Artist Tara Ritacco Tells Quilters Guild to ‘Meet Fate Halfway’

Professional textile and mixed media artist shares her artistic inspirations with the El Camino Quilters Guild.

Co-presidents Kathy Proctor (left) and Kris Doan (right) address the El Camino Quilters Guild at the Dove Library in Carlsbad, Calif. on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. (Photo by Lindsay Sopko).

By LINDSAY SOPKO

Art is in the eye of the beholder–and for a special few, it’s also between their fingertips.

More than 175 members of the El Camino Quilters Guild packed the Carlsbad Library auditorium on March 11 to behold the art of Tara Ritacco. Surrounded by piles of bespoke fabric, Ritacco recounted her years of experience as a Los Angeles gown draper, Disney costume designer, and educator at Saddleback College and the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising. Her takeaway from decades of artistic innovation: you have to make art for yourself.

“Trust your gut,” Ritacco said, “If it doesn’t feel right, you don’t have to” do it.

This philosophy is a driving force for El Camino Quilters Guild member Susan Baker. As a former elementary school teacher, Baker incorporated her love of the craft into her curriculum.

“I did a lot of my quilting with my kids when I taught geometry, and we’d do it with paper,” Baker said. Once she retired, Baker began hosting quilting workshops.

“To trade one love for another,” Baker said. “That was not a stretch.”

Founded in 1986, the El Camino Quilters Guild celebrates their 40th anniversary this year. Around 200 people strong, the group’s activities run the gamut from monthly meetings and workshops, to “block” parties and “UFOs” – otherwise known as “unfinished object” challenges. The guild’s mission is “to educate, inspire and encourage the art of quilting and to support local charities.”

For Emily Price and Jessica Smith, the art of quilting quickly became an entrepreneurial pursuit. Members of the guild and co-owners of Escondido-based small business Emily and Jessica Make Stuff, the duo rework vintage clothing to create modern garments and custom dancewear. Most recently, their costumes were featured in the Golden State Ballet’s performance of The Nutcracker.

“The whole ballet Nutcracker season this year was pretty epic,” Smith said. “It was a good year.”

For guild members, the most profound showcase of their talents, though, may be their “cuddling” work. A subset of the El Camino Quilters, the “Cuddle” group uses donated fabric to make quilts, baby blankets, pillow cases, and other soft goods for San Diego charities.

In 2025, Cuddle made and donated nearly 2,000 items. Valued at over $60,000, these goods were dispersed amongst groups such as the Trauma Intervention Program, Balboa Naval Hospital NICU, Foundation for Women Warriors, and several others.

For the quilters, this sense of community is what it’s all about.

“I love working with people,” said Ritacco, “I just love collaborating cause I learn so much.”