Donna

I'm Donna and the proud owner of The Calico Horse.  It was always my dream to own a quilt store and I'm thrilled that it came true three years ago.

  I learned quilting from my grandma many years ago.  I was so happy when my daughter, Michelle, expressed an interest in learning to quilt.  She always loved the quilts I made and was happy to "put her order in" for a quilt and I made her a lot!  I was very excited when she wanted to try her hand at the
art and happily taught her.  I'm proud to say she is now an accomplished quilter....now I'm waiting for her to want to try her hand at my long-arm.

I feel very fortunate to have a wonderful staff here at The Calico Horse.  Each of my employees has their own unique talent and personality.  The combined talents and efforts of everyone that works at The Calico Horse is what makes our shop so special!

 Debbie

I took my first quilting class many years ago when Deb owned The Calico Horse and loved it.  Quilting took a backseat with all that goes with raising three children.

Donna and I have been friends for years and when she bought The Calico Horse it was the perfect time for me to get back to my sewing machine.  Even now, during my busy work time I love to stop by the shop to visit with friends and see and feel all of the wonderful new fabric.   I love florals!

For me, quilting is relaxing.  I just love sitting at my sewing machine and making something beautiful either it's for my mom, my three kids or my daughter in law... or myself.   Sometimes it's hard to give a quilt away!  I enjoy all of my quilts and friendships from The Calico Horse!

Dora

Hi...I'm Dora and I am so excited to be a part of Donna's team here at The Calico Horse! I have been quilting for almost 8 years now. I knew after my first quilting class that I was hooked!

My Grandmother is definitely my inspiration, she always sewed for all of her grandchildren and when I started 7th grade, I took my first sewing class to learn to sew like my Grandma. Well, needless to say, I loved it! I would beg my Mom to take me "fabric shopping!" My Grandma would kindly ask for my "scraps." Shortly thereafter, wrapped so pretty under our Christmas tree was my first quilt from my Grandma made from all those "scraps" she so kindly asked me for, she is and always will be my Hero!!!

I look forward to meeting many new quilt friends and making more special quilt memories here at The Calico Horse!

Jeannie

Hi, my name is Jeannie and I'm a wife, mom to three grown daughters and gramma to two grandsons and three granddaughters. After many years of raising family and working full-time, I finally took Susan's beginner class and fell in love with quilting.

Happily along with the quilting, I've become fast friends with my fellow classmates. We call ourselves the quirky quilters.

 Jessica

This is Jessica, Wendy's daughter.  Jess is a high school senior that helps out on Thursday afternoons.  She has become fast friends with "L2" and they have wonderful conversations and laughs as they cut and fold fabric.  The difference in their ages seems nonexistent, a perfect blend of wisdom and young ideals.

Jess has been sleeping under handmade quilts since she was a baby, from her grandmother and now her mom.  She just made her first quilt under Leslie's direction and is looking forward to making a quilt for her best friend to take to college.

Jess is so excited about heading to Cal State Fullerton in the fall.  We'll miss her but we're so happy for her & know she'll be back to visit with grand stories about Orange County!

Leslie

I'm Leslie and you'll find me most Friday afternoons at The Calico Horse.  I teach beginning quilting and some advanced classes, too.  I love to be there for that "ah-ha!" moment when beginners see their first quilt top completed.

Linda (L1)

I'm one of the "Monday Girls" at The Calico Horse and love it! My name is Linda but around here I'm known as "L1" because there are two Linda's, the other is my dearest friend.  We're part of a quilting group that meets at least once a week here at the shop.

I have sewn forever, my grandmother taught me.  I used to sew clothes for my mom's friends to earn extra money when I was in high school and I made my wedding dress! Quilting was something I promised myself I would do when "I retire."  I'm a printer by trade and that's how I found out about The Calico Horse.  I used to make copies for Jimmy, the original owner, when the shop was in San Bernardino.  In 2001 I tried to "semi-retire" from my printing business which was impossible but I did keep the promise to myself and started taking quilting classes at The Calico Horse.  Here I am, twenty years later making copies for The Calico Horse again and quilting, it's great!

My favorite color is red (at the moment.)  Next week it could be something else!  I'm the self professed "Charm & Jelly Roll Queen" my sewing room is bursting with them.  I love making the latest idea that Donna comes up with for them.  I'm sure I'll be loving the cake layers once the patterns for them are finished.  The best thing about sewing is the friends, the people at The Calico Horse and at home my furry friends.  I have two dogs who are at my side every time I'm in my sewing room.

Linda (L2)

Where do I begin! My name is Linda (aka L2) or the Bling-Bling Girl.

I have been quilting about seven years and love it.  I also love fabric, fabric, and more fabric! I'm also known as the Thursday girl at The Calico Horse which I enjoy very much.

I have felt especially blessed this year because I had my first grandchild, Cailyn.  She's wonderful!!!  She's the pecan of my praline (that's Louisiana talk)!

I'm also blessed with wonderful quilters around me and my lifelong friend Linda (aka L1.)  Quilting bonds us even closer.  Our quilt shop, The Calico Horse, is where memories and friendships are made for a lifetime!

Michelle

This is Michelle, Donna's daughter.  She has become a wonderful quilter in her own right. Her younger and more modern tastes have helped bring different fabrics into The Calico Horse that our customers love, too.

Michelle enjoyed decorating and design from the time she was a little girl.  She's now decorating her own house that she shares with her dog, Sable.

You can usually find Michelle at The Calico Horse on Wednesday nights sewing on a project, Friday afternoons and some Saturday's.  She keeps us going on Friday afternoons when she pulls in with our Starbucks order!  She has a great eye for color and if you pull a bolt of fabric as a starting point she can help you pull together fabric from our shelves to create a quilt unique to you.  Michelle is definitely carrying on the family legacy of quilting by making quilts. Visit her there for wonderful fabric & the fun escapades of her and her dog Sable.

In the mid 70s when Country Living Magazine first came out I fell in love with all the old quilts that were pictured. Since I had been sewing for many years, I knew I could make one. At that time I took my first quilting class. To this day, traditional quilts are my favorites.

I have been a member of the Busy Bear Quilt Guild in Big Bear since 1996. I have entered many quilts in our annual quilt show and have won several ribbons. I have also won ribbons at the Glendale Quilt Guild’s annual quilt show in Burbank.

I have taught quilting and machine quilting since 2001.

 Susan

I'm Susan and spend Tuesdays and Thursday evenings and many Saturday's at The Calico Horse.

My grandmother handquilted daily so I grew up with quilts and quilting.  In fact, I got my first "store bought" blanket when I went to college.  I did clothing and home decorator sewing until my first "official" quilting class in 1973.

I sewed as time allowed until I retired from teaching.  I guess I never really left the classroom as I still teach, only now it's grown up ladies instead of elementary school kiddos.  I love watching and guiding the process of someone's first quilt.  The friendships formed and laughter heard in my classes makes me feel like I'm doing something right as quilts are made.  I'm excited and honored to be an instructor at Road to California 2009!

A love of quilting, quilters and teaching makes my time at The Calico Horse perfect!

 Wendy

I'm Wendy, the "Girl Friday" at The Calico Horse.  I took my first beginning quilting class at The Calico Horse six years ago having spent many years sewing dolls and animals.  Sewing straight 1/4" seams is a little different than sewing curved body parts but I figured it out!  My first quilt was for my daughter's bed and there have been several more for her, currently I'm making a quilt that she will take to college next year that includes stitchery.  I thought it would be a quick little project but it keeps growing...

I bought a long arm quilting machine when Donna bought The Calico Horse so my hobby quickly became my work...at home which I love!  I spend many hours a week quilting.  My biggest vice, next to fabric would have to be itunes.  I'm forever downloading music and burning cd's to have plenty of good music while I quilt.  I look forward to Friday's, closing up my quilting room and spending the day with Donna rearranging The Calico Horse and getting to see and help our customers & friends.