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Contrary to popular belief, quilting isn’t just a woman’s hobby. Men, like one of Road to California’s 2013 winners, Jerry Granata, enjoy quilting too. To find out what brought our men visitors to Road this year, we stopped several of them in the main hallway and asked them why they were there. Their responses might surprise you:

Jason from Rialto, California, came with his wife and her friend. He sews with his wife all day on Fridays and has made three quilts. He said that all the women at the quilt store love him.

Steve from Utah, came with his wife Sandy. They were on vacation and decided to stop by the show because Sandy is a quilter. In the past, Sandy has gone to lots of shows he likes and so he wanted to return the favor. He found Road to be well organized and the quilts “were gorgeous.”

Gary drove his wife and her friend from Palm Springs, California. They were “snowbirds,” visiting for the winter from their home in Kelowne, British Columbia, Canada. Even though he brought a book, Gary was still interested in coming because his wife has a quilting business.  

George, a fireman from Apple Valley, California, met his aunt from Huntington Beach, California, at the show. George remarked how he loves quilts and keeps one that his aunt made for him at the fire station where he works.

Michael Schwartz has been a quilter for 25 years. While his wife is also a quilter, they work on separate projects. Michael is an engineer by profession which he says compliments his hobby. He cuts out fabric with the utmost precision. Watching Michael and his wife quilt has inspired their eight year old granddaughter to start quilting too.

Ron from Canada (another snowbird who winters in Yuma, Arizona) said this was his fourth time to attend Road. While he goes to support his wife who is a big quilter, he enjoys looking around at all the exhibits.

This year was also the fourth time Mike from Dublin, California came to Road. According to Mike, “I come for my wife. I carry her bags, keep her company, and PAY!!

Richard, from Alabama, has come the last 10 years to support his daughter and spend time together. He prefers the “old school” quilts: embroidered, crocheted, and hand pieced.

Howard and Sandee came from Omaha, Nebraska. Sandee is a quilter and Howard supports her by going to “lots of quilt shows” and admits that “this quilt show blows the others away.” Howard has made the furniture for his wife’s quilting room, a room in their house designed exclusively for her hobby.

I met James from Hueneme, California, in one of the classes. After his wife passed away, he was looking for something to do and decided to start quilting. James belongs to the Simi Valley Quilt Guild and attends meetings after work during the week. He likes taking machine quilting classes which he says are “labor intensive but fun.” What does he do with his finished quilts? He displays them on a wall in his home. This was his third Road.  

Whether they come to support their wives, daughters, or friends, browse the exhibits and the vendors, or take a class — men are always welcome at Road.

Have you brought the man in your life to Road?

The Contest rules are posted!!

Waiting for your big news?  Keep reading

UPLAND, CA June 13, 2013.  Road to California, Inc. is proud to announce the creation of a new category in its January Contest.  The category focuses on Modern Quilts and calls for entries that encompass the modern aesthetic. 

Road to California, Inc.’s contest already provides quilters from traditional to abstract a category to enter.  The addition of a modern category will allow further diversity into Road to California’s existing contest.

Quilters’ are eligible to enter their modern quilt into one of two Modern subcategories in the contest.  The first Sub-Category is Modern Piecing, which includes quilts that utilize improvisational piecing techniques.  The second sub-category is Negative Space, which includes quilts set with large amounts of negative space including quilts with alternative grid work and modern abstract design.

Prizes for the new Modern Category include Best Modern Quilt $2,000 sponsored by Modern Quilts Unlimited, Best Modern Piecing $1,000 sponsored by Stash Books ® and Best Use of Negative Space $1,000 sponsored by Stash Books ®.

Modern Quilt’s entered into the new categories will also be eligible to win other prizes including Best of Show $6,000 sponsored by Gammill.  Total cash prizes for Road to California’s 2014 contest totals over $50,000.

Entries must be received by Road to California by October 1, 2013.  Road to California Quilters’ Conference & Showcase runs from January 23 through 26, at the Ontario Convention Center in Ontario California.

For the past two years, Road to California has acquainted its guests with France’s last manufacturer of needles and pins, Bohin France. Founded in 1833, Bohin has always attached great importance to the quality of its products, out of respect for the work itself, and a job well done. Today, the company’s high standards, knowledge, and experience, have made it a leader in its field.

Headquartered in Normandy, France since 1920, its factory is registered as a historic building. Nineteenth century machines are still used to engineer and design their products. Beginning in 2014, a museum is going to open at the factory, sharing the history and tradition of Bohin France’s needles, pins, and safety pins.

To President and Chairman, Mr. Didier Vrac, Bohin France is “not just a business.” Sixteen years ago, Mr. Vrac brought the company from near extinction. It was important to him to restore the same age old manufacturing techniques for what the company has always been known for. Needles and pins are polished individually by the antique machines, insuring a sharp point. The eyes of the needles are also well polished — something modern manufacturing has left out. 

Not only are the manufacturing techniques unique to Bohin France, but the materials it uses are as well.  The Murano glass for their glass-head pins comes from Italy. And their fine pins are made from the same material that is used in piano wire. Why? Because that material has a memory; it will always come back to its original form, no matter how much you fling it.

Primarily known as France’s only manufacturer of needles, Bohin has diversified in to an international company, featuring over 4,500 products that are distributed on four continents: Europe, Asia, Oceania, and North America.

How did an established French sewing and notions institution make its way to the United States? A few years back, Mr. Vrac met an American at a French quilt show who said that Americans would appreciate his products.  After that meeting, the company sent 1,000 needles along with a letter of introduction to 1,000 quilt shops in America, touting the quality of their signature product. That was the beginning of establishing contacts throughout the U.S..  Mr. Vrac and Marketing Manager, Jerome Doussard, enjoy coming to Road to California because they like to visit with real customers, listening intently to what they have to say about their products. And from what we’ve heard, our attendees are delighted  not only with Bohin France’s line of products, but with Didier and Jerome’s French accents as well!!  Road to California is pleased to have  Bohin France back again in 2014.

What do you think about the history and quality of Bohin France?