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Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Road to California Quilters Conference and Show

Registration for classes at the Road to California Quilters Conference and Show opens July 13th.  They have a wonderful Faculty, large classrooms with plenty of space, sewing machines are available for every student, and class fees are very reasonable.  Plus, this event is held in January and our winter weather in Southern California is very mild making this an excellent quilting venue for attendees from around the world.  SewCalGal certainly hopes to see you at this conference and show!

The 2014 Road-2-CA Conference begins on Monday, January 20th and goes thru Sunday, the 26th.

The Quilt Show is open from Thursday the 23rd thru Sunday, the 26th.  There is also a preview party of the show on Wednesday, January 22nd.


Here is the Faculty for the 2014 Conference:


Frieda Anderson
Linda Ballard
Jodi Barrows
Bobbie Bergquist
Gail P Bird
Patt L Blair
Lisa Bongean
Patti Brooks
Debra Brown
Christen Brown
Debbie Busby
Pam Clarke
Debby Danford
Claudia Dinnell
Sulky Educator
Wonderfil Educator
Nancy Eha
Cynthia England
Joan Ford
Jacquelyn Gering



Helen Gibb
Ken Gleason
Stevii Graves
Julie Gutierrez
Linda J. Hahn
Ruthmarie Hofmann
Rebecca Jarrett
Mickey Lawler
Bruce Magidson
Linda Matteotti
Teryl L McKnight
Norah McMeeking
Laura Murray
Martha A Nordstrand
Judy Novella
Gina Perkes
Cheryl Phillips
Robert Purcell


Leora Raikin
Joanne Robinson
Jill Schumacher
Patricia Simons
Edyta Sitar
Connie Spurlock
David M Taylor
Janna Thomas
Virginia Walton
Cathy Wierzbicki
Karen Witt
Patricia Yamin
Larry Zechter

You can view a complete list of classes at the Road to California website.  And you may want to sign up for email updates, to hear insights when more classes are added.

Here are a few of the classes that caught my attention:

1002 Tiny Dancer $75
8am-3pm
Julie Herman www.jaybirdquilts.com
SKILL LEVEL: Confident Beginner
Learn to use the Hex N More Ruler while making Tiny Dancer. This new ruler was designed to cut 4 shapes in 4 sizes! As a result it gives you limitless possibilities. All of the pieces can be rotary cut from strips. In class we will focus on using the Hex N More to accurately cut all of the pieces needed. Tiny Dancer is ideal for showcasing medium to large-scale fabrics. Select a contrasting background fabric to create these dancing blocks. Students will use chain piecing to speed up the quilt creation process. They can expect to create blocks and being assembling their quilt top during the class. Students will also learn tips and tricks on binding. This includes how to bind 120° angles, make a flange, bias binding, scrappy bias binding, and so much more!
SEWING MACHINES PROVIDED BY: BERNINA
KIT FEE: $28 - Includes: Pattern & Hex N More Ruler (Retail $33.95)
SUPPLY LIST:
 Downloadable PDF


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1011 Design, Draw, Quilt! $200
8am-3pm
Karen McTavish www.designerquilts.com
SKILL LEVEL: All
This all day class is packed with instruction on how to design quilting for your unquilted quilt tops, how to draw your own original quilting designs and transfer them to your quilt, and discussion/show and tell on how to quilt the quilt without the mystery! If you are new to quilting or struggle with decisions for quilting a quilt – this design class is for you.
DRAWING CLASS
SUPPLY LIST: Students must bring 2 quilt tops which have not been quilted, plain white paper (10-20 sheets or medium sized drawing pad) pencils, erasers, sharpie black pens, small ruler, and pencil sharpener.




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1203 Love Birds - Machine Embroidered Appliqué $150
Two days, 8am-3pm
Patsy Thompson http://www.patsythompsondesigns.com
SKILL LEVEL: All
Learn how easy it is to create a complex machine-embroidered appliqué (MEA) scene requiring multiple hoopings as you create this lovely wall hanging! You'll also learn the basics of die cutting fabric to create intricate applique shapes and you'll see how die cutting and MEA go together hand in hand. Whether you are a beginner or an intermediate level machine embroiderer, you'll leave this class with the confidence to tackle a complex design such as this one. In this class, you will learn:
  • How to stabilize the background fabric for MEA
  • How to stabilize the applique shapes for MEA
  • How to properly align the fabric block to achieve perfect alignment as you move from one hooping to the next
  • How to cut applique shapes using a Sizzix™ die cutting system
  • We won't have time to actually quilt this project, but we'll talk about ways to approach quilting it.
File formats available are: ART; ART5; ART6; EXP; HUS; JEF; PEC; PES; PHC; SEW; VIP; VP3; XXX.
Finished Size of Wall Hanging is 21 ½ inches square.  If you've been admiring the beautiful dimensional stitching that machine embroidered applique adds to a quilt, this is your chance to jump in with both feet!  EMBROIDERY MACHINES PROVIDED BY: BROTHER  HANDOUT FEE: $40 - Includes digital files and printed instructions.  KIT FEE: $24 Includes - All background fabric for wallhanging; prefused and precut die-cut shapes for applique shapes; fusible interfacing; stabilizer for 6 hoopings.
SUPPLY LIST: 
Downloadable PDF



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2012 Wholecloth Design $200
8am-3pm
Karen McTavish www.designerquilts.com
SKILL LEVEL: All
This is an all day event to mark an original wholecloth on to a white quilt top. The wholecloth is entirely marked by the student and is ready for trapunto, hand-quilting, or machine quilting by the end of class. This one day class is for anyone who would like to design an original wholecloth from scratch. Table space will be provided for each student. Instructor will also have many wholecloth quilts in the truck show as well as a small lecture on the history of wholecloth.
DESIGN CLASS - NO MACHINES
SUPPLY LIST: 4-8 Mark-B-Gone Blue Pens (not fine line, only blue water-soluble pens). Fabric – white or off white, washed and pressed. No larger than 60 x 60.
(Squaring up must be done before class) Omnigrid rulers, long rulers of any size with ¼ inch markings. Clover Eraser Pens and Mark-B-Gone Pens (can be purchased in class from instructor.)


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4015 Embroidered Appliqué Surprise $75
8am-4pm
Sarah Vedeler www.sarahvedelerdesigns.com
SKILL LEVEL: All
Join Sarah in "Embroidered Appliqué Surprise" to learn:
  • Sarah's secrets to stabilizing success.
  • How to prepare a quilt top for multiple hoopings.
  • How to align your background fabric in the hoop.
  • How to position the appliqué shapes exactly where they need to be.
  • Why Sarah loves to use the AccuQuilt GO! cutter and dies to cut all of her appliqué shapes.
Sedona Surprise is the featured design collection in this class – you will make a 12" OR 16" block (you choose - whichever one you don't make in class you can take home to make there) which can be finished as a small pillow or wall hanging.
EMBROIDERY MACHINES PROVIDED BY: BERNINA
SUPPLY LIST: 
Downloadable PDF



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4019 Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Feathers but... $75
8am-4pm
Patsy Thompson http://www.patsythompsondesigns.com
SKILL LEVEL: Intermediate
...You Were Afraid to Ask!
If you've ever admired machine-quilted feathers and wished you could stitch them yourself, then this class is for you! We'll begin by learning the basics of feather construction by stitching the freeform feather, and then move to learning how to stitch feathers with a stitched spine. Next, we'll learn to stitch feathers inside different shapes, and this will teach you how easy it is to fill all kinds of shapes on your quilt top with feather designs. Next up, we'll learn how to stitch asymmetric feathers and feathers with alternative plume shapes. We'll also learn some feather embellishment techniques where we hyper-quilt or over-quilt an already stitched feather with decorative threads. This class will give you so many wonderful ideas of how to stitch feathers that you'll want to stitch them everywhere! NOTE:This is not a class for a beginner-level free motion quilter.
SEWING MACHINES PROVIDED BY: BROTHER
HANDOUT FEE: $2.00
SUPPLY LIST: 
Downloadable PDF


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4020 Mastering the Art of McTavishing $200
8am-4pm
Karen McTavish www.designerquilts.com
SKILL LEVEL: Confident Beginner
This is a domestic machine quilting class. Mastering the Art of McTavishing will help you master, understand and quilt the popular background filler called McTavishing. This background filler is free motion but with a few tricks. Quilts become award winning from appliqué to wholecloth, plus it's fun!
SEWING MACHINES PROVIDED BY: JANOME
KIT FEE: $15 - Includes thread, marking tools, handouts.
Supply List: 
Downloadable PDF



4020-KM


5008 Electric Quilt-Beyond the Basics $75
8am-4pm
Linda Matteotti www.lindamatteotti.com
THIS IS A COMPUTER SKILLS CLASS
SKILL LEVEL: A basic knowledge of Electric Quilt.
A class for students who want to more experience with the EQ7 software. Explore the extensive features of Electric Quilt such as the Libraries (block, fabric, palette, embroidery and layout. Learn to use the 3 layers; layer 1 for a quilt, layer 2 to set applique, and layer 3 to apply actual quilting stitches. A basic knowledge of Electric Quilt is essential for success in this class.
REQUIRED: Laptop with the EQ7 program loaded.
SUPPLY LIST: Downloadable PDF
5008-LM



5010 Trapunto by Machine $75
8am-4pm
Jill Schumacher http://www.quiltmakertothequeen.com
SKILL LEVEL: Confident Beginner
In this class, and using your home sewing machine, you will learn the art of machine trapunto. I will teach you the easy techniques that will allow you to create that dramatic stuffed effect of your quilting designs, without having to cut the back of your fabric and stuff. It will add another dimension to your masterpiece quilt.
It is said, "Quilting makes the quilt". Wait until you see what trapunto by machine will do for your quilt.
SEWING MACHINES PROVIDED BY: BERNINA
SUPPLY LIST: 
Downloadable PDF
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5011 Line It Up $130
8am-4pm
Lisa M Sipes thatcrazyquiltygirl.blogspot.com
SKILL LEVEL: Confident Beginner to Intermediate
THIS IS A HANDS-ON LONGARM CLASS
Straight lines look so simple, but have you ever done straight lines that were truly straight? It's more difficult than some think, and less difficult than others! In this class you will learn how to make straight-straight lines and use them to make a big impact in your quilting. Line-work is no longer just cross-hatching and piano keys or backgrounds and borders. They can also be used as their own amazing design elements. Learn how to maximize the textural possibilities in many ways, including Lisa's own signature triple stitch!
LONGARM MACHINES PROVIDED BY: GAMMILL
SUPPLY LIST: Thread snips, good quality straight-line ruler (I suggest Janet-Lee's Other Favorite available from 
thegadgetgirls.com
)



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5014 Borders and Backgrounds $130
8am-4pm
Angela Walters www.quiltingismytherapy.com
SKILL LEVEL: All
THIS IS A HANDS-ON LONGARM SESSION
Deciding on quilting designs for your quilt borders and backgrounds doesn't need to be stressful or overwhelming. This informative class will show you several different designs to use in your background and borders. Angela will also show you easy ways to tackle those borders and how to tweak the designs to create different effects. From Wavy Lines, creating intresting texture, to interesting feather fillers, you will leave with plenty ideas. Bring your questions and a go-for-it attitude!
LONGARM MACHINES PROVIDED BY: HANDI QUILTER
SUPPLY LIST: Pencil or Pen for sketching. Paper or Sketchbook (optional), Camera to take pictures (optional)


5014-AWtb

6008 EQStitch-Introduction to Digitizing $75
8am-4pm
Linda Matteotti www.lindamatteotti.com
THIS IS A COMPUTER SKILL CLASS
SKILL LEVEL: Basic knowledge of Electric Quilt
EQStitch is the newest add-on to the Electric Quilt software. EQStitch will allow EQers to use their knowledge and experience with EQ7's drawing tools to design and create beautiful embroidery and machine applique quilt blocks. A basic knowledge of Electric Quilt (or the basic class Beginning Electric Quilt) is essential for success in this class.
RECOMMENDED: Laptop Computer with EQStitch loaded, however, a computer is not necessary. Students have great success with following the demonstrations and taking notes.
NOTE: A temporary version is not available for EQStitch program.
SUPPLY LIST: 
Downloadable PDF


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6010 Feathers & Backgrounds $75
8am-4pm
Jill Schumacher http://www.quiltmakertothequeen.com
SKILL LEVEL: Confident Beginner
This class is for those who have explored beginning machine quilting but would like to learn more. This class is geared toward the quilter who can do simple machine quilting basics but wants to learn more elaborate designs and how to stitch them. Jill will teach you to quilt a beautiful feathered wreath or heart with a feather border and even some decorative background quilting stitches will be explored. You will have a miniature whole cloth quilt suitable for a wall hanging or to be made into a designer pillow when you complete your project.
SEWING MACHINES PROVIDED BY: BERNINA
Supply List: 
Downloadable PDF



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7008 Kaleidoscope Embroidery: From Photos to Fabulous
8am-3pm
Jeanie Sumrall-Ajero www.kalcollections.com
SKILL LEVEL: All
Discover the magic of creating kaleidoscope designs from your own photos in Kaleidoscope Kreator™ software; then learn how to embellish those kaleidoscopes with coordinated machine embroidery designs. Topics covered: Tips and tricks for using Kaleidoscope Kreator, printing on inkjet fabric, stabilizers, and special alignment techniques as well as a bit of color theory. We will work on an 8" filigree kaleidoscope design that can be finished either as a miniature quilt, pillow or wall art.
EMBROIDERY MACHINES PROVIDED BY: BERNINA
Floriani embroidery thread and stabilizer for this class provided by RNK Distributing.
KIT FEE; $15 Includes Pre-printed 8" filigree kaleidoscope design on ink-jet ready fabric, one filigree embroidery design, one fat quarter of coordinating batik fabric and 12-page illustrated hand-out.
LAPTOP COMPUTER REQUIRED and loaded with Kaleidoscope Kreator 3 software with Filigrees Template Pack
SUPPLY LIST: 
DOWNLOADABLE PDF

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And there are some great lectures too!

8604 "What Were Those Judges Thinking?" $5
5pm-6pm, Saturday Night
Stevii Graves
Stevii Graves, Road's judging coordinator since 2002, will give insight into what judges consider when awarding ribbons. Entering a quilt into the correct category, how art quilts are judged differently than traditional quilts and how judges compare hand quilting and machine quilting will also be discussed.


Of course, I'd like to attend every class and lecture that is offered, but that isn't possible.  So, I'm using this week to prioritize what I want to take before registration officially begins on Saturday, July 13th.  I am curious what  you'd like to take?  Wouldn't it be fun to take a class together?

To view the class schedule and descriptions you need to create a free account and login at


email if you have questions:  
Road to California, Inc.
1160 N Dewey Way, Suite A
Upland, CA 91737


Road to California Quilters Conference & Showcase
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1 comment:

Wacky Woman said...

They have a wonderful line up this year and I won't be able to attend this year. I'm so pouting.