Quilting Adventures

Seven Sisters Quilt Show, San Luis Obispo
April 25 - 27, 2008
Trip Coordinator: Pam Overton (310) 546-5990; pam@travelingquilters.com

We had such a great time last year on our San Luis Obispo Quilting Sideways trip that we've planned another one! This time our primary destination will be the Seven Sisters Quilt Show at the new Madonna Inn Convention Center. Seven of the Central Coast quilt guilds have joined together to stage this show. That means quilts from seven guilds and (at last count) about 40-50 vendors. Worth the drive, don't you think?

And then, to top it all off, we're staying at the Madonna Inn. Yes, this is your chance to stay in one of those kitschy, themed rooms you've been hearing about for years!

With so many vendors at the show, we'll probably make only one or two quilt shop stops en route, but we have planned a fun evening tour at Hearst Castle. Perhaps another place that you've heard about but haven't seen! A winery stop, dinner on your own at the Embarcadero in Morro Bay, and more. Hope you can join us.

Lowell Quilt Festival and a Slice of Massachusetts
August 4 - 9, 2008
Trip Coordinator: Lynn Crawford (760) 249-8869; lynn@travelingquilters.com

Come with us to Lowell, MA, home of the New England Quilt Museum and the Lowell Quilt Festival. We will be staying at the Doubletree Hotel in downtown Lowell for the entire trip, which makes visiting all the different show venues very easy. We will also enjoy the following:

• Sightseeing in Boston including the John F. Kennedy Library and Museum, Isabella Stuart Gardner Museum, the famous Boston Duck Tour
• Tour Salem, Marblehead, and Gloucester. Shopping in Rockport at Bearskin Neck and enjoy a Lobster Bake dinner
• Olde Sturbridge Village with a special tour focusing on textiles at the village
  Full day in Lowell to visit the different quilt show venues
• Tour of Lexington and Concord with a visit to the Louisa May Alcott House
  
• Quilt shops (of course!)
• The Cracker Barrel for dinner one night - can't miss that!

This tour includes land package only: 5 nights, 3 dinners, 1 lunch, breakfast every day, admission to all activities, and driver and guide gratuities. $250 deposit required.

One of the "local" quilt shops in a former church!	Boots Mill Museum
Louisa May Alcott's family home	Tsongas Arena - The primary venue for the Lowell Quilt Festival

Day Trips
All trips depart from Fullerton, Redondo Beach, and Westfield Mall (formerly Fox Hills) unless otherwise noted.

Long Beach Summer Quilt Festival
July 26, 2008
San Diego Trip Coordinator: Ruth Jones (858) 569-6947; ruth@travelingquilters.com
Victorville/Wrightwood Trip Coordinator: Lynn Crawford (760) 249-8869; lynn@travelingquilters.com

We are offering two different bus trips to this brand new quilt show in Long Beach. Ruth will be offering two buses from the San Diego area. Lynn is offering a bus from the Victorville/Wrightwood area. This show is sponsored by Quilts Inc. (Houston International Quilt Festival/Chicago Quilt Festival) so if you've never been to the Houston or Chicago shows this is your chance to check out a major international quilt show right in our own back yard! There will be a lot of quilts on display along with a variety of special exhibits. The array of vendors will boggle your mind! We expect this trip to fill VERY quickly so do send your reservation in early.

San Diego: $37 per person (does not include admission)
Victorville/Wrightwood: $39 per person (does not include admission)

Weekend Trips

Temecula Quilt-Away Retreats
June 5 - 8, 2008: Join us Thursday, June 5 for 3 nights, or Friday, June 6 for 2 nights through Sunday, June 8.
Trip Coordinator: Lynn Crawford (760) 249-8869; lynn@travelingquilters.com

Our Temecula Quilt-Away Retreats are always fun and productive weekends. It's a great opportunity to finish projects or start something new. We usually have anywhere from 30 to 45 people at the retreat so it's always fun to see what people are working on. Each person has half an 8-ft table for sewing space in our large, well-lit classroom. We have two weekends planned in 2008.

If you haven't been to our Temecula retreat before you're in for a treat! Our host for the weekend is Vina de Lestonnac Retreat Center - a religious retreat center run by the Sisters of Little Company of Mary. The center is nestled in the heart of the wine country region of Temecula. We have ample, well-lit sewing space, clean comfortable rooms with two single beds and private baths, and our favorite part - the nuns do all the cooking. All we have to do is march up the hill to the cafeteria for simple, but delicious meals. Check the website www.vinalestonnac.com for more information about this lovely retreat center. This is a "drive yourself" weekend.