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Posts Tagged ‘The Traveling Quilters’

Take A Quilt Bus Tour With Us

Saturday, August 17th, 2019

One of Road to California’s most popular Special Events are the two quilt bus tours held in conjunction with the show. Road sponsors the quilt bus tours along with The Traveling Quilters.

Lynn Crawford and Pam Overton, owners of The Traveling Quilters, have been leading quilt bus tours since 1990. Both Lynn and Pam are experienced quilters. They combine their love of quilting and travel in providing unique experiences for Road to California.

It’s not uncommon to have returning guests on our quilt bus tours. 2019 was the third time for Janice and Roylene. Janice is from British Columbia and Roylene lives in Eastern Washington. They both spend their winters in the Palm Springs area and are “winter neighbors.” Roylene commented, “It’s great to let them do the driving and we get to see the sites.”

Even the bus driver, Roger, is a big fan of our quilt bus tours. He has been the lead driver on 15 of our special tours!! “It’s always so exciting to be around quilters. They are so happy and I like to see what they are doing,” says Roger.

Previously, the quilt bus tours were offered the day before the show opened and the day after the show closed. We’ve changed things up for Road to California 2020- 25th Anniversary Show. Our special quilt bus tours are scheduled for Tuesday, January 21st and Wednesday, January 22nd. Both bus trips will be headed to the San Diego area.

The first stop for the quilt bus tour will be at Quilt in a Day in San Marcos, CA. This is home base for the one and only – Eleanor Burns.

Guests will have time to shop before and after watching Eleanor tape one of her quilt shows. Eleanor will also be joining the quilt bus tour for lunch catered by Panera Bread.

After lunch, guests will be treated to a behind-the-scenes tour at Quilters Paradise where most of Quilt in a Day’s pre-fused, laser cut kits are made.

As the quilt bus tour makes it way back to the Ontario Convention Center, it will stop in Murrieta at another one of Road’s vendors – and a Road Sponsor – Primitive Gatherings. This wonderful shop has something for everyone: wool kits and wool, primitive fabrics, reproductions, and a wide selection of bright, contemporary-to-modern fabrics.

***Note: This very special quilt bus tour departs earlier than previous years’ bus tours. The registration fee includes admission to the Eleanor Burns show, lunch and all gratuities.

For more information regarding our special quilt bus tours for Road 2020, please visit our website.

Tags: Fabric Stores, Quilt Bus Tour, Quilt Show, The Traveling Quilters
Posted in Other Quilting Events, Road to California 2019 | No Comments »

Crossing The Border To Road

Friday, March 2nd, 2018

Road to California 2018 hosted 42,000 guests!!

Some came from just down the freeway; some came from across the United States; and some came from different countries. One of those countries was Canada. These guests came not only to escape the cold but to find quilt inspiration and products that are difficult to get north of the border.

Terryl and Kris are sisters. Terryl lives in Walnut, California and Kris is from British Columbia, Canada. Kris also brought with her her “quilting buddy,” Maureen, another British Columbia resident. Kris and Maureen belong to the same quilt guild, the Horsetty Quilt Club. All three have spent decades quilting and have attended Road to California 5 times. Part of their Road experience was going on one of the bus tours prior to the show opening. They were looking forward to visiting Robert Kaufman Fabrics on the tour. What do they like best about Road? Terryl likes all the variety the show has to offer as well as meeting new people. Kris couldn’t get enough of the beautiful quilts. And for Maureen, she liked escaping the snow.

Also on the bus tour were two more Canadians, Susan and Jean, from British Columbia. This was their third Road bus trip which is always led by The Traveling Quilters, Lynn Crawford and Pam Overton. Susan and Jean not only enjoy seeing quilts together, they also work together. Susan is a family doctor and Jean is her office manager. Susan has been quilting for five years while Jean describes herself as a “fabric artist.” Jean doesn’t quilt but she does sew, paint, and enjoys “everything arty.” They were looking forward to seeing some of the sites of Los Angeles on the tour like Farmers Market and the Graber Olive House. Both ladies took classes before the show started. They learned how to work with silk and how to use the Curvalicious Ruler.

Liz and Dougal (Ann) live in Vancouver, British Columbia and for the past 12 years have served on committees for the Canadian Quilters Association’s Quilt Canada Show, a national, juried show. Liz helps with lectures and workshops. Ann is Co-Chair. In 2018, the show will be held May 31-June 2^nd at the Vancouver Convention Center. Road 2018 was their first time at the show. Liz and Ann remarked that they like to plan trips around quilt shows to places they have never been before. They had heard Road “was a good show” and were not disappointed. They loved the quilts, the vendors, the ideas and they really enjoyed “Preview Night.” “It was fabulous,” said Ann. How far will you travel to get to Road in 2019? ]]>

Tags: Canadian Quilters, Canadian Quilters Association, The Traveling Quilters
Posted in Road to California 2018 | No Comments »

Getting To Know The South Bay Quilters Guild

Saturday, August 19th, 2017

The South Bay Quilters Guild is very active in the Southern California area. Founded in 1979, their goal is to “further quilting excellence in the South Santa Monica Bay area of Southern California through educational meetings, travel, and friendship, and, at least once each year, to promote quilting in a philanthropic endeavor.” Based out of Torrance, California, with over 125 members, they meet the third Tuesday of the month. At Road to California 2017, the guild had on display their opportunity quilt that they gave away at their 2017 Quilt Show, “World of Color.” [caption id="attachment_5108" align="aligncenter" width="625"] Photo by Brian Roberts Photography[/caption] In 2013, the South Bay Quilters provided the quilts for the atrium of the Ontario Convention Center during Road to California. Active in the community, the South Bay Quilters Association participates with many philanthropy projects. They have donated over 1,000 lap quilts to local nursing homes and hospitals. The guild began a “Read Me A Quilt” program with CASA- Court Appointed Special Advocates. This group provides volunteers who advocate for children in foster care. The guild became aware of CASA from one of its members. For over 10 years, the guild has been providing quilts and books to toddlers through teenagers in the foster care system. The South Bay Quilters Association is also active in the Wounded Warrior Project. One of their members had connections with field hospitals in Afghanistan which led to the guild’s participation. Their donated quilts are made to fit the size of a gurney and are mailed directly to the field hospitals. The quilts are given to soldiers and remain with the recipients throughout their hospital stay and their journeys home. The guild has been involved with this worthwhile endeavor for 10 years. Past Presidents of the guild include Pam Overton and Lynn Crawford, founders of The Traveling Quilters. Lynn and Pam lead the bus trips that are offered during Road to California. At Road 2018, their trips will be going to “Robert Kaufman, the Farmer’s Market and then some!” on Wednesday, January 17^th, and on Monday, January 22nd, they will take guests to Hoffman International and more in Orange County, California. The guild is already preparing for its next quilt show to be held February 17-18, 2018 at the Torrance Cultural Arts Center where they will have over 150 quilts on display and featured quilter, Sue Glass, an extraordinary applique quilt artist. ]]>

Tags: Quilt Guild, South Bay Quilters Guild, The Traveling Quilters
Posted in Quilt Guilds, Road to California | No Comments »

2018 Bag Challenge: How Do You Use Your DIY Bags?

Friday, June 16th, 2017

Making bags is a very popular sewing trend. How do you use the bags, totes, purses, and caddies you’ve made?

One great way to use your DIY bags is on a Road to California 2018 bus trip. Organized and led by The Traveling Quilters, Road is once again offering two unique, all-day bus trips to add to your Road to California experience. Bringing along your specially designed DIY bag is the perfect way to hold souvenirs, personal items and of course, fabric, picked up along the way on one of these excursions.

The Traveling Quilters’ experienced guides, Pam Overton and Lynn Crawford, have been in business for 27 years and have conducted over 200 quilt related tours. Experienced quilters since the 1980’s, Pam and Lynn have been familiar with Road to California every year since it started. Pam and Lynn handpick the locations they visit which include historical sites, delicious restaurants, and of course, quilt related shopping.

The bus trip on Wednesday, January 17^th will include a stop at the headquarters of Robert Kaufman Fabrics where travelers will have the opportunity to hear firsthand about how Kaufman’s beautiful fabrics are conceived and manufactured. Robert Kaufman Fabrics offers an extensive supply of cotton prints, novelty fabrics, yarn-dyes and solids, covering a full assortment of woven fabric offerings such as poplin, twill, denim, corduroy, linen, canvas, crepe, voile, lawn, satin, georgette, flannel, organza, chenille, stretch woven’s, plaids, stripes, etc. Lunch will be on your own at the world-famous Original Farmer’s Market followed by stops at the Quilt Loft quilt store and at historic Graber Olive House, both located in Upland.

Then on Monday, January 22^nd, the bus tour will be headed south of the Ontario Convention Center to Orange County and Hoffman California Fabrics. Guests will learn about the latest designing and distribution of Hoffman’s famous batiks and other lines of fabric as well as get a complete tour of their facility. This opportunity is especially significant as Hoffman does not allow individuals to come on their own to their site.

Following the Hoffman tour, the bus will continue on to the Mission San Juan Capistrano for a tour and lunch in town. Before heading back to the Convention Center, the bus will make one more stop at Quilter’s Cocoon in Riverside. Registration for the bus tours begins with the regular Road 2018 class registration in early July. Whether you’ve used your old DIY bags, totes, purses, and caddies you’ve made on tours, around town, or on a trip, we really hope your planning on making a new bag to enter in our 2018 Road to California Bag Challenge sponsored by Road to California and ByAnnie’s Soft and Stable®.

“On The Road Again” is intended to enlarge the circle of Road’s traditional quilt competition, offering a total of $1,200 in cash and merchandise prizes to the top winners. For complete rules and instructions, please visit our website.]]>

Tags: Bag Challenge, ByAnnie.com, Graber Olive House, Hoffman California Fabrics, Mission San Juan Capistrano, Original Farmer's Market, Quilt Bus Tour, Quilt Loft, Quilter's Cocoon, Robert Kaufman Fabrics, The Traveling Quilters
Posted in Road to California 2018 | No Comments »