Jean Brown, Newcastle, CA
Vendor: Jeans Impressions
www.JeansImpressions.com
Jean will be teaching a class in hand quilting.
More about Jean:
Carolyn: How many years have you been quilting?
Jean: I learned to pick up pieces of colors by my Grandmother’s rocking chair next to a window near Amarillo, TX. She would sew them together with her needle. She lived in a tiny old wooden house with no electricity or water. We carried water from a neighbor’s house. She then put a needle in my hand letting me sew two pieces together and she would add to her larger piece. My other Grandmother in Oklahoma had a treadle machine and made quilts. I used to take naps and work the cotton seeds out of the cotton batting, making little holes in the quilts. I have quilts from both those wonderful ladies. Later, after High School in Van Nuys, CA and while in college, my friends were having babies and I made them quilts.
Carolyn: What motivated you to start quilting?
Jean: I saw my first show at the YWCA in Riverside, CA and was thrilled with what ladies were doing. I made several Sampler Quilts, as that taught me many methods. Then I started teaching those to others.
Carolyn: Where have you traveled in your quilting teaching career?
Jean: I have taught all over Southern California and also Oregon after moving there. I am a charter member of the Appliqué Society and have taught for that group for nine years. Other travels have taken me to Hawaii, Washington, Texas, Ohio and Colorado.
Carolyn: What is the most, unusual, frightening, funny, frustrating experience you have had in your quilting career?
Jean: Perhaps trying to get back to Portland in just three days from the Columbus, Ohio show. We drove through ice, snow and hard blowing side winds, Very scary.
Carolyn: Does anyone else in your family quilt?
Jean: Both of my Grandmothers, my daughter, a daughter in law and our granddaughter who made her first quilt at age 12. I told her I would help her and she said, “Grandma, I have watched you so much, I can do it myself” AND she did!!
Carolyn: What is your birth order, only child, first, second, third, or ??
Jean: I am the oldest of two girls. My sister, Wanda, seven years younger lives in Washington.
Carolyn: Where did you grow up?
Jean: I was born in Floydada, TX. I grew up along the Mexican Border. My Dad was the Railroad Agent at several locations on the old (now non existent) Southern Pacific Railroad, from LA to El Paso. I helped him run the trains thru, I held up the messages to the engineers on a hoop pole as the were ‘deadheading’ (no stops) thru our little town, all the while Mother was afraid I would get swept under the fast engines. But, I survived, as dad had hold of the tail of my dress. I was given great art classes from a retired Walt Disney artist in Bisbee, AZ. Dad was an artist also. Many of my friends were the Mexican girls from below the border. We would ride our horses down to spend the day with them. I lived in Columbus, NM, which is steeped in history of the Pancho Villa raids. Our home had bullet holes from those raids.
Carolyn: Do you have children – grandchildren?
Jean: Our family is our daughter, our son, and one granddaughter and their spouses.
Carolyn: Do you have any pets?
Jean: No pets, as we travel too much. Dave is my pet dear – (deer)!
Carolyn: What is your favorite food?
Jean: Mexican food. I grew up on it.
Carolyn: What would be on your “bucket list” (like the movie) if you could do anything and money was no object?
Jean: Be President of the US and straighten out.. No, No, only kidding. Probably try to do something in the Educational Field, in the US and the world to increase the level of better education everywhere. There is nothing more valuable than education before a person steps out into the world. Mine was somewhat limited, I appreciated what I could learn. Our nephew was nominated for a Noble Prize a few years ago. I am very proud of him.
Carolyn: Do you have any other hobbies besides quilting?
Jean: Art. I have painted for many years, and taught it everywhere I have lived. Such a lovely thing to do. I have been so disappointed in some of the sick art we have seen during times in our history. But, it can be better!]]>
Archive for the ‘Road to California’ Category
2009 Faculty – Jean Brown
Thursday, June 12th, 20082009 Faculty – Debora Konchinsky
Thursday, June 12th, 2008 Debora Konchinsky, Brienigsville, PA
www.critterpat.com
Debora is a vendor at the show, Critter Pattern Works and will be teaching a class, “Get Over Your Fear of Machine Appliqué.”
More about Debora:
Carolyn: How many years have you been quilting?
Debora: I’ve been quilting since my son was 5 when I took a class in 1977. Everything was done by hand in the class. The following year we moved from Kansas to Ohio and I taught the class. My students didn’t have time to do things by hand, so I taught myself how to machine appliqué (before WonderUnder was invented) and then taught the class.
Carolyn: What motivated you to start quilting?
Debora: I couldn’t find any appliqué patterns I wanted to do. I have a BFA degree in Fabric Design and I didn’t want to make appliqués that had as much detail as a cookie cutter.
Carolyn: Where have you traveled in your quilting teaching career?
Debora: I’ve taught in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and England…places where they speak English.
Carolyn: What is the most, unusual, frightening, funny, frustrating experience you have had in your quilting career?
Debora: I was teaching a small group of people how to use fusible, so they could appliqué. The first person glued the appliqué to the pattern, not to the background. I held the example up for all to see. “Don’t do this.” They all did exactly what I told them not to do. It was Murphy’s Law in action.
Carolyn: Does anyone else in your family quilt?
Debora: No. My mother could mend. My maternal grandmother made clothes for my teddies. My paternal grandmother had quilts on the beds but I never saw her sew.
Carolyn: What is your birth order? – Only child, first, second, third, or ??
Debora: I was the 2nd child of two.
Carolyn: Where did you grow up?
Debora: Philadelphia
Carolyn: Do you have children – grandchildren?
Debora: I have one son and seven grandcats. They scatter when I come over to visit.
Carolyn: Do you have any pets? 
Debora: We have two cats right now. We’ve had as many as six cats at one time and two dogs, a Border Collie and Irish Setter. We adopted Cali (short for Calico, as in fabric and cat) in December 1999.
Carolyn: What is your favorite food?
Debora: Fried tomatoes with milk gravy and corn on the cob.
Carolyn: What would be on your “bucket list” (like the movie) if you could do anything and money were no object?
Debora: Figure out landscape design. Explore Peru (oh, to see the very old and complicated fabrics!). Win a Best in Show. Design and make some mosaics. (My father made 3-D mosaics. I have a pelican he made with a 2 litre soda bottle inside.)
Carolyn: Do you have any other hobbies besides quilting?
Debora: I love making necklaces with glass lamp work beads shaped like animals. I collect animal beads. It doesn’t take up much space and doesn’t cost a lot. It is fun.]]>
2009 Faculty – Betty Cotton
Thursday, June 12th, 2008 
Betty Cotton, Osseo, WI
www.quiltyard.com
Betty will be teaching classes sponsored by Pfaff Sewing Machines and featuring her “Cotton Theory” method of quilt as you go.
Photo: Betty and her husband, Jack
More about Betty:
Carolyn: How many years have you been quilting?
Betty: I have been quilting for 24 years. Previously I was a garment sewer. When you have legs that go clear up to your neck, you learn to sew out of necessity.
Carolyn: What motivated you to start quilting?
Betty: I started quilting when I found out I was going to be a mother. My oldest daughter is now 23 and I celebrate Mother’s Day on her birthday, because that’s the day I became a mother. I wanted to make the entire baby’s room ensemble, consisting of bumper pads, diaper stacker, dust ruffle, pillow, and curtains and of course, the quilt.
Carolyn: Where have you traveled in your quilting teaching career?
Betty: Teaching Cotton Theory Quilting has taken me to all the National level quilt shows across the continental US, Alaska, Canada and cruise ships to various places.
Carolyn: What is the most, unusual, frightening, funny, frustrating experience you have had in your quilting career?
Betty: The most frustrating experience I had was not getting Cotton Theory to work the first two attempts. Good thing persistence paid off! The most frightening experience I had was a break-in, in my suburban while teaching at a show in Atlanta. The thugs decided they needed my $6000.00 sewing machine more than I did, along with my laptop and a suitcase of dirty clothes. The bright side was they left me my fabric kits for teaching, so class still went on! I have so many funny stories…..mostly while giving lectures and audience participation. When I show the baby quilt, pillow and bath mat to a group, I clearly state the bath mat is for the floor. The audience proceeds to say, I’m not going to let them walk on it. I’m going to put it on the baby’s changing table. Either way, you are going to have to wash it! Another lady who was 83 years old started complaining that she only had 2 grandchildren. She wanted a reason to make more baby quilts. She stated, that darn birth control……..it gets in the way every time! The most unusual experience I had was a gentleman in my class, Jim Taco, who never sewed before. When I asked Jim what made him sign up for my class, his answer was, he wanted to teach his wife, an excellent quilter, something she did not know how to do. What a sweetheart!
Carolyn: Does anyone else in your family quilt?
Betty: My two dear darling daughters quilt when time permits. They are both in college and we know how intense this can be. I love it when they join me!
Carolyn: What is your birth order? – only child, first, second, third, or ??
Betty: I am from a family of 9 children, an entire baseball team. My birth order falls in the middle. Being a twin, I guess you can say we are number 4 and 5. Then my mother, bless her heart, gave birth to another set of twins right after us. And there’s more…..The last child was supposed to be a twin, however only one baby survived. This is where birth control would have been needed, but I am truly grateful my mother decided to have more babies otherwise I wouldn’t be here!
Carolyn: Where did you grow up?
Betty: I’m a country girl! My birthplace is Libertyville, Illinois and my roots go back to many homes in northern Illinois until I married my husband and moved to Wisconsin. I absolutely love the peace and quiet of country life.
Carolyn: Do you have children – grandchildren?
Betty: As I mentioned earlier, I have two daughters, Sarah and Katie who I call Polly and Ester from time to time. With a last name of Cotton, wouldn’t it been funny to name them Poly and Ester Cotton?
Carolyn: Do you have any pets?
Betty: I have two spoiled cats, Cujo and Madison. Cujo is quite heavy so his nickname is fatty, so when I call them to dinner, it’s Maddy and Fatty! Both of them have had their fame. In my first book, Madison is featured, prim and proper. In my second book, Cujo is featured in his usual way, spread out all over the bed claiming it to be his.
Carolyn: What is your favorite food?
Betty: I love so many foods, that I cannot select just one. Fruit is the first thing to come to mind, mainly blueberries. I just love August when blueberries are ripe and the size of quarters.
Carolyn: What would be on your “bucket list” (like the movie) if you could do anything and money were no object.?
Betty: If money were no object, I would put up quilting retreats all over the country. Sewing, quilting and embroidery are very therapeutic and there is a demand to get away to enjoy the finer things in life.
Carolyn: Do you have any other hobbies besides quilting?
Betty: I love digging in the dirt, planting flowers and watching them blossom. Mother Nature is so beautiful! Basically I love to be outdoors, bicycling, hiking and camping. So these quilting retreats that I would love to place all over the country would have bike and hiking trails to accompany them.]]>
2009 Faculty Cathy Van Bruggen
Wednesday, June 4th, 2008Cathy Van Bruggen, Garden Grove, CA
Cathy is a vendor for Road and will be teaching an appliqué class titled “Sweet Magnolias”. More about Cathy: Carolyn: How many years have you been quilting?
Cathy: I have been sewing since the age of 3 and quilting since 1995. Carolyn: What motivated you to start quilting?
Cathy: I previously owned a chain of women’s clothing stores. My customers used to tell me how much fun they were having with their quilt guilds. I decided that when I retired, I would join a quilt guild also. I am so glad I did. I have made such wonderful friends. Carolyn: Where have you traveled in your quilting teaching career?
Cathy: I have had the opportunity to teach extensively in California. Maine, Massachusetts and Connecticut were also lovely places to teach. I have also had the privilege to travel to Texas, Utah and Oregon. In July, I will be teaching in Kona, Hawaii at Quilt Hawaii. Carolyn: What is the most unusual, frightening, funny, frustrating experience you have had in your quilting career?
Cathy: I left very early one morning to drive to a teaching engagement. I left before daylight. When I arrived at the location where I was going to be teaching, I noticed that I wore two different colored shoes. One shoe was black and the other navy blue. Luckily, I was able to find a Payless Shoe Store to get a new pair of shoes before I had to teach! Carolyn: Does anyone else in your family quilt?
Cathy: Yes, my daughter, Kim and both granddaughters. Carolyn: What is your birth order?
Cathy: I am the second child. I have an older sister. Carolyn: Where did you grow up?
Cathy: I grew up right here in Southern California. Carolyn: Do you have children-grandchildren?
Cathy: We had 5 children in 5 years time. A son, a daughter, then a son. Ten months later, I had premature twins, a boy and a girl. The last 3 babies were born in the same year. Sewing kept me from running away from home! I have been known to say, “ What
is a nice girl doing in a place like this?” I have 6 grandchildren and 1 great gra
ndchild.
Carolyn: Do you have any pets?Cathy: I have a cat named Posie. Then, last year my daughter and granddaughter moved in with me and brought their pets. Now we have a zoo! The zoo consists of 3 cats, 2 Welsh Corgi puppies and a desert tortoise named Delphine. Carolyn: What is your favorite food?
Cathy: Without a doubt, hot fudge sundaes with lots of chocolate…..yummy. Carolyn: What would be on your “bucket” list (like the movie) if you could do anything and money was no object?
Cathy: I can’t think of anything that I would rather be doing. I love quilting, teaching, designing and traveling to meet other quilters. I feel truly gratified with every aspect of my life. I don’t think I would change a thing. Carolyn: Do you have any other hobbies other than quilting?
Cathy: I like to garden and read. I also love to cook and
clean my house…..just kidding!
Faculty 2009 – Cindi Edgerton
Wednesday, June 4th, 2008 Cindi Edgerton, Yorktown, VA
www.averyspecialcollection.com
Cindy is a vendor at Road and will be teaching a night class, “Who’
s Afraid of a Feathered Star” using her paper piecing pattern.
More about Cindy:
Carolyn: How many years have you been quilting?
Cindi: I took my first quilting lesson in 1976 while living in Salina, Kansas. Before that time I had made patchwork, but it was “tied”, not “quilted”.
Carolyn: What motivated you to start quilting?
Cindi: I started sewing when I was 10, with a skirt in 4-H. I’ve always enjoyed sewing, and when I saw the class offered at the local YMCA, I thought it sounded like fun. We made a series of 36″ blocks. The templates were created by folding newspaper into the design, and then cutting it apart. Quite a change from the tiny blocks I work with now.
Carolyn: Where have you traveled in your quilting teaching career?
Cindi: I’ve traveled around the US, and was also fortunate to be invited to teach on several McCall’s magazine sponsosred Caribbean cruises.
Carolyn: What is the most, unusual, frightening, funny, frustrating experience
you have had in your quilting career?
Cindi: While living in Wichita, Kansas, I made the huge mistake of placing an almost completed quilt into a small white trash bag so I could take it to Show and Tell at my local quilt guild meeting. Some of us went out after the meeting for a little bit of social time, so it was quite late when I came hope. I left the quilt in the bag, in the kitchen (which was the entry to the house from the carport). Unfortunately, the next morning was trash day, and my ever efficient husband assumed the white bag was trash, and I’m sure you can guess what happened. It was on it’s way to the dump before I realized it was gone. After several frantic calls to see if there was any way to find it, I had to accept that it was gond. It was a huge disappointment. I had made a Seminole Patchwork border for the quilt, and only needed to finish stitching the binding to finish it. That’s one quilt I will never forget. And I learned a lesson – DON’T EVER STORE QUILTS IN PLASTIC TRASH BAGS!
Carolyn: Does anyone else in your family quilt?
Cindi: My daughter. My 12 year old granddaughter has started doing some foundation piecing, so she can help demo in my booth at quilt shows. But she’s not interested in making a complete project at this time.
Carolyn: What is your birth order? – only child, first, second, third, or ??
Cindi: First
Carolyn: Where did you grow up?
Cindi: I was born in Ohio, and lived for a short time in Pennsylvania. Moved to northern Illinois when I was in third grade, and lived there until I moved away for college.
Carolyn: Do you have children – grandchildren?
Cindi: I have a son and a daughter. I’m also blessed to have five wonderful grandchildren ranging in age from 12 to 2 years old.
Carolyn: Do you have any pets?
Cindi: We had a toy poodle for 15 years. With my current travel schedule, we’ve decided not to get another pet at this time.
Carolyn: What is your favorite food?
Cindi: Anything Mexican.
Carolyn: What would be on your “bucket list” (like the movie) if you could do anything and money was no object.?
Cindi: I think I’d love to have one of those luxury moter homes so I could travel all over the US. It would be fun to have the time to visit friends and family as we see all of our wonderful scenery our country has to offer. Of course we’d need to tow a cute little sports car for those in town excursions!
Carolyn:Do you have any other hobbies besides quilting?
Cindi: I enjoy making Peyote stitch beaded projects.]]>
Faculty 2009
Sunday, June 1st, 2008 
Maria Tamaoka
Croton-on-Hudson, NY
www.pinwheels.com
Maria is one of our vendor teachers and will be teaching a class “Diawabo Coin Purse.”
The picture was taken at Ueno Park in Tokyo, Japan during Sakura Season (Cherry Blossom.)
More about Maria.
I began quilting in 1985 after reuniting with a High School Classmate who was quilting. My mother always sewed clothing, but never quilted, and I always loved sewing but hated the results of the clothes I made, so, I tried quilting and was hooked. I was recently divorced and was teaching Music K-6, taking care of my handicapped son, and quilting until 3:00 in the morning. (Yes, I definitely was hooked.) But actually, it was my time to unwind.
I remarried and moved from Rockford, IL where I grew up to NY. There, I took quilting classes and started teaching groups of Japanese businessmen’s wives on a weekly basis. They wanted their projects to look exactly like mine. Therefore, I started my quilting store. I call it Pinwheels, because I like the way it sounds in Japanese “kazeguruma.” Plus, I like the way a pinwheel revolves, constantly moving, constantly changing. I can relate to that.
I became involved in Japanese fabric and quilting after many trips to Japan with my husband (he’s Japanese.) I tried replicating the quilts and fabric I saw in Japan using US goods without success. After many tries, I was able to convince my husband to talk to the manufacturer of the fabulous fabric I saw, and, finally we were able to import Daiwabo Taupe.
I love traveling and always joke there is a suitcase packed at all times. One of the pleasures of traveling is meeting new people in different parts of the world. In 2007, we vended in St. Marie Aux Mines, France and met our French customers. Since then, they sent us our mascot, Jeannette, a bunny made with Daiwabo Taupe fabric. Jeannette and her “sister” Seraphine write postcards to each other. Jeannette loves writing about all the quilt shows she attends.
Currently I am a “stage mother” to our daughter, Anna, who is studying Classical Voice (Opera Studies) at Boston Conservatory. (She was with us at Rd. in 2007.) Of course, she is the most talented and beautiful student at BoCo. (She will be a Junior, Fall 2008.) Hilo, my husband, and I love to go to the opera and are actively involved in our community Opera in NY. (He is the stage manager, I am the “go for.”)
Michael, my son, is 28 (which is hard to believe since I’m only 25) and lives on an organic farm in the NY Catskills. This farm is a fabulous place with children and adults with disabilities. Their philosophy is to “maximize individuals to their full potential.” What a wonderful philosophy for all of us!
I can hardly wait to have you in class to make our coin purse. Be prepared to have a hands on experience using a variety of techniques and enjoying each other’s company.]]>
2009 faculty
Saturday, May 31st, 2008 
Barbara Jones, Bountiful Utah
www.quiltsoup.com
Barbara is the owner and designer for Quilt Soup, a pattern company and one of the vendors at Road. She will be teaching a 2 session night class on beginning needleturn applique.
More about Barbara:
Carolyn: How many years have you been quilting?
Barbara:About 25.
Carolyn: What motivated you to start quilting?
Barbara: A beautiful lone star/log cabin quilt I saw in a quilt shop window. It was done in barn red, navy blue, cream and gold.
Carolyn: Where have you traveled in your quilting teaching career?
Barbara: We have taught mostly in our area with a side trip to The Gathering Place in Rupert, Idaho. They were on the list of top 10 shops.
Carolyn: What is the most, unusual, frightening, funny, frustrating experience you have had in your quilting career? The most unusual and frustrating experience are one in the same.
Barbara: I had one lady who came to class one week late!! She had missed 50 percent of the instruction and thought we could just “catch her up”! The funniest comment was made by one of my beginning students. When I demonstrate the applique stitch, I always say “Oh, I can just feel my blood pressure going down.” One of my students replied “That’s funny.. I can feel mine going up!!”
Carolyn: Does anyone else in your family quilt?
Barbara: No.
Carolyn: What is your birth order? – only child, first, second, third, or ??
Barbara: First born followed by a sister (who helps with QuiltSoup) and a brother.
Carolyn: Where did you grow up?
Barbara: Ogden and Roy, Utah. Spent one year in Fresno, California and one year in Sacramento, California.
Carolyn: Do you have children – grandchildren?
Barbara:I have one child, a son, who has five children, 2 dogs, 2 cats and a turtle! He must have been lonely! All the smaltzy stuff they say about grandchildren is true, true, true!! They are the best. We have 3 granddaughters and 2 grandsons. I am usually thinking of one of them when I am designing my quilts.
Carolyn: Do you have any pets?
Barbara: I don’t have any pets or house plant or anything that requires care! I am too busy quilting to tend to anything else.
Carolyn: What is your favorite food?
Barbara: Butter, fat and sugar and any combination thereof! I am not as young as I once was so my favorites are beginning to show!
Carolyn: What would be on your “bucket list” (like the movie) if you could do anything and money was no object.?
Barbara:I would visit Whales, Paris, Portofino, Canada and Australia…. and I would take my time!
Carolyn: Do you have any other hobbies besides quilting?
Barbara: No..quilting is an all consuming passion for me. It is not my hobby…it is way more important than that to me.]]>
Parking News
Wednesday, May 28th, 2008Great news! The following story appeared on the front page of our local newspaper this morning.
Parking will soon be more plentiful for Road to California at the Ontario Convention Center with the redevelopment agency’s pending purchase of 6.78 acres nearby.
View Full Story Thanks to the many of you who emailed about the parking problem at our show this past year. I forwarded your emails to the management at OCC. Your emails helped motivate them to address the problem. It just goes to show that “you” can make a difference.]]>
Faculty 2009
Thursday, May 22nd, 2008 
Phil Beaver, French Lick, IN.
www.philbeaver.com
Phil will be teaching two classes (2 sessions each) on Fabric Painting the Phil Beaver Way. He will also give a lecture on Finding Your Own Signature in Quilting II.
More about Phil:
Carolyn: How many years have you been quilting?
Phil: Quilting since 2000, and seriously quilting since about 2003.
Carolyn: Where have you traveled in your quilting teaching career?
Phil: In doing about 30 quilt seminars each year, I’ve traveled to many of the most beautiful places in the US and Canada, and met thousands of swell folks.
Carolyn: Does anyone else in your family quilt?
Phil: No
Carolyn: What is your birth order, only child, first, second, third, or ??
Phil: I’m the youngest of six children, and I’m 68. Abraham Lincoln was born on my birthday, and next February I’ll be 69 and Lincoln will be 200. I’ve commissioned a Lincoln interpreter to have dinner with me in my home, and about 35 friends and relatives will join us for an evening of wine and barrels of food and remembering my favorite president. Trained period singers will entertain me and my guests after dinner and throughout the evening. I’m Lincoln’s greatest fan and historian.
Carolyn: Where did you grow up?
Phil: I grew up in south central Indiana on a tiny piece of earth called French Lick, Indiana. It’s a tiny village of less than 2000 residents, but each day thousands come to visit because we are architecturally beautiful and elegant. One must travel to Europe to visually top French Lick, and those are rare anywhere. www.frenchlick.com
Carolyn: Do you have children – grandchildren?
Phil: I am the father of one son, Adam, and the grandfather of one. She’s my best little buddy, her name is Sylbie, she’s nearly 6 years old, and I get to stay with her all tomorrow afternoon while her parents are busy with adult stuff.
We’ll ride her scooter all about and terrorize the neighborhood, and then we’ll come indoors and play paperdolls. This, of course, is after we have our strawberry smoothies.
Carolyn: Do you have any pets?
Phil: No pets. I love all animals, but I’m away too much for pets. But if I had one, it would be a golden lab dog. And a long-haired dachshund, and a black lab, and a cat, and a bird or two, and a goat out back. And a good milk cow. There’s nothing like a good milk cow.
To free up my time, and after many years of owning macaw parrots, I recently sold my flock of nearly 50 macaws. Most were breeding pairs and not tame, but about six were very tame and quite skilled at talking, singing, dancing, and doing things that make others laugh.
Carolyn: What is your favorite food?
Phil: It’s seafood of all kinds. This past winter on the coldest days, I often made lobster stew, invited others in, and we enjoyed the togetherness of lobster stew and a glass of wine.
Carolyn: What would be on your “bucket list” (like the movie) if you could do anything and money was no object.?
Phil: If I lived out of the town and in the country with barns and acreage, I would do extravagant spending and own the world’s most elegant percherons and carriages. I would have many percherons, and everyday I would harness them in their finest, hitch them to dazzling carriages and take everyone for long drives. We would ride right down the middle of French Lick with gawkers everywhere. Yeah, that’s what I’d do.
Carolyn: Do you have any other hobbies besides quilting?
Phil: Hobbies, yes. Many, MANY. I’ve collected reindeer my entire adult life, and all are from 1946-47 and before. I have over 1100. See my website, click Phil’s Photos, and click Reindeer Collection. And click Beaver Collection, and click Early Easter Collecion.
And gardens of roses and other perennials.
I’m a watercolorist, and I’m currently trying hard to develop extreme skills in pastel drawing — national show quality skills in pastel drawing.
And I cook many dinners for guests in my home. I can seat 40 guests in my dining hall, and after dinner, we are amused by trained vocalists and musicians whom I have earlier contracted. Such events include Madrigal Dinners at Christmas time, with period costumes, entrees, and decorations, all representative of The Middle Ages.]]>
Wednesday, May 21st, 2008
Cathy Farris, Placentia, CA
www.cathyfarrisquilts.com will be up and running by the end of the month.
Cathy will be teaching the two evening Mystery Classes.
More about Cathy.
Carolyn: How many years have you been quilting?
Cathy: I made one quilt when my son was first born in 1978 and have been sewing since I learned in junior high school. I learned on my mom’s sewing machine which didn’t even have a reverse or backstitch. You had to turn the fabric around. I have been really quilting since 2002. I started teaching in 2004.
Carolyn: What motivated you to start quilting?
Cathy: I started quilting as therapy when my son died in August 2002. I was still caregiving to my dad in my home and needed something to do to keep busy. Dad didn’t need me to hover, but needed someone to be at home. My son’s death was sudden and I was launched into a time of vast emptiness. I was able to be still and reflect, but also to create and express.
Carolyn: Where have you traveled in your quilting teaching career?
Cathy: My teaching has been in California for the most part. My first Mystery quilt class was a benefit for H.I.S. House (Homeless Intervention Shelter) in Placentia, CA in 2004. That is an annual event and is growing by leaps and bounds. I have travelled to Michigan to teach a Mystery class there.
Carolyn: Does anyone else in your family quilt?
Cathy: Only one sister in law. She is a terrific art quilter. But I have a whole new family of quilting sisters now through the fellowship of quilting.
Carolyn: What is your birth order, only child, first, second, third, or ??
Cathy: I am the second and youngest child. I had an older brother. He was very creative in the medium of painting.
Carolyn: Where did you grow up?
Cathy: I grew up in the Mohave desert, Trona, CA, until I was 9. My parents were teachers there. Then my family moved to the San Francisco Bay area. We lived in the south bay in Saratoga, then I lived in Marin County, Corte Madera. I didn’t know it at the time, but Robin Williams was in my high school graduating class. Then I attended and graduated from UC Berkeley. I met my husband, Steve, there. We have lived in Washington state, Michigan, and California. We will celebrate 35 years of marriage in July.
Carolyn: Do you have children – grandchildren?
Cathy: I had a son and have a daughter. My son is deceased, 2002, and my daughter is grown and living in northern California. No grandchildren.
Carolyn: Do you have any pets?
Cathy: We do not have any pets now, but raised 3 puppies for Guide Dogs of America when the kids were in upper elementary/junior high school. That was lots of fun. The puppies were socialized as much as possible by us and cute as a button. Just when they started to behave, off they went to training. We had 2 Golden Retrievers, Goldie and Frolic, and 1 Yellow Lab, Sugar.
Carolyn: What is your favorite food?
Cathy: I guess I am a meat and potato kind of girl. I love a great steak and can always find room for chocolate.
Carolyn: What would be on your “bucket list” (like the movie) if you could do anything and money was no object?
Cathy: I think that I would just do more of what I do and maybe hire others to help in the process. Last year I headed a project to make 50 quilts for an orphanage in Mexico. We actually made 73 individual quilts — no 2 alike. It was a wonderful experience and I couldn’t have done it without the many volunteers and my friendship group. Those kids were thrilled to get their own quilts with their name on the label for Christmas. I would like to continue to reach out in love through quilting. Nothing says love like a quilt.
Carolyn: Do you have any other hobbies besides quilting?
Cathy: Not at the moment, unless you call cruising a hobby. I love to cruise! We have been to Bermuda once, Mexico once and the Caribbean 3 times. It is great fun to sail away from everyday life and just relax.
]]>
