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Archive for the ‘Road to California Sponsor’ Category

Celebrating Hoffman Fabrics: 94 Years And Going Strong

Friday, May 4th, 2018

How much do you know about this iconic fabric brand?

Michelle Flores of Hoffman Fabrics shared the following 10 Facts and Figures of the “Hoffman Look” in a $5.00 lecture at Road to California 2018:

1) A family owned and operated business, currently four generations of the Hoffman family run the day to day operations with headquarters in Mission Viejo, California

2) Imaginative fabrics originate with a team of in-house textile artists. Many designs are developed from hand-drawn and hand-painted art. Premium screen-printed and hand-dyed fabrics are manufactured for independent retailers

3) Hoffman searches the world for their premium, high thread count, 100% cotton fabric base.

4) Bali Batiks are a Hoffman exclusive. They have been running their own independent operation in Bali for 35 years. Original, hand drawn designs are put in the computer where designers play with size and repeat. Once perfected, the design is sent to the factory in Bali and re-created on copper stamps which are dipped in wax and applied to the base fabric. Wax does not absorb dye, so designs are left intact. When the dying process is completed, the wax is washed off.5) The minimum order for each Batik design and color is 1,000 yards. Because it takes 6-8 months to develop a Batik fabric, it is recommended that if you love a particular design, buy it when you see it as Hoffman does not duplicate the same design and colors.

6) Interested in their famous Christmas Batiks? These fabrics are delivered to stores in June and July.   

7) Me + You is Hoffman’s modern Batik line. They are mostly solid fabrics with minimal design patterns like these prints created by Latifah Saarfir exclusively for Hoffman Fabrics:8) Can’t find Batiks in your area? Hoffman recommends you first go to your local fabric shop and request what you want. If you still can’t purchase locally, these online retailers carry Hoffman’s line: e-Quilter.com, Batiks Plus, Hancock’s of Paducah, and Nancy’s Notions.

9) For the past 5 years, Digital Prints have become Hoffman’s latest fabric trend. Because a screen-printed fabric can only hold 17-18 colors, the magic of digital printing allows designers to achieve a more realistic effect using more colors. Custom orders for digital prints are honored with a minimum of 500 yards.10) Digital Prints are also made in to panels which can be used for binding and backing or can be cut-up for piecing. Some of their popular panels include the Crazy Panel—all Hoffman fabric challenge prints for the past 30 years. Not sure how to use a digital print panel? Hoffman has free patterns on their website for ideas.

Hoffman Fabrics has lots to celebrate in 2018: Fabulous fabrics, a rich heritage, and their 30th Anniversary of the Hoffman Challenge. Thanks Hoffman Fabrics for allowing Road to California 2018 be the exclusive stop in sharing your successes.      ]]>

Meet Road 2018 Ruby Sponsors

Saturday, January 6th, 2018
Road to California would not be the premier consumer quilt show that it is without our sponsors. “Our sponsors are what keeps us competitive,” shared Show Owner, Matt Reese. Because of their generous support, Road continues to attract the industry’s finest entrants, teachers and vendors which are enjoyed by the thousands of our guests that attend our event.

Road 2018 has 13 Ruby Sponsors. To be at this third level of sponsorship, (our platinum sponsor, Gammill, is the highest level), an organization donates $2,250. Their generous contribution goes toward prize money for the quilt show contest as well as help fund other aspects of the event. Some Ruby Sponsors will also have a vendor booth on the main floor while many will have their products available with retailers at the show.

The Ruby Sponsors for 2018 are:

Bernina

This Swiss, family owned company, has been celebrating creativity  for 125 years. To celebrate their anniversary year, Bernina has created a gold-plated special edition presser foot, available after March 1.

Brother

Brother International has more than 100 years of history in the global sewing industry. They’ve been a leader in the US for more than 60 years, offering a diverse lineup of machines with industry-first, exclusive features. Their motto is “Explore, learn and remember — being creative isn’t a hobby; it’s a way of life!”

Elna

Since around 1940, the Elna trademark has always symbolized quality, innovation and service. Today, Elna continues to build the company with these three elements as the foundation. Elna is a growing company committed to bringing excellence to our customers and our international distribution network. Elna is active in more than 60 countries, throughout the world.

Husqvarna Viking

The need for change inspired their beginning. They began as a royal arms factory in Huskvarna, Sweden in 1689.  Almost two centuries later in 1872, facing declining demand for firearms, the artisans of the factory were inspired to make a more peaceful product—sewing machines. Today, Husqvarna Viking® is a worldwide organization that still designs high-quality sewing machines in Sweden and markets our products to passionate sewers all across the globe.

Innova (ABM International)

Innova longarm machines are manufactured by ABM International, a three generation family owned and operated business near Houston Texas and are engineered to meet the most discerning quilter’s needs. Based on a long term commitment to excellence, ABM International offers a full array of high quality quilting machinery.

Martelli

Martelli Enterprises is an international company based in Pensacola, Florida. They make tools, equipment, work stations and machines for sewing, quilting, and embroidery. For over 20 years, they have provided quilters and other sewing and crafting enthusiasts with the tools and accessories to pursue their art and express themselves.

Modern Quilts Unlimited

Modern Quilts Unlimited magazine is published quarterly – February, May, August and November — and offers quilt, accessory and home decoration patterns by exciting new designers. The publication also includes interviews with quilting innovators, machine quilting tips and quilts and projects.

OC Sewing & Vacuum

In business since 1991, they have four locations in Southern California: Buena Park, Fullerton, Irvine and Garden Grove. They carry high quality sewing, embroidery and quilting machines and sergers and offer a variety of sewing and quilting classes for all levels.

Pfaff

Known for their Original IDT™ System – Integrated Dual Feed, their quilting, sewing, and embroidery machines provide tools for creativity and precision.

Pineapple Fabrics

Best known for their Pineapple Packs: precut fabric collections that include 5 coordinated, quilt quality fabrics that make sewing projects a breeze.  Pineapple Fabrics is an e-commerce business.

Primitive Gatherings

A well known Southern California quilt shop with an old fashioned look, they feature the nation’s largest selection of reproduction fabrics, homespuns, Japanese fabrics, and their own beautiful hand dyed wools. They also carry a wide variety of cotton or wool kits, notions,and all the supplies for punch needle embroidery.

Robert Kaufman Fabrics

Creator of Kona cotton solids,  Robert Kaufman is a dual focused company, with an equally held commitment to both the Manufacturing and Quilting Retail customer. They operate two separate design studios, each one generating fabrics specific to the quilting and manufacturing customer.

Sew Batik

A direct merchant with a passion for designing, sourcing and distributing exquisite batik and hand dyed fabrics. Their fabrics are only sold on their website, at local, regional and national quilt shows, and through their ever-growing relationships with professional longarm/machine quilters around the world.

Please support our Ruby Sponsors by stopping by their booths and/or investigating their products.

 

 

 

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Meet Road 2018 Emerald Sponsors

Saturday, December 9th, 2017

five Emerald Sponsors. To be at this second level of sponsorship, (our platinum sponsor, Gammill, is the highest level), an organization donates $5,000. Their generous contribution goes toward prize money for the quilt show contest as well as help fund other aspects of the event. Each Emerald Sponsor will also have a vendor booth on the main floor. This year’s Emerald Sponsors include:

Babylock  has been dedicated to the love of sewing for over 40 years by creating machines for sewing, embroidery, quilting and serging – all with ease-of-use, high quality and a touch of elegance. In addition to easy-to-thread sergers and machines for sewers of any level, Baby Lock enhances the love of sewing with an extensive line of sewing supplies including feet, accessories, software and stabilizer. A family business with headquarters in St. Louis, Missouri, all Baby Lock machines and products are sold exclusively through Independent Authorized Baby Lock Retailers that can be found throughout the United States and Canada.  Babylock products are never sold online.

Teachers whose students will be using Babylock machines in their classes include Jodi Barrows, Jenny Doan, Carmen Geddes, Sheila McKay, Cindy Meyers, and Helen Robinson

Handi Quilter makes a reliable, low-maintenance longarm quilting machine. Its innovative technology and quality engineering provide the functionality that quilters demand along with the smoothest stitch in the industry. Every machine is backed by their trusted HQ warranty. They have over 300 trained HQ local retailers, plus offer HQ customer service, education, and technical support. They will be providing machines for classes taught by Suzanne Hyland and Margaret Solomon-Gunn.

Janome’s mission is to produce machines which inspire creativity and innovation, yet are simple to use. In Japanese, the word Janome (pronounced Ja-NO-me) means “eye of the snake.” The company earned the name in the 1920s when founder Yosaku Ose, a pioneer in Japanese sewing manufacturing, began to use a round metal bobbin system instead of the traditional long shuttle. The Japanese thought the new round bobbin looked like a snake’s eye, and from the innovative design, a name was born.

Janome products have been at the cutting edge of sewing technology since the earliest days of their founding. They were the first to develop a computerized machine for home use (the Memory 7, in 1979), the first to offer professional style embroidery to the home market (the Memory Craft 8000, in 1990) and the first to offer a long-arm quilting machine for home use (the Memory Craft 6500P, in 2003). Today, their flagship model, the Horizon Memory Craft 15000, is redefining the way sewists enjoy their hobby. This revolutionary machine is the first-ever wireless-enabled sewing machine. Janome machines will be made available to students in classes taught by Karla Alexander, Bonnie Browning, Gundrun Erla, and Lora Kennedy. Moore’s is a family owned business. It started with Edd Moore the founder of Moore’s. Then his son,  Jim Moore, took over the company. Today, the company is owned by George Moore.  In business fo rover 60 years, Moore’s has seven locations throughout Southern California. They are retailers of Pfaff, Brother, and Baby Lock machines. Moore’s offers interactive classes taught by knowledgeable sewing educators that teach how to use their machines to thier fullest potential.  Pollard’s Sew Creative began in Glendora, California in 1994 when Bill and Marcia Pollard decided to open a fabric store. The shop quickly grew and was warmly welcomed into the community. They were joined in 2002 by their daughter, Jenny Nobile who helped expand their business to a second location in Arcadia, California. Proud of their exceptional customer service and devotion to helping customers stay up-to-date with the latest sewing trends, Pollard’s is also known for their excellent sewing and embroidery classes, and their unique one-of-a-kind products. They are exclusive dealers of Pfaff, Husqvarna Viking and Bernina’s E-16 machines. Pollard’s is supplying the machines that will be used by students in Pam Bocko, Cindy Grisdela, Connie Spurlock, Deb Tucker, and Pat Yamin. Pollard’s will be offering these demonstration machines at blow-out prices at the end of the show. Please join us in supporting these wonderful sponsors.  ]]>

We Appreciate Our 2018 Platinum Sponsor: Gammill

Tuesday, November 28th, 2017

Platinum Sponsor is Gammill. Since 1980, the Gammill Quilting Machine Company has been an innovative leader in machine quilting. They were the first to develop a large-throat sewing machine on tracks which could be operated from both sides and move in any direction on a specially-designed stand. This revolutionary idea enabled pantograph patterns to be traced directly onto fabric, therefore making it possible to complete a quilt or bedspread in a matter of hours rather than days. Their Platinum Sponsor contribution of $10,000 is the grand prize for the Best of Show quilt entry in our quilt contest. In addition, Gammill provides their Gammill Quilting Systems Stand Up Longarm Machines for classes taught by experienced Gammill quilters.  And throughout the show, Gammill hosts a booth front and center on the main show floor. Last year’s Best of Show winner was The Twisted Sister, made and quilted by Margaret Gunn. Currently, this year’s accepted entries are being received at our home office, waiting for their official judging. Gammill is anxiously awaiting to see which quilt rises to the top. Classes using Gammill Quilting Systems Stand Up Longarm Machines are being offered several days during the week of the show. On Monday and Tuesday, Kristin Vierra of Quilter on the Run, will be teaching on the Gammill machines, guiding students with their hands-on experience.

1014R     Fun Feathers that Fit Anywhere

2014R   Easy Background Fillers for Longarm Quilters

Kris began her long arm quilting business over 10 years ago on a used Gammill machine. Since then, she has purchased a new, Gammill Vision 2. In November, 2016, Kris was honored to be chosen as an official Gammill Quilt Artist. On Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday, the three sisters from Sew Kind of Wonderful (Helen Robinson, Jenny Pedigo, and Sherilyn Mortensen) will taking turns teaching classes using the Gammill Machines:

3018R Wonder Feathers

5012R  Wonderfills

6010R     Caution! Curves Ahead

Something to note: Helen has recently been named a Gammill Ambassador. Looking to learn more about the Gammill Quilting Systems? Visit their booth where company experts can guide you through hands-on practicing with their machines. Last year, a highlight for the staff was helping young quilter, 10-year-old Angela, practice on her “dream machine.” Gammill is always “thrilled” to play an integral part of Road to California. The company appreciates the show’s great mix of education, vendors, special events, quilt showcases and fun. Says Gammill representative, Shandi Brinkman, “Road to California attracts such outstanding talent. We are excited to be able to recognize the creativity, hard work and dedication of quilters.” It is Matt Reese’s hope that Gammill and Road to California will continue to enjoy “a long and lasting relationship.”]]>