Kathy McNeil
Archive for the ‘Road to California’ Category
2013 Faculty Interview Series – Kathy McNeil
Wednesday, August 15th, 2012www.kathymcneilquilts.com Kathy has taught for Road before. She is judging for the 2013 contest, and is a valuable asset to the Road family of teachers. She is teaching classes 3401 “Learn to Love Landscapes”, 5009 “Dancing Cranes” (my personal favorite), 6010 Embellishments, and 8501 “The Creative Provess – Front to Back Pictorial Quilting.” Hurry and sign up for a class with Kathy! Matt: Where were you born and what is your birth order? (Only Child, Oldest, Youngest…)
Kathy: I grew up in a small mountain community in WA. There were 30 students in my graduating class! My two older sisters thought I was a major pest, so I spent lots of hours playing in the woods with my younger brother. He helped me find lots of little animals. Remember the days when mothers could send their children off to play for hours and not worry about their exact location, that describes my childhood.
Matt: Where did you grow up?
Kathy: I grew up at St. Lukes Hospital School of Nursing in San Francisco. A big city for a small town girl. I remember the patient who jumped off the Oakland Bay bridge and was blown back and run over by a car. He was in our ICU for months. I have always hoped that he found the purpose that God obviously still had for him.
Matt: What motivated you to begin quilting?
Kathy: I loved the community quilts that guilds made for patients at my hospital. When my daughter asked me to make her a quilt for her dorm room and I vowed to try. We went to the quilt store to buy fabric and I saw my first pictorial quilt. It was like being hit by a lighting bolt of excitement. I still wake up surprised and excited that I have found this thing that makes me so incredibly happy.
Matt: Describe your “quilting studio” – is there something in it that you just can’t live without?
Kathy: My studio is the family room of the house. Yes there is a design wall, a Bernina, baskets of thread and fabric, but the best thing is; it’s where the grand babies have their toys, the dog her bed and my husband his desk and lounge chair. If I didn’t have to go to the kitchen to cook, I might never leave.
Matt: Does anyone else in your family quilt?
Kathy: No, although I have two daughters and have tried and tried to interest them. My three year old grand daughter loves to sit on my lap and help push the fabric through the machine, so I have hight hopes for the future. Check out the picture of my 18 month old doing her first painting with ” Oma”.
Matt: Do you have any other hobbies besides quilting?
Kathy: Reading travel books about other cultures and history. We are going to Italy for the first time this year and I am knee deep in everything Venitian right now. My other abiding passion is Mother Nature. Walking on the beach, through the woods and really looking at the infinite beauty of our world sustains my spirit.
Matt: Do you have children, grandchildren, etc?
Kathy: Two daughter and two sons. Two of my children were adopted from Korea. We consider ourselves a bi-cultural family. The kids know a lot about Scotland and Korea. We have two young grand daughters who live just down the road and delight me with their infectious giggles almost every day.
Matt: Do you have any pets?
Kathy: Maggie the 108 pound Rhodesian Ridgeback . She is a 10 month old puppy who thinks she needs to sit on my lap while I am watching movies. Seriously, I think I am too old for this size of a puppy. She pulls me down the beach and I can not hold her if she wants to run. We are making slow progress civilizing the sweet beast.
Matt: Do you have a favorite food, what is it?
Kathy: All things Asian. I really think I could eat Asian food every day of the week. Well that and a good bag of Cheetos every now and then.
Matt’s Tip: Make sure to check out Panda Inn while you are in Ontario. They serve some of the best Chinese food in the area. It’s well worth the wait!
Matt: What is your favorite recipe for entertaining?
Kathy: Wrap anything in Filo dough and it looks fancy and people think it is special. I love baking too. My husband retired this year and he is cooking at least 50% of the time now. There is a lot of BBQ but as long as he cleans up, I will eat what ever he tries.
Matt: What would be on your “Bucket List” if you could do anything and money was not an object?
Kathy: I should come up with something fun but after 35 years as a critical care nurse my answer has to be— End substance abuse. It destroy so many lives and families.
Matt: What is the best class you have taken?
Kathy: Hollis Chatelain class on thread as a design factor.
Matt: Where have you traveled in your quilting career? Any favorite locations?
Kathy: Teaching has helped me to see a lot of our great country. I have stayed in a restored Vanderbilt hunting lodge while teaching at the Shelburne in Vermont and in someones out building with no heat or running water in a chilly Oregon. The life of an itinerant teacher is varied and always interesting. Road is my favorite location of course. Actually anywhere with sun is a big plus for this girl from Seattle. Thanks to those crazy Canadian quilters too. I always have fun on teaching trips to Canada. The new Quilt Festival in Ireland is on my dream list.
Matt: What is the last book you have read, and who is your favorite author?
Kathy: “Imagination, How Creativity Works by Jonah Lehrer
“”The brain is just an endless knot of connections. And a creative thought is simply … a network that’s connecting itself in a new way.”” This is a really good book. Another favorite this year was Clara and Mr. Tiffany. Its about the women who designed the Tiffany Lamps and never received credit for it. “
Matt: What’s the best thing about teaching?
Kathy: Watching my students gain the confidence to bring out what has been in them all along. I love helping my students find their own creative voices and always encourage them to take my projects and turn them into their own. I also love getting pictures of projects they have started in one of my workshops. See the student gallery on my web site for some great pictures. My students ROCK!]]>
Little Roadie
Monday, June 25th, 2012 
Roadie couldn’t believe all the nick-knacks she found on my desk. I’m a huge fan of New Orleans style Dixieland Jazz. When I was younger my family had a Dixieland band that met every Sunday. Our only “gig” was playing for Survivor’s Day. I liberated this little “Shell Band” from my aunt was going to just throw them away.
I got this little jewel from my Great Aunt. She thought it fit my well since I’m already a year through law school. I think this is great, and will soon be residing on the wall behind my desk!
I got another Roadie submission today, and will be posting it this week. Don’t forget to download your own Roadie doll, and submit it to roadie@roadtocalifornia.com to be featured on our Backroads blog!
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Easter Festivities!
Monday, April 23rd, 2012Every year, my mother’s family hosts an Easter Egg hunt. This year we had well over 430 eggs hidden in my grandparent’s backyard.
My sister and brother in law were able to join us bringing my two niece’s Adie and Paya. Adie is 3 and Paya turned 1 the day before Easter. Adie really got into the egg hunt this year.
Miss Adie Finding Eggs hidden on the Patio. 
Paya hunting eggs with her mom (my sister).
Because my nieces were in town, we had a special egg hunt before the rest of us got our chance. We had some eggs hidden on the back patio for the kids. Adie found these after lots of pointing. Lucky her grandma (my mom) was there to help her get the eggs just outside of her reach.
Adie and my mom
The fun begins when we all line up on the bottom of the driveway to run into the backyard and get eggs! Even Adie and my mom were ready to run up the driveway!
Catch me if you can! 
My nana and papa have a variety of fruit trees in their back yard. The wonderful thing about living in Southern California is the variety of trees that grow and thrive in our climate. Not only is there fresh citrus in their backyard, but the peach tree is in full bloom and the apples are growing! I sense lots of homemade applesauce in Adie’s near future!
Even the Avocado tree is full of fruit!
It was a real treat to have Adie and Paya down for Easter!
]]>A Personal Note
Tuesday, October 12th, 2010
A Personal Note
My mother passed away this morning. She would have been 93 on December 2. She has been quite ill since February. Many of you were customers of The Fabric Patch. Mother and I opened the store in 1981. Mother became very interested in creating dolls. She held classes, one Christmas making Cabbage Patch Dolls, she designed a doll that looked just like Blanche Young a quilter, and taught toothbrush rugs. If you ever visited “The Patch” and admired the dolls, ribbon embroidery and often Christmas decorations, you too have a memory of my mother. I will miss her.
Carolyn Reese
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Wednesday, August 18th, 2010
Karla Alexander
Salem, OR
Karla will be teaching classes 4001, 5001, 6001 & 7001.
Matt: How long have you been quilting? What made you begin quilting?
Karla: I always sewed as a young girl – I began my quilting career during the long dark winters in Kodiak, Alaska.
Matt: Do you have a quilting studio?
Karla: Yes I have a studio by default. When we purchased our house, it came with a newly built 20’x24′ music studio, entirely hidden from street view, complete with lots of windows and vaulted ceilings, overlooking out back yard. The only thing in my studio that I think is unique is Lucy, my black lab.
Matt: What do you consider your quilting specialty?
K: I like to work and teach designs that can be re-worked into whatever style I want without always having to have a predetermined out come. I encourage students to make projects their own rather than simply duplicating a pattern, to change it up and put their own spin on it. I also love using a lot of different fabrics – often using 8 to 10 different pieces to represent one color, etc.
Matt: What is your favorite color schemes to work with?
K: As much as I hate to hem myself in to one color scheme… seems purple and green are always in the final cut!
Matt: What books or articles have you written?
K: I have written six books; Stack the Deck – 2002, Stack a New Deck – 2004, New Cut for New Quilts – 2006, Baby Wraps – 2008, Color Shuffle – 2009 and Stack the Deck, Updated Quilts – 2010.
I have also designed 4 rulers for Creative Grid, unique for cutting curves.
Matt: What do you do while you quilt? Do you listen to music?
K: I listen
to music ALL day long – fill orders and hang with my Lucy.
Matt: What is your quilting inspiration?
K: To begin with – I am fascinated with quilts from the past. I am amazed at what quilters accomplished with the tools and fabric they had available. Quilters from the past are an enormous inspiration to me. with that in mind… I love to find designs in nature, floor tiles, old buildings etc.
Matt: What is the funniest moment you have had happen while you were teaching?
K: That would have to be when I showed up to teach a class and found most of the students had the wrong supplies. I continued on, encouraging them to learn the new techniques I was teaching – claiming they would eventually begin using them in their project. It wasn’t until an hour in that I realized I was teaching an entirely different project than they had signed up for…
Matt: What was the best class you ave ever taken?
K: July 2009, I had the pleasure of taking a class with the Ladies of Gees Bend. Nothing will ever top that experience!
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Classes at Road
Wednesday, July 14th, 2010
Road periodically sends out an email newsletter. If you are signed up for classes, have signed up for classes in the past or entered the contest in the past you should get the newsletter. We will have this information on file, so you don’t need to resign up.
One of the jewels of this years road show is a Saturday class we are offering. This is a “Mommy and Me” class. The class is number 6005 and is taught by Christal from Christal Carter which will be located in booth 1216. This class allows you to bring a daughter, granddaughter, son, grandson or whatever youngster in your life that is excited to learn a little about quilting! You will need to bring one sewing machine for the two of you to share! The cost of the class includes a name badge for your “sewing buddy” so they can enjoy the show with you!
Did you know that Road is now offering Hands on Longarm class all week? Handi Quilter has generously provided machines for the entire conference. Hurry and sign up before these classes fill up!
Our online system is so advanced it can now accept waiting lists for classes and lectures. You can wait list the same was as you can sign up for classes at https://online.roadtocalifornia.com We have already filled spots from the waiting lists, so don’t be bashful to put your name on one!
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Cathy Van Bruggen
Tuesday, June 15th, 2010
Cathy Van Bruggen
Appliqué Vendor Teacher
Cathy will be teaching class 3009
(Information about this class will be posted soon)
Matt: How long have you been quilting? What made you begin quilting?
Cathy: I began quilting when I retired from the family clothing business in 1995. Customers told me about their wonderful projects and the fun of being involved with a quilt guild. So, I decided to become a member of the Orange Grove Quilters Guild. I love the creative process while working with cloth. The first few years were spent trying every quilting technique possible. I soon found that appliqué was my favorite because I love to tell a story with my quilts. Designing patterns that look realistic gives me so much pleasure!
Matt: Do you have a quilting studio?
Cathy: My formal living room became my quilting studio. I agonized over selling all of my furniture. Of course, I was concerned about visitors seeing my “creative mess” when they entered the front door. My daughter, Kim, convinced me that I shouldn’t worry about the mess because my friends are quilters and they would love my special space. Now, my studio has a view of the garden with wall to wall storage. The middle of the room has a cutting table and large sewing machine cabinet. The best part is that I work in the middle of family activities
M: What do you consider your quilting “specialty” or what makes you unique in the quilting world?
C: My quilting “specialty” is appliqué. My designs are unique because they feature “botanically correct” flowers and small creatures. I attempt to tell a story with my designs and quilting. When I quilt my finished design, I continue the story by quilting in birds, butterflies, and small creatures. Next time you are close up to one of the quilts, take a second look and see if you can find quilted surprises.
M: What is your favorite color schemes to work with?
C: When I began quilting, I loved soft cottage color themes. Now, I try to design pictorial appliqué with vibrant colors. Mother Nature is very colorful and I like my designs to be colorful too.
M: What books or articles have you written?
C: The Appliqué Society Newsletter recently featured a series of my quilt designs. I am presently writing a book that explains a fantastic new approach to hand appliqué. The book will feature blocks that have creatures in a natural setting.
M: What do you do while you quilt? Do you listen to music?
C: I frequently have the television on for background noise. I really don’t know why, because there is usually plenty of noise and confusion with two dogs, three cats, a daughter, and her teenage daughter running through my quilting studio!
M: What is your quilting inspiration?
C: There is inspiration everywhere! I love to walk in my garden and see the beauty in how a flower grows. Watching a momma bird build a nest and hatch babies always brings new ideas for quilt blocks.
M: What is the funniest moment you have had happen while you were teaching?
C: Once a young police officer came into my class and looked around at us sewing. He finally confessed that he was n’t looking for a criminal. He had lost a button and wondered if anyone could help him sew it back onto his shirt. Quilters are always so helpful. Hopefully, the word won’t get out to those officers in need of assistance.
M: What was the best class you have ever taken?
C: I’ve taken so many wonderful classes. I can’t decide which one was best. Each teacher has influenced how I make quilts and teach my classes. I never have a closed mind to learning new things. In every class I gain something new.
Darlene Zimmerman
Tuesday, May 11th, 2010Darlene Zimmerman
Traditional Piecing Faculty Member
Darlene will be teaching classes 3012, 4010, 5014, 6015 and 7011
(Information about these classes will be posted soon)
Matt: How long have you been quilting?
Darlene: I started about 25 years ago.
Matt: What made you begin quilting?
Darlene: Two reasons: 1) I loved to sew 2) Desperation! I was a stay-at-home mom with 3 small children and one on the way. I needed to do something more than just be a mommy.
Matt: Do you have a quilting studio?
Darlene: Yes
M: How big and is there anything unique that you keep in your studio?
D: Too small!!! We added an addition to our house 18 years ago—before I had a computer, printer, fax machine, etc. and before I started designing fabrics. Now it’s stuffed with fabric and my office area takes up way too much space!
I also collect vintage toy sewing machines and pincushions of all types. I love to make my own pincushions using 30s vintage planters. (See photos)
M: What do you consider your quilting “specialty” or what makes you unique in the quilting world?
D: I’m best known for my 30s fabrics and also my quilting tools with EZ Quilting by Wrights.
M: What is your favorite color schemes to work with?
D: Pastels of course (my 30s fabrics and other pretty fabric). But I also enjoy sewing with reproduction fabrics from the 1800s—the Civil War quilts and later.
M: What books or articles have you written?
D: I frequently contribute to Am. Patchwork & Quilting magazine, McCall’s Quilting, Fons & Porter’s Love of Quilting and others. I’ve written quite a few books. Those still in print are:
Fat Quarter Small Quilts
Granny Quilts
Granny Quilt Decor
The Quilter’s Edge
Quilting: The Complete Guide
Quilts from Lavender Hill Farm
I’ve also started self-publishing patterns. You can see them on my website: www.feedsacklady.com
M: What do you do while you quilt? Do you listen to music?
D: I usually have music playing while I’m sewing on the machine. I do quite a bit of hand applique and quilting, which I generally do in the evening while watching tv or listening to audio books.
M: What is your quilting inspiration?
D: Primarily old quilts…. I have a collection of the state quilt search books that I love to page through. In the past quilters weren’t so bound by color or quilting “rules” and were very inventive. I look for interesting color combinations, interesting settings or border treatments. Since I work primarily with reproduction fabrics I also try and determine what is typical in design and color for a time period.
M: What is the funniest moment you have had happen while you were teaching?
D: The most exciting moment was when a woman dropped her small scissors which caused a deep puncture wound. There was blood everywhere! She had to go to the emergency room to get it stitched up and have tetanus shots.
funniest moment (for me) was when a woman in class was having problems with her machine “eating” her fabric. I suggested The she change her needle. She replied “You can replace the needle??”
M: What was the best class you have ever taken?
Unfortunately I’m usually teaching classes, not taking them. However, I took a wonderful design class with Jeanna Kimball years ago, and still remember what she taught us that day.
Saturday, May 8th, 2010
We have been busy little workers here at the Road office this month. Terry and myself have been working on putting together teacher and vendor contracts for the 2011 show. Carolyn has been busy coordinating a travel schedule for Road’s Quilting Makes a Difference Exhibit as featured in the 2010 Showcase.
Road has had a Facebook page now for some time, and we are still in the process of figuring out what content you would like to see on the page. Please let me know what you would like to see on the Facebook page! facebook.com/road2ca
At the show, our office overlooks the Exhibit Hall B. This year we decided to place a camera to take a picture every 5 minutes at the show. The video can be found on Road’s facebook page. It goes from the decorator set-up of the show, to the tear down. We hope you enjoy a birds eye view of the 2010 show! Check it out at facebook.com/road2ca
Teacher bios and interviews will be posted as soon as we get information back from our 2011 Faculty.
Be sure to save the dates for the 2011, 2012, and 2013 shows.
Jan 20-23, 2011 Classes will begin on Jan 17, 2011
Jan 19-22, 2012 Classes will begin on Jan. 16, 2012
Jan 24-27, 2013 Classes will begin on Jan. 22, 2013
As always, if you have any questions about the Conference, Showcase or the Quilting Makes a Difference Exhibit please email us.
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The Jury Process at Road
Thursday, November 12th, 2009
I feel that our jury is very well balanced. Traditional Quilts really appeal to me. Our second jurist is involved in the jury and judging process in several national shows and is experienced in jurying both Traditional, Innovative and Art. This year our third jurist really enjoys the art aspect of quilting.
The computer divides the entries into categories. We the jurors can see the artist statement, methods of construction, design basis and both photos of each entry, but not the makers name or address. On the first pass through the category we can mark accepted, not accepted or undecided. We do not know how the other jurists are voting until after we have completed the category.
Our program accepts entries that all three jurors accept, declines entries that all three jurors decline. Then we begin analyzing the entries that we differ on until we have accepted our maximum number.
Our judging takes place just two days before the show begins. We can only accept the number of quilts that can be judged within the two days. That is how we determine how many quilts to accept. Sometimes to reach that number we have to eliminate some really good quilts. And that certainly was the case this year!!
