Red Feathers, where she did the quilting on, won Best of Show in 2013.
[caption id="attachment_4212" align="aligncenter" width="442"]
Red Feathers – Best of Show Road to California 2013. Made by Claudia Clark Myers. Quilted by Marilyn Badger.[/caption]
And at Road 2016, Marilyn won 1st Place for Traditional, Large Pieced for her quilt, Arandano. 
Arandano was a therapy project for Marilyn. After making quilts for competition for so many years, this was her first quilt she made just for herself. She never intended to enter it in a show. However, as she approached the end of the project, she decided that maybe Arandano was good enough to enter into competition. When she made the decision to enter it, Marilyn had to go back and correct a lot of flaws to make it competitive. It took her 1-1/2 years to complete from piecing to hand beading. Marilyn says she learned a lot about hand embroidery and beading and she really loved adding those touches to Arandano.
Quilting Treasures sponsored the Traditional, Large, Pieced category and awarded Marilyn $1,000 for her first place win. Of winning this prize, Marilyn remarked, “It is always wonderful to have a quilt you have put so much work on win it’s first time out in the competitive world. I was thrilled and even more so at Paducah where it won the $20,000 Best of Show award and became a permanent part of the collection of the National Quilt Museum. It just doesn’t get any better than that!”
What did Marilyn think when she was asked to be the Featured Artist for Road to California 2017? “Totally shocked! Road to California is one of my favorite shows and I have attended either as a teacher, vendor or student for as many years as I can remember. To have my quilts on display there will be awesome and I can’t wait to meet and talk with all the quilters who stop by to see my exhibit.”
[caption id="attachment_4216" align="aligncenter" width="440"]
Exuberance by Marilyn Badger[/caption]
In her role as featured artist, Marilyn hopes to encourage more quilters to enter competitions, as well as inspire the younger generation of quilters to continue the art form. “It has been such a passion of mine for over 30 years and I want to see the industry continue to grow, ” shared Marilyn. In her booth near the front of the show floor, Marilyn will have on display as many of her award winning quilts that can fit into the area. APQS will be furnishing a machine for her use during the show. Marilyn will be quilting some of her own small quilts and demonstrating how she accomplishes her quilting techniques.
[caption id="attachment_4218" align="aligncenter" width="300"]
Photo by APQS[/caption]
Marilyn lives in St. George, Utah. Besides being Road’s featured artist, what else does she hope to do while she is in California? “Enjoy the nice weather and perhaps go do a little car racing with my friends.” Be sure to stop by Marilyn’s booth and ask her about that car racing!!
To learn more about Marilyn, please visit her Facebook Page.
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Posts Tagged ‘Road to California’
Meet Road 2017 Featured Artist: Marilyn Badger
Tuesday, August 2nd, 2016Two Ways To Show Off Your Quilt for Road 2017
Thursday, July 14th, 2016Do you have a quilt that you have been working on that you would like to share with the public?
Road to California 2017 is offering two opportunities for quilters to enter their quilt designs – one that we are known for and a new one for quilts to be part of a special exhibit.
First, there is Road’s annual Quilt Contest. For 2017, quilters have the chance to vie for prize money totaling $90,000. Once again, Gammill is sponsoring the Best of Show category, offering $10,000 for the top prize. [caption id="attachment_4055" align="aligncenter" width="404"]
Best of Show Road 2016 – Silk Road Sampler by MelissaSobotka[/caption]
Road receives hundreds of entries each year in their annual contest for the fifteen categories. In order to qualify to enter, quilts have to have been made since January 1, 2015 and could not have been entered in a Road contest previously. The quilts have to been made with three distinct layers and no pre-quilted fabrics can be used.
[caption id="attachment_4093" align="aligncenter" width="336"]
2016 Outstanding Modern Quilt by Linda M. Thielfoldt[/caption]
Individuals can enter up to 3 quilts in the contest. Entry packets can be obtained on the Road website and must be received at Road’s office (either online or by mail) no later than October 3, 2016. Entrants are notified by November 28, 2016 if their quilt is chosen for the competition. Quilters then have until December 23, 2016 to ship their quilt to Road’s office.
[caption id="attachment_4035" align="aligncenter" width="327"]
2016 Director’s Choice by Kathy McNeil[/caption]
Judging for the contest will take place on January 17, 2017. Besides the top prizes, judges also consider three winners for each of the categories offered. All winners are notified the evening of the 17th.
[caption id="attachment_4110" align="aligncenter" width="336"]
2016 Outstanding Traditional Quilt by Bethanne G. Nemesh[/caption]
For more information on our 2017 Quilt Contest, please visit our website.
If you have a modern design quilt that you are proud of, perhaps you might consider entering it in the Special Exhibit, Modern Quilts – Redesigning Traditions. While no prize money is being offered, accepted quilts earn the prestige of being included in this special display.
The exhibit will be shown at the Ontario Museum of History and Art in Ontario, California, December 1, 2016 through January 22, 2017 – which includes time during Road 2017.
Modern Quilts: Redesigning Tradition, explores the modern evolution of traditional quilt patterns. Entries must adhere to the exhibit theme: traditional quilt blocks redesigned into a quilted item displaying Modern Quilting aesthetics. The traditional block used as inspiration must be identified by its commonly used name on the entry form.
[caption id="attachment_3839" align="aligncenter" width="296"]
Not Your Grandmother’s Wedding by Pauline Saltzman[/caption]
Submissions considered for acceptance to the exhibit include quilts, bags, pillows, and table coverings. All entries must consist of three distinct layers: top, middle layer and backing and must be quilted by hand and/or machine. No entry can exceed 96” wide. Due to shipping restrictions, quilted upholstered furniture will not be accepted.
[caption id="attachment_3842" align="aligncenter" width="297"]
Square in a Square by Christa Watson[/caption]
The deadline to submit entries is August 15, 2016. Accepted pieces will be notified by October 1, 2016. Interested sewists can request detailed information and an entry form from Guest Curator, Geroganna Hawley at ghawley@ontarioca.gov
Road to California is looking forward to all the submissions for both of these events. What quilt will you be entering for Road’s contests?
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Mixing Generations Makes Great Quilt Friends
Friday, July 8th, 2016 
Valerie Hall and Velma Anderson, age 80, met two years ago through their quilt guild, the African American Quilt Guild. The guild was having its show and Valerie struck up a conversation with Velma while waiting in line to buy fabric. Velma has been quilting since she was 9 years old. Valerie is just starting out. She says she is “learning the process.” Velma said that she is “trying to be a good example to Valerie in helping her quilt.” Road 2016 was Valerie’s first time at the show and she “loved it.” The show was Velma’s 5th time. She enjoyed the show as well but remarked, “I never have enough money.”
These three friends are each exactly 10 years apart in age. All from the Seattle area, Lois was born in 1949, Teresa was born in 1959, and Michele was born in 1969. They met 12 years ago at a quilt retreat. All three wanted to quilt, but didn’t have any quilting friends, so they signed up for the retreat and have been friends ever since. They came to Road 2016 with their quilt teacher and three other friends. Because of their teacher, Lois, Teresa, and Michele prefer traditional quilting using Civil War fabrics. However, they did say, “We also like to get out of the box.” They stayed the whole week of Road, starting with Preview Night on Wednesday, where they appreciated seeing all the quilts without the crowds. During the show, they had expectations to see high quality quilts and do a lot of shopping. They all agreed that their expectations were met. And what made their trip even more fun was that Teresa was a grand prize winner, having won 2 tickets to Road from a contest Road had sponsored last fall.
[caption id="attachment_4158" align="aligncenter" width="625"]
Charlotte, Brittany and Lisa[/caption]
Lisa and Charlotte are running buddies. Lisa was always talking about her quilting and Charlotte wanted to learn how to quilt, so in 2012, Lisa started teaching her. After Charlotte began quilting, that interested her daughter Brittany to start. Now, Lisa, Charlotte and Brittany all belong to the same quilt guild. Lisa has been coming to Road since it began 21 years ago. She enjoys coming to the show because “it is a wonderful opportunity to meet other quilters.”
No matter your age, sharing a love of quilting can break down any generation gap.]]>
Meet 2016/2017 Vendor: Eye of the Beholder
Wednesday, July 6th, 2016Eye of the Beholder Quilt Design will be returning to Road to California in 2017
How does someone go from professional dancer to quilter?
That is exactly what Margaret Willingham did. For many years, Margaret taught choreography for a modern dance company specializing in classical ballet and modern dance. When Margaret developed major back problems (she had 5 surgeries in 2 years), she realized that teaching dance was no longer an option. Newly divorced, Margaret had to find something she could do to make a living. So she turned to her passions to find the answer. [caption id="attachment_4151" align="aligncenter" width="552"]
Photo by Brian Roberts Photography[/caption]
Margaret loved being creative, artistic, and quilting. For Margaret, fabric was “fun to play with.” She “followed the doors God had given” her and started Eye of the Beholder Quilt Design. She has been in business going on 6 years. Instead of choreographing dances, she is choreographing quilts.
Eye of the Beholder Quilt Design specializes in original applique patterns inspired by the world around us. Margaret has developed a reverse applique process that is “a no brainer.” Just Trace-Baste-Snip-Stitch. Margaret shared that she’s even had 10 year olds master her technique. “People are amazed at how easy and simple of a process it is.” Eye of the Beholder Quilt Designs can also be done as machine reverse applique because Margaret has found that some people don’t like to do hand work.
[caption id="attachment_4148" align="aligncenter" width="625"]
Photo by Brian Roberts Photography[/caption]
From August, 2015 to January, 2016, Margaret put 11,000 miles on her new van traveling to various shows. She spends most of the time in her booth demonstrating her applique steps with her customers. She has also put up tutorials on her website, has a booklet that explains her technique, and writes a blog sharing applique tips and experiences.
[caption id="attachment_4149" align="aligncenter" width="625"]
Photo by Brian Roberts Photography[/caption]
Road 2016 was Margaret’s first time at the show. She had never really been to Southern California before and was excited to be at Road as she had “heard good things about the show.” She is looking forward to returning to Road 2017.
[caption id="attachment_4150" align="aligncenter" width="625"]
Photo by Brian Roberts Photography[/caption]
You can learn more about Eye of the Beholder Quilt Designs on their website.]]>
So You Want To Make A Winning Quilt- Road 2016 Outstanding Art Quilt
Saturday, May 14th, 2016Beach Sculptures was made and quilted by Judy Leslie. She won $5,000 from sponsor Handi Quilter, Inc. for winning Outstanding Art Quilt at Road to California 2016.
[caption id="attachment_4043" align="aligncenter" width="602"]
Photo credit: Judy Leslie[/caption]
Judy Leslie is from Coquitlam, BC Canada. Her original design took about a year to complete. She uses a domestic machine for her quilting!!
How did you get started in quilting? I have always loved designing with fibre (this is the Canadian spelling of fibre!). My interest began as a pre-teen by dreaming up and sewing ‘exotic’ doll clothes for my younger sister. I then moved on to constructing a vast array of garments over the years. About twenty years ago I discovered the wonderful tactile nature of cloth in ‘quilt’ form. I began by making a few traditional style quilts, but soon developed an interest in creating art quilts. Once I retired from a teaching career, I was able to devote more time to experimenting with techniques and designs. I am forever inspired by the lushness of our local landscape as well as recent journeys to other vistas.
What inspired your winning design? My husband and I have spent many winter vacations leisurely exploring Kauai’s beaches. The slowly eroding shoreline produces exquisite ‘beach sculptures’. The remains of trees, with their intertwined roots, are stripped of their bark and gradually reveal incredible tints of creams, pinks and grays.
How long did it take to make your winning quilt? What did you learn along the way? I usually focus on making at least two pieces at a time as I ponder and plan future projects. The complexity of each artwork’s construction means that a single piece may take many weeks or even months to complete. Sometimes family responsibilities or travel takes me away for periods of time, yet often this time allows me to contemplate ways and means of enhancing the projects that I’m in the process of completing. [caption id="attachment_4044" align="aligncenter" width="508"]
Photo Credit: Judy Lesllie[/caption]
What was your reaction when you found out you won Outstanding Art Quilt? I was ecstatic! I was awarded Best Painted Surface at the Road to California in 2013 and I thought that nothing could surpass that thrill. When I received the news I was with my husband and friends on the Big Island of Hawaii wishing I could be at the show in California.
Did you do anything special with your prize money? Other than purchasing a huge selection of threads that I have coveted for at least ten years, my prize money is in my Savings account! My ‘workhorse’ domestic machine has never let me down for eight years; I now have a contingency fund should my machine decide to be uncooperative in the future.
Where do you go from here with your quilting? At the moment I am creating two major pieces. Although I am using different materials and techniques, both pieces have an animal theme. Making art quilts is an important part of my life and I receive immense pleasure from working in this medium of artistic expression.
Since 2007, I have exhibited quilts in a number of major quilt shows and galleries in both Canada and the USA. Many award winning pieces can be viewed on the Fibre Art Network website.
I have taught a variety of classes in the past. Physical limitations now prevent me from this pleasure so I am contemplating self publishing a book on some of my favorite techniques.
Editor’s note: You can read a more detailed account of Judy’s work on Beach Sculptures in the Autumn 2015 edition of The Canadian Quilter magazine CQA/ACC.
]]>How To Win 4 Days Of Road Classes And 4 Hotel Nights At Road 2017
Friday, March 11th, 2016 18th Annual Southern California Quilter’s Run which will be held June 16th – 19th and June 23rd – 26th, 2016.
Visit all 24 participating quilt stores during the Quilter’s Run, have each store stamp the official Score Card, and turn the Score Card in at the last store visited. One lucky winner will be chosen as the Grand Prize Winner of 4 days of classes at Road 2017, a 4 night stay at a local hotel near the Ontario Convention Center, and first pick for registering for the classes before registration is open to the public. Last year’s winner of the Quilter’s Run Grand Prize sponsored by Road to California was Tom Preston of Apple Valley, California.
How else can you enter to win first choice of registering for 4 days of classes and 4 nights at a local hotel for the next Road to California Show? Come to Road 2017 and enter the Tin Lizzie Contest.
That’s exactly what Sherryl Zurek did at the Road 2015 Show. Sheryl had attended Road for “at least 15 years.” She entered the contest because her friends were entering, and as Sheryl put it, “If you don’t enter, you can’t win.” Sheryl did not expect to win so when she heard she had won, she thought someone was playing a trick on her. “I was flabbergasted! Then I became very excited. It meant a lot to me to win because my young dog had passed away 2 months prior and my car with all my sewing gear had been stolen 1 month prior. I really looked forward to going to Road 2016. Whenever I got sad, I reminded myself that I had the retreat coming up!”
The classes Sherryl picked at Road 2016 were: The Thrill of The Fill by Linda Taylor changed to background Fills by Karen Sievert; Carry On Travel Bag by Annie Unrein; Mystical Shapes by Jamie Wallen; and Feather Fills by Laurie Tigner. She chose the 3 longarm classes to help her improve her quilting and took the carry-on bag class because she wanted a custom travel bag.
Sherryl felt her classes gave her confidence to do some really neat quilting. She remarked that the teachers were very inspiring, and helped all their students to recreate some of the techniques they used. She added, “My fellow students were very friendly; it was like getting back together with friends you haven’t seen for some time.”
[caption id="attachment_3869" align="aligncenter" width="555"]
New Quilting Friends (l-r) Robin McKnight, Michelle Shook, and Sherryl Zurek[/caption]
Even though Sherryl just lived 45 minutes from the Ontario Convention Center, she loved staying at the Road hotels because she didn’t have to make the drive each day and didn’t have to get herself up so early to make it to her classed. For Sherryl, it was “like a mini-vacation.”
What did Sheryl think of the experience? “I had the most wonderful time at Road on my Retreat this year. Road is an amazing quilt show! I highly recommend attending and taking classes, for everyone. I learn something new in every class I go to. I also highly recommend signing up for the drawings; you never know when it might be your name that is drawn!”
And so it continues…
At Road 2016, the winner for the Tin Lizzie Road to California Retreat was Mary Van De Brake, a resident of San Dimas, California. Mary said she entered the contest because “she was excited about Tin Lizzie’s shorter, 5 foot long arm machine. I completely forgot about (entering) as I never seem to have my name drawn. I was ecstatic when Carolyn Reese called and told me that I had won.”
Mary has never taken a class at Road before. She wants to sign up for a doll or fairy class as “they are hard to come by locally.” By staying in a hotel, “I don’t have to worry about parking.” Mary has already shared “this adventure” with many of her friends and can’t wait for Road 2017 to get here.
Thank you to Tin Lizzie and Road to California for sponsoring these once in a lifetime prizes.
Will you be the next winner? You won’t know if you don’t enter!!]]>
Meet Matt Reese: Road’s New Show Director AND A New Lawyer
Wednesday, March 2nd, 2016Carolyn Reese, the matriarch and founder of Road to California since 1995, has worked closely with her grandson, Matt Reese, the show’s manager. 
In 2013, while Matt has been overseeing Road to California, he was also enrolled in law school at the University of La Verne. Matt’s studies came to an end last summer when after graduation, he shifted gears and began studying for the California State Bar Exam, administered on July 28, 29 and 30th at of all places, the Ontario Convention Center – home to Road to California.
In order to focus on the bar exam, Matt took a leave of absence from his Road to California duties for 10 weeks, May through July. What was it like for Matt to prepare for the bar exam? “I studied on average 10-12 hours a day (some days more, some days less) and studied for 70 days straight. I did not take a day off. When Road’s registration started, I did pause, but studied again in the afternoon. I at least outlined every bar exam essay question the state of California released since 2001, practiced over 2,000 multiple choice questions and did over 20 performance tests. Even over the Fourth of July I was studying prior to going to my in-laws house for a BBQ. I figured a short summer sacrifice was better than doing this again.” As a newlywed, Matt’s wife Jennifer, also made some sacrifices (well, sort of) while Matt dedicated the 10 weeks to his studying. Matt recalled, “I actually think my wife had a blast while I was studying. She spent a lot of time with her mother crafting and so on. She even made a cuddle quilt for my cousin’s newborn son! She was extremely supportive, and was a great help in keeping me focused and on track.”
During the three days of the exam, Matt would arrive at 7 AM at the Ontario convention Center and did not leave until 5 or 5:30 PM most days. What was the bar exam like? “Overall, the written portion of the bar was pretty straight forward. The multiple choice was difficult – but everyone else thought so too. I would not want to take it again, but it was oddly fun. After we worked so hard to prepare for the test, it felt like normal routine to sit and write the test – and also realize that we wouldn’t have to do this again for a long time!” said Matt. Matt started back to work at Road to California on August 5th, while most of his classmates and friends took the month of August off. Even though he fell back in to his Road duties, it actually took him about a month to recover from all that studying. “My brain was so saturated with information it was hard to focus on anything.”
November 21, 2015 was the day the bar results were published. Multiple news reports were released throughout September, October and November telling how across the nation the bar results were at an all time low. This caused some anxiety for Matt. Also, right before the announcement, on November 19th, Matt’s grandfather passed away. That coupled with the recent death of Carolyn’s sister Glenda, also added to the stress Matt was feeling anticipating the news. Matt, Jen, and his parents put the online results up on the TV so that they could all see the news at the same time. And the news was very good: Matt Reese passed the California Bar Exam on his first try!!! What does the immediate future hold for Matt? He will be transitioning in to a new position: Road’s Show Director. And he will be starting a law practice in estate planning, available to work with clients starting in May. Currently, Road’s office space is being transformed into a dual location — home for the show and also the home for a new law practice – to accommodate Matt’s new responsibilities.
Please join the Road family in congratulating Matt Reese, Estate Planning Lawyer and Show Director for Road to California. ]]>
Road 2016 Highlights
Tuesday, January 26th, 2016Were you one of the over 35,000 guests at Road to California 2016?
Did you enter the Ontario Convention Center to see the magnificent Atrium Display by the Glendale Quilt Guild?
[caption id="attachment_3754" align="aligncenter" width="496"]
Photo by Brian Roberts[/caption]
Did you see the over 1,ooo quilts on display including Best of Show, Silk Road Sampler, by Melissa Sobotka?
Did you shop with one of the 220 retailers that came from 37 states and 7 foreign countries in the 700 merchant booths?
Did you meander around the live trees adorned with twinkly lights in the Pavilion?
[caption id="attachment_3755" align="aligncenter" width="529"]
Photo by Brian Roberts[/caption]
Did you attend one of the 173 classes, lectures, and special events taught by our internationally recognized experts in their field?
[caption id="attachment_3757" align="aligncenter" width="454"]
Natalia Bonner[/caption]
Did you take a bus tour to local sites and quilt shops on one of our bus tours?
Did you get inspired?
We hope you were able to come and participate with all the show had to offer. The next few months, we will be sharing on the blog some of the amazing stories that came out of Road 2016, bringing back wonderful memories and moving forward to future possibilities.
What did you enjoy most about Road to California 2016?
]]>What Exactly Is The Marie White Masterpiece Award?
Friday, January 22nd, 2016 
2016 Marie White Masterpiece Award made and quilted by Janet Stone[/caption]
A couple of years ago, a “very nice lady” came to Carolyn Reese, owner of Road to California, and offered to sponsor the first runner up award on two conditions: One, that she remained anonymous and Two, that Road to California call the award The Marie White Masterpiece Award. Road gladly agreed to her terms.
[caption id="attachment_3411" align="aligncenter" width="448"]
2015 Marie White Masterpiece Award made and quilted by Nancy Prince[/caption]
Marie White is Carolyn Reese’s mother and a woman who was very active in the quilting and doll making world until she passed away five years ago, six weeks shy of her 93rd birthday.
Marie was born in Oklahoma. One day when she was walking home from high school, a busload of young men working at a CCC depression-era camp, passed her on the road. One of the fellows threw a Prince Albert Tobacco Can out the window with a note inside asking her for a date. That fellow was Glenn White and Marie accepted the date. Marie and Glenn were married for 57 years and had two daughters, Carolyn and Glenda.
Carolyn and Marie established The Fabric Patch fabric store in 1981. Their store was featured in the third issue of American Patchwork & Quilting Magazine, making it one of the top thirty stores in the United States. Marie’s specialty was doll making. She also loved working with ribbon embroidery and crazy quilting.
Two of Marie’s dolls are currently on display in a special Cloth Dolls Tell Their Story Exhibit at the Ontario Museum of History and Art. One is a doll she created from a photograph of her mother, Oda Anderson, taken in 1934. The second doll, “Blanche” is one that Marie designed, taught classes and also sold patterns. Blanche was created in honor of Blanche Young, a well-known quilter and author, who was the teacher that started Carolyn in the quilting world.
As they say, now you know “the rest of the story” regarding the first runner up award given at Road to California, The Marie White Masterpiece Award.]]>
While At The Show, Visit The Ontario Museum Of History And Art
Wednesday, January 20th, 2016There’s a lot to see and do at Road to California 2016:
View over 1,000 quilts on display
Shop at 220 retailers in over 700 merchant booths
Take one of the 173 Classes
Attend a Lecture or Special Event
If you still have time left over from your Road visit, we invite you to go just down the road to the Ontario Museum of History and Art
and see their current exhibit,
Cloth Dolls Tell Their Stories
This exhibit showcases artists exploring remembrance, heritage and celebration through cloth dolls. Traditionally, dolls were created to represent a miniature human form, often used as children’s toys. These artists have transformed the meaning of the plaything by pouring tales and imagination into each doll while emphasizing the fun and whimsical. Carolyn Reese, owner of Road to California, has a special interest in this exhibit because two of the dolls in the collection were made by her mother, Marie White. One is a doll Marie created from a photograph of her mother, Oda Anderson, taken in 1934. The second doll, “Blanche” is one that Marie designed, taught classes and also sold patterns. Blanche was created in honor of Blanche Young, a well-known quilter and author, who was the teacher that started Carolyn in the quilting world. A free to the public Artist Reception is being held Saturday, January 23, 2016 from 5:00 –7:00 PM. The Ontario Museum of History & Art is located at 225 S. Euclid Ave. Ontario, CA 91762. Gallery Hours are Noon to 4 PM, Thursday through Sunday. Admission is free. For more information call (909) 395-2510. ]]>
