Over 20,000 quilters stormed the halls of the Convention Center in Ontario, Ca., last week to attend one of the biggest quilt shows in the West—the "Road to California".  They came by the car load and bus load (17 buses on Saturday alone!) to see, touch and buy--and to get inspired!

The four-day show was full of quilts, exhibits, vendors, lectures, classes, and white gloved volunteers.

Carolyn Reese, owner of the show, has been hosting this event for about 10 years.   For years, she has relied on a big crew of volunteers to hang quilts and prepare the center for the event.  And each year, the crowds just keep getting bigger!

Gregory Case, a professional photographer, and I attended the show daily and I thought you might be interested is seeing a “photo essay” of the event.  The quilt contest winners are posted on the Road to California website…so you can go there to see some incredible quilts…but what we have to show you is the “flavor” of the show…

For today’s posting, I am calling it “Getting Ready”—which showcases the Volunteers, Vendors, and some Very Important Quilts.  There was lots of vacuuming, quilt hanging, booth building and quilt judging going on the day before the event opened.

 
Gregory will be posting a complete photo essay on his website in the near future.  But for now, here is “taste” of the show—the day before the doors open.

 (All photos taken by and property of Gregory Case.  Photo Captions: A vendors booth ready for the atendeess to buy, buy, buy!; A trio of quilting sisters volunteers to hang quilts each year; A madhouse of boxes as vendors unload and ready for the show; A volunteer places ribbons on the award winning quilts; Volunteers unpack and  get the quilts ready to hang for display;  A volunteer makes the finishing touches to the quilt display area.)