculty, Road 2015- 20th Anniversary Show | No Comments »

Road 2015 Faculty Spotlight: Meet this Dynamic Father-Daughter Quilting Duo, John Flynn And Kate Flynn Nichols

Tuesday, November 25th, 2014

On Tuesday, John will be teaching 2012C Glorified Nine Patch and Kate will be teaching 2008C Crosses and Losses

What could be more fun than sharing your passion of quilting by giving workshops, creating innovative templates and kits, and bouncing off new ideas with someone from your own family? That is exactly what John Flynn and his daughter, Kate Flynn Nichols, have been doing for over 15 years. Both residents of Montana, they spend a lot of time together fine tuning patterns, assembly directions and pressing techniques so that their templates and laser pre-cut kits go together as easily and smoothly as possible. John got in to the quilting scene in the 1980’s when he was testing the quilt frames that he was designing and building for his wife Brooke. He soon discovered how relaxing hand quilting was and has been working at it ever since. Kate started quilting in 1988. She grew up watching both her parents quilt. She went to Guild with them and started stashing fabric at a young age. Kate entered her first quilt show at just 8 years of age!! As she got older, she was “actually surprised to find out later in life that not everyone quilts!” They each find inspiration for their designs in different ways. For Kate, it comes from nature and her parents’ old magazine collection. John has an engineering background so he finds inspiration in the geometry of objects and from old traditional quilts. John and Kate have different preferences when it comes to working with color. John’s favorite palette is the colors of the rainbow; bright primaries and secondaries. Kate likes strong pastel combinations and monochromes. Interestingly, Kate is the company’s fabric buyer; she has a sure hand in color selection. While they enjoy their partnership, working closely with each other can have its drawbacks. Kate says, “It’s hard not really having a separation between work and family. Who wants to plan their next business trip at Thanksgiving dinner?” John admits his challenge is that since he and Kate both have engineering minds, “they think alike most of the time” which can be both positive and negative. When they aren’t working together, John likes fly fishing, fly tying, and biking.

Kate, who has been married since August, 2003 to graphic designer Kevin Nichols, enjoys reading, rockhounding, gardening and watching either Animal Planet, the History Channel or the Discovery Channel. What are their favorite tips for quilters? From Kate: “Relax and be forgiving with yourself. You are a human, not a machine and your projects should reflect your humanity!” John adds, “Accuracy, accuracy, accuracy. It is easier to take your time and do it right the first time rather than rush through and do it over and over.” There is still limited space in both of their classes. You can learn more about this dynamic father-daughter quilting duo on their website: www.flynnquilt.com ]]>

Tags: Flynn Quilt Frame Company, Quilt Classes, Road to California
Posted in Faculty | 1 Comment »

Great Faculty Make Great Authors Too!!!

Wednesday, November 12th, 2014

Road to California’s outstanding faculty are not only superb class teachers. Many are also published writers.

Their titles vary from quilting how-to books, patterns, and DVD’s to quilt related novels and even a cookbook!!!. Some use established publishers like C&T Publishing and Martingale. Others use smaller publishers or even self-publish themselves. All should be commended for furthering the love of quilting through their writing.

Which of the 2015 Road to California – 20^th Anniversary Show faculty have written books?

Alex Anderson*Rob Appell*Jodi Barrows*Lisa Bongean*Jenny Bowker*Cindy Brick*

Patti Brooks*Debra Brown*Eleanor Burns*Lenore Crawford*Claudia Dinnell*

Kim Eichler-Messmer*Kimberly S Einmo*Cynthia England*Pat Ferguson*John Flynn

Kate Flynn Nichols*Carrie A Fondi*Joan Ford*Carolyn Friedlander*Jacquelyn Gering

Helen Gibb*Diane Gloystein*Valerie Goodwin*Jerry Granata*Debra K Granger

Brian Haggard*Tiffany Hayes*Mary Beth Krapil*Teri Lucas*Nancy Mahoney*Peggy Martin

Karen McTavish*Laura Murray*Gina Perkes*Gina Reddin*Anita Shackleford*Connie Spurlock

Heidi Stagno*Jeanie Sumrall-Ajero*Donna L Thomas*Sandy Thompson*Ricky Tims*

Deb Tucker*Annie Unrein*Cathy Van Bruggen*Virginia Walton*Cathy Wiggins*

Patricia Yamin

Who are your favorite faculty authors?

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Tags: C&T Publishing, Quilt Authors
Posted in Faculty | No Comments »

Road 2015 Faculty Spotlight: Meet Kimberly Einmo

Wednesday, October 29th, 2014

Kimberly Einmo will be teaching 3015C Lone Starburst on Wednesday; 4015C Bermuda Triangles on Thursday; 5014C Spinning Stars on Friday; and 6014C Variable Pinwheel Star on Saturday

Personal: Kimberly Einmo is a modern quilter who has been surrounded by men her whole life. She grew up in the small town of Canal Fulton, Ohio with two older brothers. Today, she is married to her husband, Kent, and they have two wonderful sons, ages 20 and 15. Kimberley and her family are all certified, PADI scuba divers. They plan their vacations and trips around great diving destinations.

How did you get started in quilting? My mother had grown up in the depression era and hated anything to do with sewing. But she had the wisdom to know I should have some basic sewing skills so she signed me up for some sewing classes when I was seven years old at the local Singer Sewing shop in Massillon, Ohio. I loved sewing from the start and it wasn’t long before I was making many of my own clothes. I joined a 4-H group when I was eight years old called “Buttons and Bows” where I learned even more about garment construction and crafts such as Christmas stockings, tote bags, and holiday décor items. I would enter my garments in the county fair every summer and I loved winning blue ribbons! For Christmas when I was 10 years old, my parents bought me a sturdy Singer sewing machine that had zig zag and hem stitches which at that time, were quite a big deal! They also surprised me with a cabinet to hold the machine. They were the best Christmas gifts I ever received! I still have that old Singer machine. However, it wasn’t until I walked into that quilt shop in Alexandria in 1991 when I realized you could piece blocks and quilt on a sewing machine.

Where do you find inspiration for your quilting? Everywhere! Nature, architecture, even bathroom floors! (There’s a story there……)

What is the one quilting tool you can’t live without? My sewing machine! Why? Because even though I can piece and quilt by hand, I love sewing on a sewing machine so much more! However, I also can’t live without a rotary cutter.

What was the latest award you won for your quilting? My quilt Fire and Ice just won the top award for BEST MODERN QUILT at AQS QuiltWeek in Chattanooga, TN. I was pretty thrilled about that!!

Where is the farthest you’ve traveled that was quilt related? I have taught classes at many international locations, but probably the farthest locale was the Czech Republic for the Prague Patchwork Meeting. I have taught there several times!

What do you like best about teaching? Getting to know the students personally! It makes me so happy to meet each and every student and find out a little bit about their life and why they like to quilt. I’m always blessed by meeting and sharing with others.

What is the funniest or most embarrassing moment that you’ve had while you were teaching? Oh my goodness, there are so many! But I can tell you about one very scary moment while I was teaching a class on a Friday night. The store was actually closed, but the front door was unlocked. A man walked in to the front counter and told the shop owner that he had a gun and had just committed an armed robbery and that he wanted to turn himself in to the police. I overheard this and grabbed all the students and locked them in a tiny bathroom while I called 911 and kept an eye on the shop owner and the man as she talked very calmly to him. The police arrived and took him away, but it was an incredibly tense situation. Afterwards, we all giggled from nervous energy about having crammed so many women in a tiny bathroom!

What do you want your students to get out of your class? I want students to have an open mind and be willing to try new things! I always encourage students to step out of their box and learn something new. It is my personal goal to make every class I teach a “stress-free” zone! I want students to leave my classes knowing they learned a lot, accomplished a lot of actual sewing, and to go home feeling relaxed, happy, and refreshed from a great day in the classroom!

What is your best quilting tip? Take your time and be very accurate as you cut and sew. Accuracy is oh-so-important to achieve great results!

You can find Kimberly at her web site and on her blog.

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Tags: AQS QuiltWeek 2014, Best Modern Quilt
Posted in Faculty, Road 2 CA Blog, Road 2015- 20th Anniversary Show | 1 Comment »

Road 2015 Faculty Spotlight: Meet Donna Thomas

Monday, October 13th, 2014

Donna will be teaching four classes: 4013C Batik Feathers on Thursday, 5012C Fearless Fabric Play on Friday, 6011C Party Poppers on Saturday, and 7006C Interlocken on Sunday.

Personal: Donna Thomas loves her pets so much that she named her company after her cats: Pre-Furred Qulits! When she is not quilting, Donna likes doing big puzzles. Donna is a devoted fan of the Outlander book series. She has the 8th book waiting for her to finish re-reading the last three books so she can refresh her memory of the details. She is almost done with A Breath of Snow and Ashes.

How did you get interested in quilting? My mother loved making clothes and so I sewed all my life from age 3 or 4 in some form or other, but mostly hand needlework and later clothes. In 1975, between my sophomore and junior years of college, I met this awful boy while at my summer landscaping nursery job. He used to tease me horribly. Finally, at the end of the summer, he asked me out on a date. He turned out to be quite a nice guy. That fall, he had a birthday coming and I had no money but I did have a bag of home economic scraps from the late 60’s and early 70’s and a picture of an antique Dresden Plate quilt. So I made this monstrosity from double knits, polyester denim, two extra loft poly batting, and no instruction—I just dove in. I cringe when I think of it. But I loved the colors, all the prints, the puzzle-like aspect of it—- and there were no zippers or buttonholes! Well, yup, I married the guy and we still have it. I take it to local lectures sometimes. It’s too heavy to ship for out of town trips!

Where do you find inspiration for your quilting? I love the old blocks—mixing them, changing them here and there, or designing my own. I’m a puzzle fiend and math geek so I love the geometry and intricacy of piecing.

What is the one quilting tool you can’t live without? My hands!! Why? I couldn’t imagine not being able to sew. I love hand piecing as well as machine piecing so at a minimum as long as I can cut and sew pieces, hold and thread a needle, I can make quilts. Not to say I don’t love my machines and rotary tools. But without my hands I couldn’t do any of it.

Where is the farthest you’ve traveled that was quilt related? I had the opportunity to live in Germany and teach at a German quilt shop in Bad Soden for several years. I also taught to American and German guilds around the country while I was there. I happened to be teaching in Berlin the week the wall started to come down. My family was with me and my sons got to chop off pieces of the wall and get their pictures taken with the Soviet soldiers on the other side. It was quite amazing to see history in the making.

What has been the best class you have taken? Harriet Hargrave’s machine-quilting class. I took it twice and I flunked it twice. But being a bit stubborn, someday I intend to conquer and master free-motion machine quilting!

What do you like best about teaching? When what I’m teaching ‘clicks’ and you can see it in someone’s face and they’re so excited and proud. There’s nothing better.

What do you want your students to get out of your class? Skills mastery, success, and hopefully some fun too!

What is your best quilting tip? Learn to master making an accurate quilter’s 1/4” seam allowance. In addition to cutting accurately, there is nothing more important for frustration-free piecing. It’s hard to enjoy the process if your pieces don’t fit.

Visit Donna on her blog, Donnalynnthomas.blogspot.com

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Tags: Harriet Hargrave, Outlander Series, Pre-Furred Quilts
Posted in Faculty, Road 2 CA Blog, Road 2015- 20th Anniversary Show | 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 »

Celebrating National Cherry Month With El's Kitchen

Tuesday, February 18th, 2014

Did you know that February is National Cherry Month? Maybe it’s because George Washington’s Birthday is February 22^nd (“I didn’t cut down the cherry tree”). Or maybe it’s because one of the quilts featured in Eleanor Burns’ 2012 Block Party, Quilts From El’s Kitchen, highlighted a Cherry Basket Quilt.

Eleanor Burns returned to Road to California again this year, bringing her spunky spirit and cute costumes, to entertain and delight her over-flowing classes. And of course, Eleanor had some surprises up her sleeve.

What was different about this year’s presentation? Attendees got inspiration for sewing and cooking. Not only did Eleanor talk about the quilts based on the blocks from Quilts From El’s Kitchen, she also shared delicious recipes that went along with them.

With the cherry basket block, Eleanor showed how it could be repeated on its own in a beautiful quilt, as well as the center of the quilt made from the all the blocks in this latest book.

The recipe Eleanor gave for the cherry basket block is perfect to make to celebrate National Cherry Month:

Cherry Cobbler in a Crockpot

2 cans cherry pie filling 1 box yellow cake mix

1 stick melted butter 2 teaspoons vanilla

Dump pie filling in a crock pot. Combine cake mix, butter, and vanilla in a mixing bowl. Break up and cover pie filling with the crumbles. You can add some chopped nuts on top if you want. Bake on high for two hours or on low for two-four hours. Serve with ice cream or whipped cream if desired.

To see more recipes and learn about the other tasty quilt squares in Quilts From El’s Kitchen, visit Eleanor Burn’s web site.

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Tags: Cherry Basket Quilt Square, Cherry Cobbler, Eleanor Burns, Quilt in a Day
Posted in Faculty, Road 2 CA Blog, Road 2014, Road to California, Vendors | 4 Comments »

Road 2014 Faculty/Vendor/Sponsor Spotlight: Meet Jodi Barrows

Saturday, December 14th, 2013

Jodi will be teaching a two day class, #1201 Option Overview of the Square in a Square Technique on Monday and Tuesday. She will also be teaching two evening classes, #5031 Constellation on Friday and #6031 All Spruced Up on Saturday.

Personal: Jodi Barrows led a quilting revolution before anyone knew there was a revolution. Twenty years ago, she created an easy to follow way to improve the quality and ease of putting quilt plans together known as Square in a Square. Jodi calls herself a quilting visionary. She is also an author and presenter, having spoken to quilting audiences throughout the United States, Canada, Australia, Italy, and South Africa. Originally from the small town of Hugoton, Kansas, she is the mother of two sons, and since 2012, a grandmother to one granddaughter. She and her husband also have two yorkies, Cotton and Paisley, who have appeared in some of her books and videos.

What was the last book you read? I just got a copy of my own new novel Threads of Change and just finished it.

How did you get started in quilting? My family sewed and I grew up with the sewing machine on the kitchen table that was moved only during meal time. My mother and grandmother made quilts as well as garments.

Where do you find inspiration for your quilting? My love for both history and tradition has been my inspiration for sewing.

What is the one quilting tool that you can’t live without? The one tool I could not live without would be the rotary cutter. It makes your work easy, fast and accurate. I remember the first time I saw a rotary cutter. An older woman I knew from church asked me to meet her in the parking lot after the service. When we arrived at her car, she opened the trunk and there was an eye glass case. (Her husband was an ophthalmologist). She opened the case and inside was a yellow Olfa rotary cutter. That rotary cutter changed my quilting life forever.

What do you like to do when you aren’t quilting? With a new granddaughter, my favorite non-quilting activity is seeing and playing with her. In addition, I like to read, write and visit with friends and family. I also find enjoyment in cleaning and playing in my fabric and sewing room.

What is the best class you have taken? I am learning to knit and it really helps me as I teach beginners in quilting. Being a novice knitter has taught me to make sure I start at ground zero as I teach to new students.

What do you like best about teaching? It gives me a thrill to see the ‘light bulb’ go on in the face of a student as they learn the system.

What do you want your students to get out of your class? It gives me great joy to hear from students after class about what they have learned. Many times what they learn is a technique that can be applied immediately to their way of quilting. It is nice for beginners and seasoned quilters to go away from a class that is memorable.

What is your best tip for quilters? Be yourself but stretch yourself. Always be willing to learn new things. Be positive and teachable.

Jodi and Square in a Square will be in Booths 202, 204, and 206 featuring Square in a Square rulers and tools, pattern books, and fabric kits.

You can find Jodi at www.squareinasquare.com

Road appreciates Jodi Barrow and Square in a Square for being one of the sponsors of the show.

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Tags: Olfa, Square in a Square, Threads of Change
Posted in classes, Faculty, Road 2 CA Blog, Road 2014, Road to California, Vendors | No Comments »