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Archive for the ‘Road 2014’ Category

How Do You Thread Your Needle?

Friday, July 25th, 2014

All threads are not created equal. And who should know this more than Bob Purcell, President of Superior Threads and a Self-Certified Threadologist. Mr. Purcell presented two, $5.00 Lectures at Road 2014 entitled, Thread Therapy with Dr. Bob.MasterPiece-Group-Shot-L

How your thread performs depends on Five Thread Criteria:

  1. Quality: The higher the quality of thread, the less special handling is required. Quality thread is worthy of your machine and your project.
  2. Needles: Make sure you are using the right type and size. A topstitich needle works best with most projects because it has a larger eye and deeper groove. Make sure the needle is inserted correctly in your machine and that your machine is threaded correctly.
  3. Tension: Dr. Bob says, “Running your machine always at the same tension setting is like buying a new TV and never changing the channel.” Learn how to make quick and easy adjustments, even if your machine has an auto tensioner.
  4. Delivery System: How is the thread prepared to use on your machine? Is the thread wound on a spool or a cone? Either type is OK but each has a different use. The larger the spool, the greater the savings.
  5. Condition of Sewing Machine: Always keep your machine clean and in good condition. Regular maintenance insures your machine is in the best condition.

Dr. Bob also answered some common questions regarding thread:

How accurate are thread labels? Because different manufacturers use different standards of measurement, labels are not always accurate. Rely more on your sight and touch than the printed label.

What weight of thread should I use? It depends what you want the thread to do. A simple rule, “Heavy to show, thin to blend.”

Should I only use cotton thread in my quilts? Traditional quilters often used all cotton: fabric, batting, and thread. Times have changed and machine quilting has opened a whole new world. Polyester, medium and heavier cotton and even metallic thread can be used to enhance the beauty of a quilt.Banner-Machine_Quilting

Does polyester thread tear the fabric? No. Under normal use, polyester and softer, non-glazed threads will not tear through the fabric and is perfectly fine to use.   

Does the bobbin thread have to match the top thread in type and size? No. The bobbin thread can be a lighter weight than the top thread and still provide sufficient strength. Since bobbin thread does not go through a needle, bobbin threads have fewer problems.Banner-Prewound_Bobbins

Now is a great time to try Superior Threads. From now until July 31, customers can save up to 75% on Try Me Specials. For the first time ever, Try Me Specials are being put on a bigger FREEDOM sale.  These specials are already 30-50% off, but for the rest of July, they are an additional 50% off the already-sale price.  You choose the thread type and Superior threads will choose the colors. Choose from over 50 products.  With prices this low, you can afford to try a thread you have never used before. Just use the Promotional Code tryme at checkout.

Discover what threads work best for you, keeping in mind the Five Thread Criteria and have fun!!!

What is your favorite Superior Threads product?

 

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Taking Care Of You

Saturday, July 19th, 2014

Because they are known to lose track of time doing what they love to do, quilters often keep on quilting until they hurt. Common injuries include neck and back pain from leaning over sewing machines or tight wrists and hands from hand stitching.machines

And when quilters come to Road, often their feet and legs hurt from walking around the vendor floor or sitting in classes all day.vendor floor 2

To help relieve these stresses and strains, Road invites Joyful Healing Massage Therapy to offer therapeutic massage during the show. Two therapists are always available to offer 13 hours of massage time, either on a table or in a chair. Clients sign up on site and pay $1.00 a minute to receive this relaxing and healing treatment.massage__i4c5887

Dawn of Joyful Massage enjoys working at Road. “There is so much positive energy at Road. The therapists are always uplifted at the end of the day because of the quilters’ energy.”

Which day is the busiest for the therapists? Friday. At Road 2014, Joyful Healing provided 800 minutes of massage services.massage__i4c5903

And the most popular massage at Road to California? Foot Massage, of course. Clients relax in chairs while their feet are gently worked on.

Joyful Healing also offers their services for quilt retreats year round. A great reminder for all quilters to seek a way to relieve nagging aches and pains so they can keep on quilting,  

    

 

 

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Meet The Pass Patchers Quilt Guild

Friday, July 11th, 2014

Located east of Ontario, California in the town of Beaumont, the Pass Patchers Quilt Guild has 125 of the “the friendliest, most welcoming” members, says 2nd Vice-President Nancy Hudson.Pass Patchers

Founded in 1992, Pass Patchers is dedicated to the appreciation and preservation of quilting art.  It provides the opportunity to improve all aspects of quilting, enhance application of design and form and introduce new trends in quilting.  A special emphasis is placed on fellowship, service to the community and sharing of special talents and interests of its members. The guild meets the third Wednesday of each month at the Beaumont civic Center from 9:30 a.m. to noon. 

The Pass Patchers Quilt Guild supports several charities including Habitat for Humanity, Head Start, a math-science conference for local high school girls, and area hospitals as well as present college scholarships to local students.

Every other year, Pass Patchers join with two other guilds – Coachella Valley Quilters of Rancho Mirage and Cactus Sew-Ables of Yucca Valley – to present the Desert Quilt Show. The next quilt show is scheduled for March 2016.

[caption id="attachment_2078" align="aligncenter" width="428"]2014 Viewers Choice Award - "In The Beginning" by Bob Hix  2014 Viewers Choice Award – “In The Beginning” by Bob Hix[/caption]

The opportunity quilt on display at Road 2014 was created by Judy Niemeyer. The guild pieced the quilt together at numerous workshops and the quilting was done by member Lynette Harlan, a professional longarm quilter and local artist. _i4c3318  

 

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Winning Quilters Are Winning Teachers Too

Wednesday, July 9th, 2014

Knowing what it takes to win in an exceptional quilt show provides great credentials for a quilt teacher. Three of Road to California’s upcoming 2015 faculty were winners in Road’s 2014 Contest:

Lenore Crawford:

2014 Outstanding Art Quilt sponsored by SewBatik.

Lenore won $3,000 for her work.Lenore Crawford winner

Lenore will be teaching 2 classes at Road 2015:

4601R  Thursday – Saturday  Fusing/Fabric Painting to Create Impressionable Fabric Art

Lenore will demonstrate her techniques to help you use your own photo to design a fused project utilizing fabric painting and machine quilting.

Lenore Crawford2

 Lenore Crawford 1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7003R   Sunday  Shredded Fabric Art

Students will learn to create their own shredded fabric impressionistic art quilt using a technique originated by Noriko EndoLenore Crawford3

 

Jerry Granata:

2014 Third Place: Mini Quilt Sponsored by Busy Bee Quilt Shop

Jerry won $50.00 for his work.

Jerry Granata winner

Jerry will be teaching three different level classes on how to quilt using your domestic machine:

3005C  Wednesday  Introduction to Domestic Machine Quiltling

4006C  Thursday  Quilting for Show on Your Domestic Machine

6006C  Saturday  Introduction to Domestic Machine Quilting

In addition, Jerry will be guiding students in a quilt/art form he has perfected:

5006C Friday  Quilting with Unusual FabricsJerry Granata mixed mediums

You will learn how to quilt with unusual items such as silk, satin, vinyl, theatrical gels, even aluminum foil, among many others! 

 

Cathy Wiggins:

Road 2014 Best Painted Surface sponsored by BlocLoc Rulers USAUS LLC

Cathy won $1,000 for her workCathy Wiggins winner

Cathy will be sharing her longarm quilting techniques to assist students in four classes:

3012R Wednesday  Quilting for Show

Students will practice techniques as well as walk the show floor to discuss the award winning quilts.Cathy Wiggins 1

4014R  Thursday  Discover ‘Your’ Quilting Style

Students will go through a series of exercises to determine their personal quilting style as well as walk the show floor to discuss the award winning quilts.  

5013R  Friday  Quilting the Art Quilt

Cathy will teach how to successfully quilt texture into landscapes, animals, plants and even people.Cathy wiggins 2

6012R  Saturday  Quilting Leather

A hands-on workshop on everything involved with the fun, new medium, leather quiltingCathy Wiggins Leather

 

Please go to the Road to California website for more details on these upcoming classes. Registration begins Sunday, July 13th at 8:00 a.m. PDT. For information on how to register, visit this previous blog post

 

 

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Celebrating The Red, White, And Blue With Quilts

Friday, July 4th, 2014

Whether used as a tablecloth at a potluck, a ground covering for a picnic, or  as a blanket to cuddle under while watching fireworks, quilts are an important part of our most patriotic of holidays. And while these 2014 Road to California winning quilts probably won’t be used for such practical purposes, their colors and themes are fitting for such an honored celebration:

[caption id="attachment_2047" align="aligncenter" width="580"]Bias II by Alissa H. Carlton Bias II by Alissa H. Carlton[/caption] [caption id="attachment_2050" align="aligncenter" width="593"]The Price of Freedom by Kim Bruny The Price of Freedom by Kim Bruny[/caption] [caption id="attachment_2049" align="aligncenter" width="612"]Intersections by Alissa H. Carlton Intersections by Alissa H. Carlton[/caption]

Doesn’t this just remind you of Fireworks?

[caption id="attachment_2048" align="aligncenter" width="619"]Byrne's Spiral by Beth Nufer and Clem Buzick Byrne’s Spiral by Beth Nufer and Clem Buzick[/caption]

 

Wishing you a spectacular Fourth of July.

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How To Keep The Kids Entertained This Summer (Part II)

Friday, June 20th, 2014

Summer is the perfect time to encourage the children in your life to sew. With the long, hot days, what could be more fun than staying out of the heat and discovering the fun and sense of accomplishment that sewing brings?

We met several innovative young sewers at Road this year whose mothers encouraged their children to learn to sew:

Haley, Anabell and Michelle are 12 year old triplets who love to sew. Their mother is sewer who started quilting 4 years ago. She signed her daughters up for the kid’s class at Road 2013 to introduce them to sewing. Haley made pillowcases and thought the class “was a fun experience.” She also liked all of the quilt exhibits. Annabell made pillows in the class and enjoyed sorting through all the buttons in the button booths. “Buttons are my hobby,” remarked Annabell. Michelle thought looking at the quilts was “cool” and has started making one herself. They all agreed sewing can be very versatile. Learning to sew has become useful for making clothes because it saves them money. And they have also discovered how all it takes is a needle and thread plus some fabric and they can make blankets._i4c3699_copy

Lizzy is a 7 year old sewer. She came to Road with her mom, Lori, from Temecula, CA. Lori learned to sew from her mother when she was 10 and she has in turn taught her daughter. When Lizzy was just 2 years old, she would watch Lori sew and especially enjoyed turning on and off Lori’s machine!! Lizzie helped Lori baste quilts too. As Lizzy grew, Lori bought some grid Pellon so Lizzie could perfect sewing straight lines. At her young age, Lizzy is already a pretty accomplished sewer. She does both hand and machine sewing and even has her own sewing machine. Lizzie has made napkins, worked with applique, and is looking forward to making her first quilt.Lizzy and Lori

For Road’s 20th Anniversary Show, January 22 – 25, 2015, there will be a youth quilt challenge. More information will be available soon on the Road to California web site: www.road2ca.com.  Who knows? If your children start sewing and quilting now, they may create a winning entry!!!

Sewing+Summer= Tons of fun for everyone!!!

 

    

      

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How To Keep The Kids Entertained This Summer (Part I)

Wednesday, June 18th, 2014

School is out and summer vacation is here. What do you have planned to keep the children in your life entertained?  May we suggest the perfect idea to keep the kids busy? Have them sew!!!

When did you learn to sew? Chances are your mother or grandmother or maybe even an aunt took the time to share their sewing skills with you when you were younger. Why not do the same for the children in your life?  Help them to learn and perfect a skill that has brought you joy and can benefit them throughout their lives.

At Road this past January, we met several young people who have caught the sewing bug, thanks to their grandmothers:

Katie just finished the 4th grade at Stork Elementary in Alta Loma, CA. She started sewing when she was 3!!! Both her grandmothers sew – but not her mom. Her Grammy Barbara, who lives in Northern California, drives down to visit Katie and her family three times a year in her “quilt mobile” (the license plate reads: ♥2BQLTN). On her visits, Barbara brings batting, fabric, and her sewing machine so that she and Katie can sew. The first thing Katie ever made was a pillow. Since then, she has made more pillows plus placemats and pillow cases. Katie bought her first sewing machine during Road and is making a quilt to enter in Road’s kid’s contest next year. Katie says of her sewing, “I get to make different things and create. My favorite part is putting the material together.”Barbara and Katie

Amaia also just finished the 4th grade. She came to Road with her Grandma Christine from Riverside, CA. Grandma Christine taught Amaia how to sew 6 years ago. Amaia uses her grandmother’s machine and has made a little bag and a cushion. She got material at Road to make her first quilt for her Bitty Baby doll. Amaia and ChristineAli (age 10) and Sam (age 7) came to Road with their Gamma. They are from Mira Loma, CA. Ali has been attending Road since she was 4 months old with her mom and grandmother. She likes to sew doll clothes with her sister Sam and was starting on making a quilt. Because they are home schooled, they came to Road every day; they loved seeing the quilts that much!!_i4c3695_copy

KC Wilson (age 11) came with her grandmother Carollynn from Lakewood, CA. KC has already made 3 quilts!! This year was KC and Carollynn’s first time at Road. Said KC, “I liked it a lot!” KC first learned to sew last summer at a Kids Club sponsored by a local sewing shop in Lakewood. KC and Carolyn

Have you introduced your grandchildren to sewing and quilting yet? 

 

 

 

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A Shout Out to The Men At Road

Saturday, June 14th, 2014

Road to California attracts all kinds of patrons: old and young; locals and travelers; women, teens, children, and even men!!! What did some of our male guests think of Road 2014?men_at_road__i4c6033

Richard, from Sacramento, California, came to support his wife and carry her shopping bags. He enjoyed the “artistry” of the quilts.

Bill, from Whittier, California, came one day to help his wife manage her purchases. The rest of the week, he took care of his 97 year old mother-in-law so that his wife could attend the show for the entire week._i4c3410_copy

Louie came with his wife from Newport News, Virginia. Going to Road was their vacation destination. It was their first time coming to Ontario and the show. While his wife took quilt classes, Louie took a tour of the city. He thought the “weather was fantastic” and that the show was “awesome.” Louie was “amazed at what quilters can do.”

Earl Bunker, age 73, has been a quilter for 6 years. He was looking for something to do after retirement and actually started quilting before his wife. He has 7 sewing machines and uses them all in his projects including his grandmother’s 1882 Singer. He uses that machine for sewing straight stitching as it has a ¼” foot. Earl enjoys sewing quilts and tote bags for his granddaughters (none of whom sew – yet). At the show, he was interested in learning how to do paper piecing as he likes appliqueing. Earl loves the “variety” that Road has to offer.Earl Bunker

Have you brought the man in your life to Road?men_at_road__i4c5742

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Road 2014 Special Exhibit: Amish Influence From Traditional to Modern

Wednesday, June 4th, 2014

This exhibit featured 14 quilts that were selected from submissions for C&T Publishing’s new book Amish Quilts—The Adventure Continues. The quilts not only represented Amish-made traditional quilts, but also included modern interpretations that referenced Amish quilts in new and unexpected ways.Amish Quilts-The Adventure ContinuesTraditional Amish quilts reflect their religious commitment to reject “worldly” elements in their dress and lifestyle. They use only solid colors, colors that are approved by their local religious leaders. Early Amish quilts were typically made of lightweight wool fabric with black as a dominant color and exhibited lush quilting patterns that contrasted with the plain background.

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Modern Quilting naturally lends itself to the style of the traditional Amish quilts.  Aspects of modern quilting such as bold colors; simple, minimalist design; and increased use of negative space translate easily into interpreting a modern approach to Amish quilting._i4c3492pg

What a great way to tie the past and future of quilting.

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Road 2014 Vendor Spotlight: The Junk Jeans People

Wednesday, May 28th, 2014

Passing through the new Pavilion, there was one booth that made you feel like you were back in the groovy 1970’s. That booth was Junk Jeans._i4c4018

Owner Luveta Nickels is all about recycling denim jeans. When she was a young girl, Luveta began collecting jeans. At one time, she had over 3,000 pairs!!! She was looking for a way to repurpose them when recycling became the new vogue activity. It was a great way to make something for practically nothing. Her curiosity about the workings of zippers, tack buttons, rivets and even the purpose of holes in the knees, prepared Luveta in those early years, for cutting, ripping and tearing her current creations.Denim2

Each year, she adds new products to her line and strives to be “the first and the best.” Currently, her biggest sellers are her line of rivets Snap-N-Taps and Glamorus Grommets. Both come in a variety of colors and are versatile for casual clothing, children’s wear, quilts, and crafts.  The Snap-N-Taps are even reusable!!_i4c4021pg

Both products don’t require any tools to apply. Simply trace around a washer where you want to place the rivet or grommet. Next, use scissors to cut a hole in the middle of the tracing. Match a top and bottom grommet/rivet over the hole and snap in to place. They are that easy!!!  

Luveta lives in South Dakota on a working farm and helps her husband with his cattle operation. But these days, she is hardly home as she is gone promoting Junk Jeans. Luveta has patterns, books, notions and many television appearances to her credit. She most enjoys traveling internationally and throughout the United States teaching sewing classes of all levels but her favorite pastime will always be recycling old jeans._i4c4022pg

You can learn more about Luveta, the Denim Diva, on her web site: http://www.junkjeanspeople.com/

 

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