This week is the start of the four-day Road to California quilt show and exhibit in Ontario California.  I have attended and vended at this show for a few years now and it is always a great adventure to go.

Carloads and busloads come from quilt guilds, quilt shows and friendship groups.  Many save up money and their days off of work to attend all four days --taking classes, shopping, attending lectures and activities and seeing all of the quilt entries.

 

I love that this event is scheduled in the middle of winter…because many “famous” quilter people love the chance to get out of the cold and snow and come to sunny Cal to lecture and teach.  Vendors from all over the country come to sell their wares as  well.  My talented buddy, Barbara Jones, from Quilt Soup designs will be there (as a new vendor from snowy Utah) selling her patterns and kits...and some of her Ellery fabric collection. (Shown below.

The Photo Man, Gregory Case will be documenting the event.  And of course, he will share a few of his photos with us.  That is his photo above from last year. 

Wildman quilter, Mark Lipinski, will be there lecturing and entertaining and teaching, but most smoozing the

crowd with his animated stories.  I plan on “crashing” his Friday night event and secretly reporting back to you! 

Plus, he is doing some sort of Barbie doll quilt challenge for his magazine "Quilter's Home".  See this page for more info. Crazy guy.

You can check out the guest list of teachers and events here.

I am pleased that Carolyn Reese, the owner of Road, has chosen to feature and celebrate Eleanor Burns and her 30 years in the quilting biz. 

 

Eleanor started the modern quilting revolution in the late 70’s.  And you would not be reading this blog had it not been for her teaching her ingenious methods of rotary cutting and strip piecing…and changing the way quilting was done.  And introducing a bigger market to the craft of quilting.

 

I appreciate Eleanor’s energy level and enthusiasm for quilting and quilters.  She is inspiring.

She started with her first book “Log Cabin, Quilt in a Day” and has now written over 85 other ‘how to’ quilt books.

 

Many of the quilts that grace the covers of her books will be on display at the Ontario Convention Center starting Thursday.  I am sure you will recognize many of them.

 

If you ever get a chance to attend this show, head on down to California in January.  It is a great adventure.

 

And if you are coming, stop by the Cranberry Quiltworks booth and say hi.  I will be selling my Gammill Quilting Machines, Threaded Pear Studio patterns and checking out all the good things at the show to share with you.