ADIOS UFO- BIENVENIDO NEW PROJECTS, Class #5070C, is being offered Friday night from 6:00 – 9:00 PM and will be overseen by Pat Yamin of Come Quilt With Me and expert quilter, Stevii Graves. Both are excellent teachers and problem solvers that are anxious to help students make it past the finish line with their lonely UFO’s. This unique class is also a great way to meet old friends, make new friends, and enjoy projects made in a Road 2019 class. Sewing machines will be provided, so there really are no excuses not to start the New Year off right.
Pat has been talking about offering this type of class to show promoters for years and finally got the chance last year at Road 2018.
Why was she so passionate about coordinating this class? Pat shares that she has found over the years that many students want to take a completed project home from a workshop or conference. But after the class has ended and their project needs just a little more time to complete, students usually find that there is not a place for them to sit, sew and maybe even get some additional help. Also, Pat has had customers stop by her vendor booth to show her their class projects and often they say, “I wish the class had been a little longer, so I could have finished it,” or “I know when I get home it will remain in that plastic bag since I have lost interest and I will have no help.” (Does that sound familiar?!!)
And did we mention that the class will also be a lot of fun? There will be door prizes and special surprises for all of the students.
Anyone and everyone is encouraged to come to this class. It will be especially useful to the gal or guy who doesn’t live near a quilt shop or belong to a guild to offer them additional support. Stevii and Pat circulate around the room and oversee the projects that are brought to class from home or learned at a class at the show.
Both Pat and Stevii have been associated with Road to California for many years and both will be coming from the east coast for the event. Pat lives in New York and Stevii lives in Virginia. They both know that there is never just one way to do something. They appreciate the many talented teachers that are out there and will never criticize someone else’s techniques.
Besides teaching this class, Stevii is on the Road to California staff. One of her many responsibilities is overseeing the judging of the contest quilts.
Pat will also be teaching five other classes at Road 2019 focusing on hand work and English paper piecing as well as manning her vendor booth. To learn more about Pat’s other classes, please visit our website.
Whether you bring a project from home or one that you worked on during Road, let Stevii and Pat help you start the New Year right!!]]>
Welcome to the Road to California Blog
A New Class To Help You With Your New Year’s Resolution
December 31st, 2018Meet Road 2019 Ruby Sponsors- Part II
December 26th, 2018“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 2019 has 13 Ruby Sponsors.
To be at this third level of sponsorship, (our Platinum Sponsor, Gammill, is the highest level followed by Emerald Sponsors), a company donates $2,250 towards the show. 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 other retailers at the show.
Seven of Road’s 2019 Ruby Sponsors have previously been highlighted on our blog. The following is a listing of the remaining six Ruby level Sponsors:
Another one of the new Ruby Sponsors for Road 2019 is Quilters Dream Batting. Founded in 1995, Quilters Dream Batting is committed to quality, service and innovation. They use only the highest grade of fibers and the best processing technology to bring their customers the finest batting possible. Quilters Dream Batting products are proudly made in the USA. They are sponsoring the Abstract Category.
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. The category they will be sponsoring is Pieced Wall.
Known for their Original IDT™ System – Integrated Dual Feed, their quilting, sewing, and embroidery machines provide tools for creativity and precision. Pfaff is sponsoring the Fantasy category.
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. They are sponsoring the category, Other Large.
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. They will be sponsoring the Applique Large category.
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. Sew Batik is sponsoring the Mixed Wall Category.
Please support all of our Road 2019 Ruby Sponsors by stopping by their booths and/or investigating their products.
]]>Added Benefits For Quilt Guilds
December 20th, 2018Road to California loves quilt guilds.
Most of our staff members belong to at least one quilt guild.
A quilt guild is chosen each year to supply the quilts in the main hallway of the Ontario Convention Center.
And quilt guild members supply many of our volunteer spots, including white glove attendants.
2019 Quilt Guild Opportunities
Quilt Guilds have a couple of special opportunities to shine during Road to California 2019:
Display Opportunity Quilts
Many quilt guilds earn money for their programs and quilt shows by making and raffling off their Opportunity Quilt. To help support these quilt guilds, Road provides space in the main hallway of the Ontario Convention Center for guilds to display their Opportunity Quilts and provide information about their guild to attract future members and attendees at their activities.
Guidelines are provided on our website. Generally, quilt guilds are selected on a first come, first assigned basis to man one of the four tables provided each day of the show. If chosen, a participating quilt guild must provide 20 hours of white glove service to Road for each day the quilt is displayed. There is an exception to the volunteer rule for quilts displayed on Sunday: only 10 hours of white glove service is required.
Three volunteers per guild may sign up in each volunteer time slot. Space is limited, and times are assigned when Road has received all information required. If a shift is full, volunteers are scheduled to serve at the next available time. The minimum shift for each person is 2 hours; Each 2 hour + volunteer receives a free entry bracelet. In addition, Road provides up to four complimentary passes for guild ticket sales persons the day their quilt is displayed.
There are still four spaces available for Sunday, January 27th. Interested quilt guilds should complete the form located at https://goo.gl/forms/3xZOjZ0Ik7odA8h03
Quilt Guild Challenge
Road is once again hosting a Quilt Guild Challenge, sponsored by The Traveling Quilters. A $500 cash prize will be awarded to the quilt guild with the highest percentage of guild members attending the show. Another cash prize of $500 will be awarded to the guild with the highest gross attendance.
***Note: qualifying attendance is based on actual quilt guild members, not friendship groups.
To enter, guilds need to submit qualifying paperwork online to Road before the show. The form is located at this link:
https://goo.gl/forms/VPKzZBb5vKXLsv0w1
Then, as members attend Road 2019, they need to register their attendance on the iPads provided near the south lobby doors. Road will notify winning quilt guilds in February.
Will your quilt guild be participating with these added benefits?
]]>Meet Road 2019 Ruby Sponsors-Part I
December 14th, 2018
Road 2019 has 13 Ruby Sponsors.
To be at this third level of sponsorship, (our Platinum Sponsor, Gammill, is the highest level followed by Emerald Sponsors), a company donates $2,250 towards the show. 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 other retailers at the show.
One of the companies new to the Ruby Level of sponsorship is Creative Grids®, makers of over 100 quilting rulers and templates. Their original non-slip rulers are made in over 30 standard sizes, each incorporating their Turn-A-Round feature – designated by the 1/2 inch grip sides – to add the 1/2 inch seam allowance to quilt pieces. Creative Grids® is sponsoring the Pictorial Category in Road’s 2019 Quilt Contest, awarding prizes to the First, Second, and Third Place winners.
Some of the other Ruby Level Sponsors include:
This Swiss, family owned company, has been celebrating creativity for 125 years. As part of their anniversary celebration, Bernina created a gold-plated special edition presser foot. Bernina is sponsoring the Animal Category, giving prize money to the First, Second, and Third Place winners.
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!” Winners in the Naturescape Category will be sponsored by Brother.
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. Elna is sponsoring the Other-Wall Category.
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. Prizes for the Human Image Category will be awarded by Husqvarna Viking.
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. Innova will be giving prizes to the Mixed Large Category.
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. The Applique Wall Category will be sponsored by Martelli.
Thank you to these great Ruby Sponsors of Road to California 2019. We will recognize the remaining Ruby Sponsors in our next blog article.
]]>Meet Road 2019 Vendor: Desiree's Designs
December 11th, 2018
Desiree Habicht loves to create.
She has been an artist her whole life, dabbling in all forms of creative arts. At one point, Desiree’s art had her traveling all over the country. She was showing both her fine art and the murals and faux finishes she had created for designers and for custom, luxury homes.
Then tragedy struck in 2000.
Desiree’s daughter was critically injured by a drunk driver. In order to provide the care her daughter needed, Desiree needed to reinvent her business. So she started a home-based pattern and design company, Desiree’s Designs, creating quilt patterns, fabric and embroidery designs from her home studio. What could have been a tragedy on so many levels, has become “a blessing” for Desiree and her family.
Desiree loves that she gets to do what she enjoys every day: Designing, Creating and Teaching others how to set free their creativity.
What to Look For at Road 2019
Items that will be featured in the Desiree’s Designs booth include fabrics from their new fabric lines. Their quilt patterns are known for being “happy, colorful, whimsical designs.”
One of Desiree’s newest fabric line panel designs, “Party Like a Unicorn,” will be making its’ debut at Road 2019.
Many of Desiree’s designs are digitized. Their machine embroidery CDs are very popular with their customers. Visitors to their booth will also have the chance to learn about Desiree’s Designs’ new monthly 2019 ITH Mug Rug Club. Desiree states that the enrollment for the club is “filling up fast.”
A Southern California native, Desiree won’t have to travel far to get to the show. What is she most looking forward to at Road to California? The opportunity to meet new people and visit with repeat customers. Desiree says, “We are always striving to build our quilting community with our clubs and classes that we offer throughout the year.”
Desiree’s Designs will be in booths 1919/1921+ in the Pavilion at Road 2019. To learn more about Desiree’s Designs, please visit their website.
]]>Holiday Baking: A Reese And Road Tradition
December 10th, 2018 What better way to step away from the hustle and bustle of planning Road to California 2019 than doing some holiday baking.
While the recipe is pretty simple, Jen and her family have made some changes along the way. For one, instead of using oleo, they use butter. (Shortening also makes the cookies “extra tasty”).
Another important step is to mix-mix-and mix some more. After the dough is mixed thoroughly, Jen wraps it in plastic and sets it in the fridge until its firm. This makes rolling it into balls so much easier and less messy.
To insure the balls are the same size and that they will cook evenly, Jen uses a cookie scoop. After the balls are made, she rolls them in sugar and puts them on a cookie tray, not too close together so they have room to spread out.
Bake 8-10 minutes until golden brown. Cool on a cooling rack and watch them disappear.
Are you a holiday baker too? What is your family’s favorite holiday treat?]]>
Quilting World Pioneers
November 30th, 2018Did you know that Road to California is a Quilting World Pioneer?
Road is a Quilting World Pioneer because it is a family owned and operated business.
Carolyn Reese purchased Road to California in 1995. At the time, it was a small quilt show consisting of a handful of classes and was held in Anaheim California. Carolyn had the vision to grow and move the show to Ontario, California in the atrium of the then Marriott Hotel (located where the Ontario Gateway Hotel is today). She enlisted the help of her entire family to put on the newly formatted show. Her three grown sons and their wives handled logistics, set-up, and registration. Grandchildren took tickets and handed out programs to a fashion show featuring homemade garments. A few vendors were invited to sell their quilt related products. Each year, more and more classes were added, more and more vendors applied to the show, and more and more people attended. The show quickly outgrew the hotel, so Road to California had to find a new home—the Ontario Convention Center. Today, the show is owned and operated by Carolyn’s grandson, Matt Reese.
Road is a Quilting World Pioneer as the second largest quilt show in the United States.
Road to California is the premier consumer quilt show West of the Rocky Mountains, awarding over $92,000 to fiber artists from around the world. More than 42,000 visitors from all 50 states and several foreign countries come each January to view exhibits featuring antique, traditional, art and modern quilts designed by both national and international quilt groups. A vibrant vendor mall of over 225 nationally and internationally known retailers feature the very latest to see, try and buy in quilt making supplies, machines, notions, antique quilts and gift items. Classes taught by a distinguished faculty are geared to all levels of quilters, offering assistance with traditional to modern techniques, hand and machine quilting skills and the latest in surface-embellishment using paint, thread and embroidery.
Road is a Quilting World Pioneer with its use of technology.
Road went from accepting mailed in registrations and entering information by hand to being one of the first quilt shows to use a fully automated, online registration system. Road to California continues to improve its online presence by offering a state-of-the-art website and social media sites including Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. 
Road is a Quilting World Pioneer because it showcases other Quilting World Pioneers.
Many of its faculty are well-known around the globe and are quilting world pioneers like Eleanor Burns. A popular Road to California teacher and presenter, Eleanor began her quilting world pioneer journey with the publishing of her first book, “Make a Quilt in a Day: Log Cabin Pattern.” Not only has she become a prolific author, but she is also a revered teacher trainer, popular television personality, and celebrated industry role model. Eleanor has authored over eighty additional books that sell at a rate of well over 6,500 per week. She has trained thousands of instructors throughout the world who teach her quilt making methods. In 1990, Eleanor pioneered the way people view quilt making with television. Her Quilt in a Day TV series began airing on PBS and is still broadcasting nationwide and abroad, even teaching in Japan. Adding to all this, she has developed her own “Signature” fabric lines, several special edition sewing machines, and has received numerous awards and recognition for her lifetime of achievements. At Road to California 2019, Eleanor will be celebrating her 40th Anniversary in the quilting world by teaching a quilt class on Sunday, “Mexican Star Quilt” (7012C)
And two entertaining lecture style classes on Friday (9501C) and Saturday (6501C) evenings that are sure to be filled with lots of humor, creativity, and reminiscing.
Road to California is proud to be a quilting world pioneer, encouraging new and experienced quilters of all ages to find their own pioneer journeys.
]]>
Piecing Is Michele Crawford's Specialty
November 27th, 2018 1005C – Crumb Quilted Wheels Quilt on Monday
And four evening, handwork piecing classes
3067C – Explore the World of English Paper Piecing: Hexagons on Wednesday Night
4073C Explore the World of Paper Piecing: Jewels on Thursday Night
5062C Explore the World of Paper Piecing: Diamonds 
6061C Explore the World of Paper Piecing: Curved 
In addition, Michele’s company, Flower Box Quilts, will have a booth on the vendor floor.
Michele Crawford has a long history with sewing, crafting, and pattern making. Since the age of 9, she has always had a needle and thread in her hands. Stamped cross stitch, crewel, crochet, knitting, embroidery and sewing clothes were her passion. Michele taught herself to sew. Her first projects were sewn on her grandmother’s featherweight sewing machine. Michele’s first business was making woven potholders on a loom and selling them in her neighborhood. While in high school, she wanted to be a fashion designer and go to New York City to school. She ended up being an elementary school teacher, getting married, and starting a family. Later, she began her life as a self-employed designer and business owner.
Michele’s first business was Cross ‘n Quilt. Started in 1986, Michele designed and sold her patterns combining counted cross stitch and quilting. Through this experience, Michele has created over 4,500 published sewing, needlework and quilting designs in over 40 different publications. She has worked with over 35 fabric, thread and batting companies to date.
In 2002, a few quilting magazines started offering kits for the projects in their magazines featuring new fabric collections, and that was the start of Michele’s internet business, Flower Box Quilts. By 2008, she began designing her own quilt patterns to sell on her website as Flower Box Quilts, and also offered other quilt fabric kits exclusive to her site.
The Flower Box Quilts booth is known as the “happy booth.” She likes to showcase many different piecing styles and techniques to inspire her customers. Featured in her booth are seasonal and non-seasonal fabrics as well as over 100 of her original quilt patterns including those for quilts of all sizes, runners, place mats, pillows, Christmas ornaments and tree skirts, and other decorative items. She still likes to combine counted cross stitch with quilting and of course offers her piecing handwork hexagons.
Michele is looking forward to teaching her five classes, as well as sharing her quilt piecing philosophy: “We cannot achieve perfection but we can strive for excellence.”
There are several piecing tips that Michele likes to share. One is Don’t wash fabric before piecing. She believes that the finishes help achieve a “cleaner” cut with a rotary cutter. Some other tips: Iron as you go; It’s OK to sew over pins; and Use 100% Cotton thread. To learn more of Michele’s tips, you’ll just have to take one of her classes!!
Michele is looking forward to being at Road 2019. “I LOVE the amazing and positive energy of all the quilters – vendors – staff at Road! The extreme excitement of being at the cutting edge of quilting and being inspired by so many incredibly talented and creative people is mind boggling, humbling, and fabulous!”
To learn more about Michele and Flower Box Quilts, visit her website.]]>
Quilt Design Classes
November 24th, 2018 Grace Errea:
4501G – Bird View Workshop – With “Free- Edge” Appliqué on Thursday and Friday
6701G – From Inspiration to Amazing Quilt Top on Saturday and Sunday
[caption id="attachment_6223" align="aligncenter" width="625"]
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA[/caption]
There is no sewing machine sewing in either of these classes.
Grace Errea became proficient in her quilt design techniques because she was looking for a way to go beyond simple quilting. She was first introduced to quilting by a friend who was a hand quilter who encouraged Grace to give it a try. Because Grace was a sewer who preferred using a sewing machine, she wasn’t all that interested in hand quilting, but she was attracted to the craft, so she decided to investigate other quilting methods and consequently caught the quilting bug.
Another influence with Grace’s quilt design techniques was the book, Art and Inspiration by Ruth McDowell. Grace found this to be ironic because while she is not a piecer, (in fact, Grace does not even like piecing) but she loved Ruth’s work and got started with her book.
Ultimately, Grace confides, her quilt design style is really the result of years of learning, experimentation, trying different techniques and reshaping them to her style. The quilt design phase is her favorite part of quilt making. Once her pattern is done, then she enjoys choosing the right textiles to execute the quilt design. What is her least favorite part of the quit process? She laughs when she says the quilting.
A quilt teacher for the past eight years, Grace enjoys meeting and working with the people who attend her classes and seeing “the light bulb go on” for her students. Grace also enjoys gourmet cooking and gardening.
Grace will be coming to Road to California 2019 from nearby Laguna Niguel. She says that she will be solely focusing on her classes while at Road. Of her quilt design teaching, Grace shares that the reason why she teaches is “because in all the students I meet I am sure I have inspired a good number to do things that they would not have done without learning some of my techniques. My techniques are totally original and developed by me so, being the only one teaching them I am hoping that they will be appealing to some students and they will go on and use the technique and even improve on them.”
To learn more about Grace, please visit her website.
]]>
Road 2019 Emerald Quilt Show Sponsors
November 19th, 2018 six 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 also has a vendor booth on the main floor.
A new Emerald Sponsor for 2019 is Olfa North America. We’re especially excited to have them as one of our quilt show sponsors because Olfa will be celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the invention of the rotary cutter. Olfa North America will be sponsoring the Outstanding Modern Quilt Category and the Elvis Quilts Special Exhibit.
Other Road 2019 Quilt Show 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.
The Best Domestic Quilt and Best Longarm Quilt categories are sponsored by Babylock.
Teachers whose students will be using Babylock machines in their classes include Gudrun Erla, Linda Hahn, and Linda Sullivan. 
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 Mary Beth Krapil, David Taylor and Linda Gosselin. Handi Quilter is the quilt show sponsors for the Outstanding Artistry category.
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 Deb Tucker, Kimberly Einmo, and Connie Spurlock. The Outstanding Wall Quilt category is sponsored by Janome.
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 their fullest potential. The Director’s Choice Award, chosen by Road to California’s owner, Matt Reese, is sponsored by Moore’s.
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 and Bernina’s E-16 machines and will be the quilt show sponsors for the category, Outstanding Large Quilt.
Pollard’s is supplying the machines that will be used by students in classes taught by Michele Crawford, Maria Shell, Diane Gloystein, and Nancy Mahoney. 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 Emerald Quilt Show Sponsors.
]]>
