Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show 2024

2024 Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show™

A Message from SOQS Executive Director Dawn Boyd:

Sparking your Dreamscapes

On behalf of our Board, it is my immense pleasure to welcome you to the 49th annual Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show. We are so pleased that you have joined us to celebrate the art, skill, and heritage of quilting and fiber arts. Whether you are a seasoned quilter, a passionate beginner, or someone who simply appreciates the beauty of handcrafted artistry, our show offers something special for everyone. May the inspiration surrounding you today be the catalyst for your own “Dreamscapes.”

Our theme for our 2024 Show “Dreamscapes” encourages you to seek those ethereal moments, full of imagination and joy – and perhaps mixing both fact and fiction to create something beautiful. This year, we have the joy of sharing a stunning array of quilts, each one’s beauty telling its own unique story through color, pattern, and texture. You will witness an incredible variety of styles, from traditional patchwork to contemporary art quilts, showcasing the incredible diversity and creativity within our quilting community.

Community is at the heart of quilting, and our show is a perfect place to connect with

fellow quilters. We encourage you to share your stories, exchange ideas, and build both new and lasting friendships. Our shared love for quilting binds us together, creating a supportive and enthusiastic environment.

We are deeply grateful to our visitors; your passion and love for quilting bring this show to life. We wouldn’t be able to produce our quilt show without our community: our sponsors, exhibitors, and volunteers all deserve our thanks. Your dedication and support are what make this event possible.

Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show has always been free to attend, and always will be. We hope that you will consider supporting the Quilt Show by becoming a Friend of the Show — your donation helps offset expenses, and helps our Board continue to fulfill that commitment.

We are so thankful you have chosen to join us. As you explore the exhibits, meet other quilters, and enjoy the vibrant day in Sisters, we hope you find inspiration, joy, and a deepened appreciation for the art of quilting.

Enjoy every moment.

— Dawn Boyd

Saturday, July 13, 2024 — 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. —

Always the second Saturday in July Located throughout Sisters No tickets required • No cost to attend

9 a.m. Start of 49th Anniversary Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show “Dreamscapes”

Over 1,000 quilts on display throughout the town of Sisters e “Monarch” Cherrywood Challenge on display at Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire Hall throughout the day

4 p.m. End of Quilt Show Day

Live-feed raffle of the 2024 SOQS Raffle Quilt at the SOQS Office: 220 S. Ash St.

VIRTUAL SHOW-DAY ACTIVITIES ON FACEBOOK LIVE:

7:30 a.m. Welcome to SOQS: Quilt Hanging at Stitchin’ Post 9-11 a.m. Quilts on Display Featured Quilters Quilt Block Challenge 12:30 p.m. Cherrywood Challenge 1 to 4 p.m. Teachers Pavilion WISH Cards Quilt Ra e

For the most up-to-date information, follow us on social media: Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show SistersOutdoorQuiltShow For additional information, or if you miss something, visit www.soqs.org

ADDITIONAL

HAPPENINGS DURING QUILT SHOW WEEK:

Quilter’s A air: Classes held at Sisters High School Monday-Friday leading up to Quilt Show Day. Brought to you by Stitchin’ Post. www.stitchinpost.com

“A Night of Colorful Celebration” ursday, July 11, 6:30–8 p.m. Fundraiser at Sisters High School Tickets at www.soqs.org

Sunday, July 14 • Save It For Sunday Quilts on display at FivePine Lodge

“Dreamscapes” by Cheryl Chapman

Featured quilter touches ‘soul of the land’

By Sue Stafford Correspondent

This year’s Featured Quilter comes from a quilting family. June Jaeger is the sister and aunt of Jean and Valori Wells, owners of Stitchin’ Post. June shares her fabric-dying studio located in her house with her next-door sister, Jean.

The influence of natural landscapes and animals on June is reflected in her quilts. She refers to her art as the “soul of the land.”

“My art tells the story of my connection to the land. Our natural environment is my inspiration for most of my creativity. I find my peace in the silence and often hypnotic sounds of nature. I feel this deep in my soul, needing to create what I see, interpreting my version. My goal is to reflect the ‘spirit’ of my vision into art, filling my soul with purpose, honoring nature,” June wrote.

Horses have been and still are an integral part of June’s life. Her current quarter horse, Jade, an 8-year-old bay, is captured in a fringed leather art piece that hangs in June’s house. One of her pieces on display this year is of five corgis who appear every year pulling a sleigh in the Sisters Christmas Parade.

“My long relationship with horses and the ‘out of doors’ has given me my focus as a pattern designer, painter, quilter, and author of two books,” Jaeger said.

This once aspiring veterinarian ended up an art educator who married a Willamette Valley farmer. In 1993, she and her husband moved to Pendleton to ranch. While

there, June started Log Cabin Quilt Works, designing patterns for StenSource, Stitchin’ Post, Prairie Girls, and herself under the Log Cabin name. She also taught design and quilting classes. After one of June’s students asked for a book, she wrote two — “Best Friends Animal Portrait Quilts,” and “Adventures in Landscape Quilting.” She has taught classes for over 40 years at the Quilter’s Affair, held the week prior to the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show. This year, June will be teaching Creative Aspects of Pictorial Design, July 8–11, to 20 students.

“My work has been shown in galleries, national exhibits and shows, magazines, and in the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show for 48 years. I enjoy teaching and sharing techniques in the classroom. It is so satisfying seeing the success of my students as they are what inspire me to teach,” she said.

In 1998, June built a cabin in the Ochoco Mountains outside Prineville, and then eight years ago retired to Sisters, where she sees the Three Sisters out her windows every day.

Visible in June’s studio, as well as throughout her home, her creativity is on display with completed quilts, quilts currently being constructed, drawings of quilts yet to be, a full wall of closets full of colorful fabrics, and oil paintings by June, which she said are “done on the side.”

Her dyeing techniques are many and varied, including using screens; batik (an

June Jaeger, this year’s Featured Quilter, is a pattern designer, painter, quilter, and author of two books. She has taught quilting classes for over 40 years at the Quilter’s Affair.

Indonesian technique of waxresist dyeing), folding and crinkling, applying alginate, and ice dyeing. The finished fabrics are unique and colorful.

June’s work will be available to view on Quilt Show Day at Ponderosa Properties on the corner of West Hood Avenue and South Ash Street.

PHOTO PROVIDED

Local traffic on Quilt Show Day

Businesses are accessible in Three Wind Shopping Center on the west end of Sisters. Bi-Mart, Takoda’s Restaurant, and other businesses can all be accessed from Highway 20 eastbound. Westbound traffic can access these businesses via Hood Avenue.

Traffic Flow

Cascade Avenue will be open to east-west traffic on Quilt Show Day. All north-south cross streets will also be open. Please be mindful of pedestrians when driving through town.

The Quilt Show will be creating a car-free corridor on Hood Avenue for all local residents and visitors to explore and enjoy all through the day. Hood Avenue will be closed from Larch Street on the east, to Pine Street on the west side of Hood Ave.

Quilts will be hung on Main Avenue, Cascade Avenue, and Hood Avenue, and all cross streets from Oak Street through Larch Street.

Pedestrian Crossing: We encourage pedestrians to cross Cascade Avenue at Oak Street, Elm Street, and Barclay Park where deputies with the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office will be helping at these crossing points.

Parking Information

Parking is available on all city streets in the business district and residential areas in Sisters. Please be considerate of local residents and DO NOT park in or block private driveways or alleyways. Where parking spaces are unmarked, we encourage head-in parking to accommodate more cars. Please do not park on the highway. It is unsafe and there is plenty of parking in downtown Sisters.

Accessible parking is available at all designated accessible parking throughout town. There is also disabled parking on the west side of Locust Street in the lots between the school administration building and Sisters City Hall.

Community Thank Yous

ALL SPONSORS

City of Sisters

Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office

Earthwood

Timber Frame Homes

The Nugget Newspaper

Oregon Department of Transportation

The Roundhouse Foundation

Sisters Business Association

Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District

Sisters Community Church

Sisters Kiwanis

Sisters Park & Recreation

District / Astronomy Club

Sisters Rotary Club

Stitchin’ Post VOLUNTEERS

Butterflies land on Sisters

By Bill Bartlett Correspondent

Once again Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show (SOQS) is a showcase for the Cherrywood Challenge. The juried 2023/2024 exhibit was chosen from 471 entries and culled to 225, spread over three roadshows, one of which will be on display at the Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District Community Hall on Saturday, July 13. Due to their high value and delicacy they must be exhibited indoors.

Woman-owned and operated since the late 1980s, Cherrywood, based in Baxter, Minnesota, has grown to be a leader in the hand-dyed fabric business. The legendary enterprise is universally known among quilters.

It is a major draw to the SOQS with broad appeal even to non-quilters and tagalong spouses and partners.

As in years past, Jeff Omodt will serve as MC and resident bon vivant. Often he is in costume.

This year’s theme is

Monarch — as in the butterfly. A notable element is the participation of Sisters Middle School. The school involvement grew from an effort to increase the quilt show reach into other parts of the community, particularly with young people.

“We had a huge success and discovered a new way to engage school kids. In 2022, with the theme of Bob Ross, we discovered that the middle school art classes were doing Bob Ross painting lessons,” Omodt said. “We coordinated with the art teacher and my friend Susie Werts (Special Resource Teacher) at the middle school.

“We set up a private showing on Thursday before the show and the students brought some of their art and were able to visit and study 120 Bob Ross themed quilts. It was one of the most heartwarming quilt experiences I can remember.”

Omodt reports they are revisiting

that format again this year to tie the Monarch butterflythemed quilts into the ongoing Monarch study units running at the middle school. Besides a meet and greet for the kids to come see the Cherrywood Monarch quilts up close and personally, they will have some school project displays to let SOQS visitors meet the Monarchs and learn as the kids’ science project studies reveals them.

Dawn Boyd, SOQS executive director, expressed her delight.

“One of the components that I love about our shared collaboration with Susie is how it incorporates our mission

how react said,

— celebrate the art, skill, and heritage of quilting and fiber arts, while enhancing the cultural vitality of Sisters and Central Oregon and providing enrichment opportunities for area youth. What a beautiful exposure to quilting for our

Sisters students!” When asked how visitors react to the exhibit, Omodt said, “Reaction to Cherrywood quilts is as different as the folks who come to see them. But universally there is awe and disbelief at the intensity of the color. Then there are so many (usually around 100) all the same size, made from the same required palette of brilliant colors. But on closer inspection the incredible artistry and creativity as they interpret the theme, every one is so different, no two are even similar.

“The overall experience is an overwhelming visual feast for the senses.”

A tribute to Valori Wells

By Debbie Stark FreeSpirit Fabrics

How do I begin to honor Valori Wells and her amazing 25-year journey in fabric design? Like many things, it is all about who you know! I met Jean Wells, Valori’s mom, in the late 1980s. Jean immediately took me under her wing and, over the years, she shared marvelous stories and details about her own children, Jason and Val.

In 1998, I knew Val had recently graduated with a Fine Arts Degree in Photography. I knew she grew up at Stitchin’ Post in Sisters, OR, and I knew she was incredibly talented! Long story short, we were both living in North Carolina. At the time I was a creative director for a quilting fabric company and Valori was fresh out of school and obsessed with design. As a result, Valori brought an incredible series of black and white photography to me and I knew Val grew up in the quilt business and understood what inspired makers. As a result, we collaborated on her first fabric collection for independent

quilt shops under the brand Quilters ONLY, sold only to independent quilt shops. This first collection, titled Shades of Serenity, was introduced in October 1998 and it remains one of my most favorite collections to this day. It was a gorgeous, sophisticated, tonal, floral collection that was truly ahead of its time in a category of quilting fabrics primarily consisting of ditsy calicos and tea-stained novelty prints for the traditional quilter. Nothing about Valori’s design work was, or is, traditional! Learning the nuances of the textile print business, Val went on to design several outstanding, bright floral collections and even a hand-dyed batik program, Harmonies, for Quilters ONLY, before moving on to expand her presence in quilting fabric with FreeSpirit Fabrics.

Over the years, Valori’s fabric career made some natural shifts and purposeful turns, including working with other fabric companies. Upon my return to the quilt industry in 2016, the first person I reached out to was Valori Wells. I had

a proposition and, thankfully, I am a very patient person. When she was ready, I wanted her back as a FreeSpirit designer. Thankfully, Valori reached out to me almost a year later, over Labor Day weekend 2017, to let me know she was ready to partner together again! Valori and I have come full circle and I am grateful and flattered that she chose to entrust FreeSpirit Fabrics again with her art, her talent, and the knowledge she has accumulated over the years.

I have watched Val grow and succeed as an artist, a daughter, a shop owner, an author, a traveler, a friend, and a mother. She is an amazing individual who empowers herself and others along her journey. Her talent, her ideas, her kindness, her grace, and her strength are just a few of the many attributes that make Valori Wells such an amazing and inspiring force. Her work, 25 years later, continues to push the limits, to impress, to be relevant, and to inspire makers around the world! It is an honor and a privilege to know Valori Wells and to call her my friend!

PHOTO PROVIDED

By Jim Cornelius Editor in Chief

quilters to

When Sujata Shah was a teenager, she had no interest in the fabric arts. She remembers dramatically asserting, “I will die before I pick (up) a needle in my hands. I chewed back those words.”

Her journey to becoming the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show’s Inspirational Instructor took some time. A graphic designer who emigrated from India to San Francisco, she was lured into the arts by a neighbor who was a dollmaker. Shah got into that craft for a while, then was gifted a class in quilting in 1991 — and her path was set.

Quilting melded her interest in design with her heritage, coming from a world

Inspiring find their ‘voice’

and “voice.”

“I like to inspire people to follow their own interests,” she said. “I encourage them to bring their own personality to their work.”

simple quilts. I take my

simple quilts. I take my time… I literally live with my quilts, they are so part of my life.”

As an instructor, Shah strives to help quilters bring forth their own artistic vision

Each quilter will bring their life story, their background and their passions into their work, just as Shah does.

“I have been inspired by arts and crafts from all around the world,” Shah said. “The colors of India have never left my mind.”

That inspiration is reflected in her book, “Cultural Fusion Quilts.”

She encourages students to tap into their own inspirations.

“Whatever really speaks to them should be transformed into a quilt,” she said. “You must have a story in your quilt. You must put your own voice into your quilt.”

Inspiration and story-telling is more important to Shah than technical perfection.

“Imperfection and irregularity is part of it, and I have come to appreciate that as the years go by,” she said. “That makes it more authentic in my opinion — and people are inspired by that.”

For Shah, as it is for so many quilters, the work is a fundamental part of the fabric of who she is.

“I breathe every day,” she said simply. “I quilt

Sujata Shah is the 2024 Inspirational Instructor.

every day.”

You can see Sujata Shah’s quilts on Quilt Show Day at

the Three Creeks Building, on the corner of Hood Avenue and Ash Street.

PHOTO

Volunteers make Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show run

Quilts have been appearing like magic on the walls of Sisters businesses on the second Saturday in July for nearly half a century. But those in the know understand that the magic is actually made by the hard work of a cadre of dedicated volunteers. Some of them are locals, some of them come from out of state. Many have volunteered for years or decades.

And not all of the volunteer work happens on Quilt Show day.

Susan DeGroat volunteers year-round. She does a lot of office work, including unglamorous tasks like documenting the structure of the show and writing up job descriptions. She works on the WISH Fabric Postcard Challenge, sending out thank-you notes to participants, and she’s done quilt

intake for show entries. All of this work is vital to the organization — and she loves it.

“I love the Quilt Show,” she said. “I’m a quilter, so it’s so much fun. I think it really enhances the Quilt Show (experience) to be involved.”

She says her work gives her a sense of ownership in the institution and the event.

“It’s very joyful,” she says.

Martha Sanders is the volunteer coordinator for the Mt. Bachelor Quilters’ Guild and Undercover Quilters Special Exhibit groups. She’s the liaison between the Mt. Bachelor Quilters’ Guild and the Quilt Show.

“My role as a quilter and as a volunteer increased each year,” she noted.

She collects quilts for the sponsor quilt displays, where quilts are featured in businesses.

“I retired from Barnes & Noble after 33 years, so I always enjoy picking out a quilt to hang at Paulina Springs Books,” she said.

Hanging quilts in this free, non-juried — and significant — show is special to her.

“It’s fun,” she said. “It’s personally very rewarding to see people who don’t have a whole lot of confidence in their quilting, to see them smile when they see their quilt hanging in a major show.”

Relationships are a big part of the satisfaction of volunteer work. Martha has become friends with SOQS founder Jean Wells, and she is happy to support her legacy.

“I’m helping my friends in Sisters,” she said. “Helping Jean was a big motivator for all the work.”

Sally Frey has one of the

more high-profile volunteer roles in SOQS. She coordinates the installation of the iconic display on the east wall of the Stitchin’ Post. The wall is high, so it has required the services of the Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District with their tall ladders to make the installation.

The quilts come from an employee challenge, and Frey coordinates with the firefighters based on a thoroughly mapped-out diagram.

Frey, who calls Humboldt County, California, home, comes up each year to teach at Quilter’s Affair. She’s had her volunteer gig for many years.

“I was asked by Jean Wells 15 or 16 years ago,” she recalled. “It’s a great job. The fire truck comes rolling in (at 7 a.m.). The quilters are so excited to watch that part of

the show go up.”

The Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show is a free, unticketed event. In addition to fundraisers, SOQS depends on support from generous donors. Many volunteers — including DeGroat and Sanders — are also donors.

DeGroat encourages anyone with an interest to volunteer. As she well knows, there’s plenty of work to do all year round. But the jobs can be done in a way that doesn’t create strain.

“You can fit them into your life very well,” she said. For the volunteer family that supports SOQS, the work is one more way that quilting is central to their lives.

“Quilting is totally my passion,” said Frey. “Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show is the highlight of my summer.”

PHOTO BY JERRY BALDOCK

PHOTO BY JERRY BALDOCK

Freddy’s Faces fill SOQS coffers

By Katy Yoder Correspondent

The Thursday evening Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show (SOQS) fundraiser is celebrating Freddy Moran’s inspirational declaration, “Red is a Neutral.” Her love of bright colors has freed many a traditional quilter to try adding bright, joyful colors to their quilts. Called “A Night of Colorful Celebration,” the event will refill the coffers of the always free event, that isn’t free to produce.

This year the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show’s theme celebrates imagination, dreams, and the culmination of a quilter’s creative gifts. Set free to push boundaries, ethereal and magical possibilities inspire personal growth into realms of creativity that raise goosebumps and invite new ideas. Longtime quilter Freddy Moran typifies courage to travel into unknown creative spaces. Moran’s prolific work creating quilted faces with colors and unusual fabrics inspired Quilter’s Affair instructors and SOQS supporters to create faces to sell at the fundraiser.

“Freddy Moran inspired this year’s event,” said Executive Director Dawn Boyd in the SOQS office. “We’re doing a year of celebrating creativity and the colorful inspiration of Freddy. Last year, during Quilter’s Affair, a lot of the teachers would go hang out in the hot tub and talk over dinner. They came up with the idea of Freddy-inspired faces for this year’s fundraiser. We did our own little self-portraits. We look forward to sharing how Freddy inspires many of our teachers and quilters, whether it’s working with color choices, or being a bit more freestyle in what they create. Raising money for the annual show while trying their hand at something new was rewarding.”

The quilting journey for Freddy began at age 60. She started with traditional quilts like house blocks, but she couldn’t help herself from incorporating her concept, “Red is the New Neutral.” Her environment is full of vibrant variations of color from her Northern California living spaces, gardens, and quilts. Being in her presence and the world she’s created evokes a giddy feeling of joy and promise affecting all her visitors. Her impact has

changed the quilting world, opened doors, and expanded color palettes.

“It’s often black and white polka dots with red and shots of gold and orange… so colorful,” said Boyd. “The infusion of color changed quilting from traditional quilting like calicos in 1992 when there were primarily mauves and light blues. When Freddy came along it was like being told, you don’t have to. We want to celebrate that.”

Freddy Moran’s quilted faces have been telling their unique stories for seven years. Moran was introduced to the concept by Rosalie Dace, a South African quilter, who taught a class inspired by painter Henry Matisse’s celebration of bold colors. When Moran returned from her travels, she began experimenting with quilting faces. At first, she wasn’t happy with her efforts but over time, and because she’s a woman who never gives up, the faces evolved into fantastical versions of people from different cultures, races, and regions. With her eyesight diminishing with age, Moran creates a new face every day. The expressions and features come to life through a myriad of fabrics from coveted scraps to Kaffe Fassett’s fabulous flowers. This year participants include long-time contributor June Jaeger, Diane Jaquith, Jean Wells, Colleen Blackwood, and many more.

Diane Jaquith, a Redmond businesswoman and Stitchin’ Post employee, is donating three faces for the Freddy’s Faces Fundraiser. All three donations are whimsical, full of vivacious colors, and tell silly stories.

“I started off with colors I love like purple, black, and red. I like doing collage projects that we do at the Stitchin’ Post, so I did that with these new projects. I took a class from Freddy several years ago called something like Freddy’s Garden Girls,” said Jaquith. “Freddy intrigues me because she’s so non-traditional. When you look at her house and garden it all works. I tried to access my inner-Freddy and asked how Freddy would do it. I took fabric and started throwing it around. Doing this project has so much meaning around the SOQS, Quilter’s Affair and, of course, working at Stitchin’ Post.”

Colleen Blackwood has taught at Quilter’s Affair for over 20 years. She lives in

Pendleton. An avid horseperson, Blackwood has a few main priorities, her husband, horses, and quilting. She’s been quilting for almost 50 years but participating in the Freddy’s Faces project was a first.

“This is definitely my first self-portrait,” she said, laughing. “It’s been a personal challenge between a few of the teachers. Not everyone can make me do things because I horse around too much. Everything about Freddy’s Faces was a challenge. It isn’t the type of work I normally do. There’s a horse in it, of course, because my husband and I see more dogs and horses than people. Before growing up in quilting there were so many rules about colors and design. Now there’s no set rules and if someone tries to make one someone else will break it. Freddy inspired me to get out of my own little rut and do something new. I’m tickled pink to participate in this fundraiser and I hope we

Freddy Moran’s love of bright colors has freed many quilters to try adding bright, joyful colors to their quilts.

raise a lot of money.”

Tickets for the Thursday evening fundraiser are $25 each and will be available at the door until they sell out. The event takes place at Sisters High School on Thursday July 11, 6:30–8 p.m.

Doors open at 6 p.m.

Tickets include a special SOQS swag commemorating the colorful and inspirational

evening. Visit www.soqs.org and click on 2024 events or scan the QR code.

PHOTO

Nurturing the next generation

Passing on the torch of creativity is an important mission for the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show.

The show celebrates young quilters with a Next Generation display at 178 S. Elm St. which is limited to quilters 18 years old and younger.

Diane Tolzman’s grandchildren have entered quilts for the past several years. She works with the youngsters to develop their skills, and it is exciting to see them put on display — and well received.

“The people who attend are always so gracious to the kids,” she said. “I love seeing them get the recognition for a job well done.”

The Kids Activity Tent, located on the lawn at Town Square (between Hood and Cascade avenues), is a hub of creativity where young children can get introduced to cutting fabric and sewing.

The tent features material, simple sewing machines, and glue, all set up for making fabric postcards. The spot is shaded and there is water and snacks are available, all of which help make it a “good spot for kids to meet and get some exposure to the quilting world, the fabric world,” according to Jennifer Boyd.

Her daughter, Andi Rose, is eight years old — and she enjoys helping her peers get started.

“She’s just been my amazing little facilitator,” Boyd said. “We always end up with 20 fabric cards that she’s made. She’s not messing around!”

Tolzman sees the nurturing of the next generations of fabric artists as a natural part of a vibrant arts community.

“It’s a very creative group of people and it’s fun to be around them,” she said.

Quilt Block Contest offers creative challenge

Take six fabric pieces provided by FreeSpirit Fabrics. Add one additional solid color of choice. Build a finished quilt block at 9.5 by 9.5 inches — and send it to the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show (SOQS) to be judged by Quilter’s Affair instructors.

That is the simple essence of the SOQS Quilt Block Contest — and quilters keep coming back to it year after year.

Pat Brundidge is in her sixth year of participation. She won in 2024. Winners get a $50 prize — and bragging rights.

“It’s kind of a self-challenge as much as it is a competition between quilters,” Brundidge said.

Lena Calkins has been attending the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show for a couple of decades. About five years ago, she jumped into the Quilt Block Contest.

in doing something from nothing. When you order (the Quilt Block Contest kit), you don’t know what you’re getting.”

Brundidge says she “collects inspiration” throughout the year for her block efforts.

what people come up with,” she said.

“It’s very inexpensive entertainment for several months,” she quipped.

She’s inspired to see what her fellow quilters do within the parameters of the contest.

“It’s very impressive to see

In 2023, she earned Best of Show honors and honorable mention. For Lena, that’s a gratifying recognition of creativity. Mostly, though, the contest is just fun and stimulating.

The Quilt Block Contest entries will be on display on Quilt Show Day in the area behind Beacham’s Clock Co. and Stitchin’ Post.

“It’s a new stage in life,” she said. “I do it for myself to enjoy.”

She’s entering two blocks in 2024.

This year’s fabric is from the Grace collection by Sisters’ own Valori Wells, a noted fabric designer (see related story page 5) . According to Wells, “Grace was my journey to a new sense of self-worth and confidence; it continues to fuel my intentions and my life.”

Wells,

interested

1 Teachers Pavilion: presented by Stitchin’ Post, located in Village Green Park. A collection of quilts created by the instructors of Quilter’s Affair. This is a do-notmiss exhibit, and it includes a Stitchin’ Post pop-up shop featuring patterns and products of the Pavilion quilts.

2 Wish Fabric Postcards: in partnership with Andover Fabrics and presented by Wildflower Studios, Sisters Gallery & Frame, Bend Picture Framing, Sage Custom Framing, and Eastlake Framing; located at Village Green Park. This is an annual fundraiser for the SOQS Arts Scholarship for Sisters High School students. Fabric postcards, donated from across the country, are sold to raise funds. Custom framing and/or matting is donated by multiple Central Oregon Framing and Art Studios.

Stitchin’ Post. Sisters Country is full of beauty from the mountains, forests, and streams. “Dreamscape in Nature” captures the essence of radiating streams of color as the sun sets over the Three Sisters and sunlight blushes its final beauty through the pine forests. Tickets available – the winner will be drawn at the booth at 4:00 pm on Quilt Show Day.

9 SOQS Information and Hospitality Booth: presented by C&T Publishing, located on the lawn behind Stitchin’ Post. This booth offers a place of respite, and also an information table and host to answer your questions about the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show, location of quilts, and more!

3 Cherrywood Fabrics — The Monarch Cherrywood Challenge: Presented by Cherrywood Fabrics – located at the Sisters Fire Station Community Hall. Cherrywood Hand Dyed Fabrics challenged artists to create a unique piece of art with a limited color palette. Their challenge: utilize only eight Cherrywood fabrics selected to celebrate the Monarch butterfly, known for its annual migration across North America. The Monarch butterfly is in the endangered category of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species. Let’s change that!

4 Stitchin’ Post Employee Challenge Quilts: presented by and located at Stitchin’ Post. Each year, the employees of Stitchin’ Post choose a theme to interpret in each of their own styles. This year, they celebrate the color blue. View all of their quilts hung on the outside of Stitchin’ Post on Oak Street.

5 KONA Color of the Year — 2024 Mint: presented by FIKA Sisters Coffeehouse, located at Stitchin’ Post. Come see seven fresh, inspired designs utilizing the Robert Kaufman KONA Color of the Year, mint, on display at the front of Stitchin’ Post.

6 Valori Wells — Grace: presented by Mid Oregon Credit Union and located on the side of Beacham’s Clock Co. This year, celebrate the 25th anniversary of Valori Wells’ work as a fabric designer. This collection features her new line of fabric, Grace, and these quilts have all been created to celebrate Grace.

7 Quilt Block Contest 2024: presented by FreeSpirit Fabrics, located on the lawn behind Stitchin’ Post, Cascade Avenue and Oak Street. Thanks to the generous support of Valori Wells and FreeSpirit Fabrics, the annual Quilt Block Contest challenges quilters to create a block using Valori’s fabric line, Grace. Come see the variety of designs and talents exhibited in 45+ entries, including our winning block and honorable mentions.

8 SOQS 2024 Raffle Quilt — Dreamscapes in Nature: presented by Ray’s Food Place, located on the lawn behind

10 Storytellers Book 2024 — Dreamscapes Storybook: quilts for sale by various artists presented by and located in the courtyard of Open Door Restaurant. Various Oregon quilters have created the larger–than-life storybook with quilted pages, each one telling a unique story. These quilts are available for purchase and the proceeds support the production of the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show.

14 Corvallis Modern Quilt Guild — Greens and Curves: presented by Austen Law: Farmers Insurance, located at The Pony Express. Guild members were challenged to create a mostly green quilt with most pieces being curves; appliqued, inset, or pieced — or some other option. This is the Corvallis Guild’s first special exhibit at SOQS.

15 Journeys Quilt Artists — Melange and My Own Backyard: presented by and located at Paulina Springs Books (in the courtyard). This year, Journeys features two shows. Melange leans towards the abstract, and My Own Backyard conjures up more literal interpretations of the theme.

16 Featured Quilter — June Jaeger: presented by Anvil Sewing and Bernina, located at Ponderosa Properties. June, a Central Oregon native, has been

2024 Special Exhibits

11 Featured Gallery Artist — Sharon Carvalho: presented by and located inside of The Rickards Gallery. Sharon’s work is about variety, and she would rather hear someone say her art is interesting rather than beautiful. She is inspired by shape, color, and serendipity. She loves abstract, piecing, applique, and mixed media. In her work, you might see fabric she has designed and printed, commercial prints, or decorator stuff with lots of texture. She enjoys repurposing and reimagining her digital work and is constantly trying to create new and interesting ways of combining images.

12 Central Oregon SAQA— Whisper Challenge: presented by Sisters Coffee and located in the Open Door Courtyard. The artists were grouped into six sets of 5 artists each. The first artist makes a quilt of their choice; the second person creates their quilt based on the inspiration of the first; the third person based on the second, and on it goes. The only requirement is size. Each quilter only sees the quilt before theirs until the big “reveal” at SOQS 2024.

13 Machine Quilter Showcase — Judith Beaver: presented by Cynthia’s of Bend, located at courtyard of 351 W. Hood Ave. After graduating from Berkeley with a BA in design, Judy attended California State University at Long Beach for post graduate work in “metalsmithing.” She met her husband in graduate school and relocated to Honolulu where she enjoyed a rich and fulfilling career as an educator and school administrator. The use of bright colors, bold patterns, and high contrast is evident in Judy’s work, and a reflection of their 39 years living in the Hawaiian Islands. The beauty of the islands and the exotic mixture of cultures provided a rich source of inspiration.

HIGHWAY

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influenced by the natural beauty of her surroundings, portraying them in her art. Her long relationship with horses and the ‘out of doors’ has given her focus as a pattern designer, painter, quilter, and author. Her work has been shown in galleries, national exhibits and shows, magazines, and the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show for 48 years. She enjoys teaching and sharing techniques in the classroom. It is satisfying for June to see the success of her students as they are what inspires her to teach.

17 Portland Modern Quilt Guild — House Plant Daze: presented by Rescued Living, located at Toriizaka Art. This year, PMQG encourages our members to use techniques that they have learned over the last year in classes that PMQG hosted, and to reuse and recycle materials as much as possible.

27 In honor of Jeanette Pitalo: presented by The Jewel, located at the east side of 178 S. Elm St. This collection of quilts honors the legacy of Jeanette, who taught quilting for 30+ years in Salem, volunteered with the Quilt Show for the past 5 years, and was the mom of SOQS Executive Director Dawn. Each of these quilts have a family connection, made by either Jeanette, her granddaughters, or daughters — or made in her honor.

28 Central Oregon Modern Quilt Guild — City Sampler Inspired: presented by Common Threads, located at the Habitat Thrift Store. Showcasing quilts inspired by Tula Pink’s “City Sampler” book. Interpreted in their own unique way, expect to see great colors and design.

29 Mt. Bachelor Quilters’ Guild — Wildfire: presented by and located at The Gallimaufry. Mt. Bachelor Quilters’ Guild is based in Bend, Oregon with 125 members. Each year a challenge is set to inspire designs, both original designs and commercial patterns. “Wildfire” presents a variety of interpretations of the effects that we have seen here.

30 East of the Cascades — Trees: presented by Takoda’s Restaurant and located on the west wall of Candy Corral. The East of the Cascades Quilt Guild is happy to share their challenge for the 2024 show. Each quilt must use only three colors: black, white, and one additional color of their choice, and focus on the theme of “trees.”

31 The Undercover Quilters — Broken for You: presented by Your Store, located at The Gallery Restaurant west wall. We are a book/quilt group est. 14 years ago that take inspiration from a book selected from our current year’s reading to create a collection of quilts made by each member. This year’s inspiration was from the novel by Stephanie Kallos “Broken For You”. Treasured memories, friendships, and even dishes are broken and repaired with love. Our 10 quilts are diverse in style and selection of inspirational prompts within the novel.

32 SOQS Information Booth and Lost & Found: presented by Island Batik, located at Barclay Park. This booth offers an information table and host to answer questions about Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show, location of quilts, and how to become a Friend of the Show. It’s also Lost & Found for the day of the Show.

33 Blockin’ Robins — Dreaming about People, Places & Things: presented by Oliver Lemon’s, located at Sisters Feed. In 2023, the Blockin’ Robins selected “things” for their theme. However, each “thing” also fits into People and Places. In January 2023 each member handed over to the group a block, fabric, and journal defining their “thing.” During the year, members worked on all quilts except their own.

34 Mountain Meadow Quilters Guild — Dreamscapes: presented by Sisters Saloon, located at the corner of Main Avenue and Spruce Street. In honor of the SOQS 2024 Theme, Dreamscapes, this exhibit is based on the quilt pattern Dream Weaver by the Missouri Star Quilt Company. The challenge is to use all or a portion of the pattern to make their own “Dream Weaver” quilt.

person as inspiration. Friends tease her about the inclusion of the Three Sisters Mountains and the iconic pine trees in every quilt created for the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show and the East of the Cascade challenges.

35 Two Rivers, Three Sisters: presented by Luckey’s Woodsman, located inside of Sisters City Hall. This permanent exhibit, created in 2012, was a joint project of many fiber artists and the National Forest Foundation to raise awareness and funds for the restoration efforts on the Metolius River and Whychus Creek. The 40-foot long, 17-panel quilt depicts the forest and rivers surrounding Sisters. (City Hall will be open Monday–Friday during Quilt Show week.)

36 Showcase Quilter inside FivePine Lodge — Janet MacConnell: presented by and located inside FivePine Lodge. After visiting the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show with a friend, Janet MacConnell was drawn to our quaint, artsy small town. Her quilts always begin with a story or a special

37 SOQS Quilt Walk: presented by the Roundhouse Foundation; Be sure to stroll throughout the Quilt Show business sponsors of Sisters and Central Oregon throughout the month of July; each sponsor business will be showing off a sponsor quilt created by an Oregon quilter. Maps are available throughout businesses in Sisters.

38 Save It For Sunday! — Giuseppe Ribaudo: presented by FivePine Lodge, located at the FivePine campus. On Sunday, July 14, walk through the pine trees on the campus of FivePine Lodge and view quilts created by quilter and designer Giuseppe Ribaudo. Giuseppe calls New York, NY his home and is a fabric and pattern designer, lecturer, and workshop teacher. Get to know Giuseppe more intimately as you listen to Giuseppe’s stories and see his pieces up close when you join us for Save It For Sunday! Come enjoy viewing Giuseppe’s quilts on Sunday and join his lecture at FivePine Conference Center. Lecture tickets: soqs.org. Quilts will be on view to the public 10 a.m.–2 p.m.

Quilt Show showcases artists

There’s no greater honor for a quilter than to have their work selected to be showcased in the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show.

“It’s a thrill — definitely a thrill to be highlighted in that way,” said Sharon Carvalho. “I’m honored.”

Carvalho is the Featured Gallery Artist. Her work will be on display at Clearwater Gallery, 303 W. Hood Ave. during the Quilt Show and through the month of July.

Visitors will see a wide

range of Carvalho’s work, which incorporates digital elements and mixed media.

“There’s a good deal of variety,” she said. “It won’t be repetitive at all. I think it will draw the viewer in.”

Carvalho says that she “would rather hear someone say my art is interesting rather than beautiful.” She started out as a traditional quilter, but quickly moved toward more abstract work. She is drawn to improvisation.

“It just makes my mind

Janet MacConnell has been quilting for about 15 years.

Her quilts will be featured at the FivePine Indoor Showcase.

go crazy with ideas,” she said. “Each new project is a challenge.”

Janet MacConnell will be featured at the FivePine Indoor Showcase.

MacConnell got an early start in the fabric arts.

“Started sewing when I was really young — like 10,” she recalled.

She studied textile design at UC Davis, and she made kilts for her children, who were heavily involved in Scottish arts. She’s been quilting for about 15 years.

She recalls that she started out doing traditional quilts.

“I moved a little toward art quilts, but I still like to incorporate a lot of traditional techniques in quilting,” she said.

“I tend to do really scrappy, and I love color, so they all have lots of color,” she said of the quilts that will be showcased at FivePine.

MacConnell readily acknowledges that she frequently incorporates

the Three Sisters Mountains into her work — to the point that she gets teased about it.

“Since moving to Sisters, that’s been a real inspiration,” she said.

She loves the sense of community that Sisters has developed around quilting — it’s what she was looking for when she came here. She contributed a quilt to Seed To Table for its educational outreach programming, and

sent a quilt to England as part of a Sister-UK firefighter exchange program.

She is very cognizant of the importance of being selected as a showcase artist.

“That’s a pretty big honor, because there are some really good quilters in Sisters,” she said.

Janet MacConnell’s quilts will be on view inside FivePine Lodge during Quilt Show Week, July 8-14.

PHOTOS BY CODY RHEALT

Sharon Carvalho is the Featured Gallery Artist.

Creating a ‘Dreamscape’ to celebrate Quilt Show

Cheryl Chapman’s 2024 poster art was inspired by the theme of this year’s quilt show, “Dreamscapes,” and Chapman’s love of the nature surrounding us.

“My vision is of a beautiful owl spirit overlooking and protecting the mountains, flowers, rivers, and fish that make up the Central Oregon landscape,” Chapman said. “My dream is for a bright and clear future that everyone can enjoy.”

Chapman is a fused glass and enamel artist — and a quilter.

“My sister moved to Bend over 20 years ago and became involved with quilting and the quilt show,” she explained. “The first time I visited my family here was during quilt show week. I was a pretty new quilter at the time, but had entered a quilt into the show. It was exciting to see my quilt up there for all to see and I

was so proud. Since then we moved to La Pine and I have gone to the show every year and have had at least one quilt on display most years.”

Chapman is a member of Undercover Quilters, a small group of ladies who have a love of reading and quilting. They have a group display at the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show each year.

“Ever since I moved to Central Oregon I wondered how one becomes the poster artist for the SOQS,”

Chapman said. “I thought it would be such a fun thing to create a piece of art representing my love of the area and quilting. I was amazed and thrilled to receive a call last spring asking if I would consider creating an art piece for the poster. I jumped at the chance, and am so grateful for the support of my friends, family, and the quilt show board members and staff. It has been a wonderful experience showing off my design and meeting new people from around the area.”

Chapman is exclusively represented in Sisters by Makin’ It Local at 281 W. Cascade Ave. Learn more about Chapman’s work at www.sillydogartglass.com. Posters may be ordered online at https://stitchinpost.com/ products/2024-soqs-posterdreamscapes-by-cherylchapman or purchased at the Quilt Show.

Teamwork created raffle quilt

The 2024 Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show (SOQS) Raffle Quilt pays tribute to the natural beauty of Sisters.

“We really like to capture the essence of our scenery” said Jean Wells, who worked on the quilt with her sister June Jaeger.

Jean is the founder of SOQS and a legend in quilting circles, and June is herself a noted quilter (see story, page 2).

The quilt was a team effort.

“It’s a Log Cabin Quilt pattern, which is very traditional,” Jean said. “It never goes out of style, so I’d say (it’s) timeless.”

The pattern came from the Sky collection of fabrics hand painted by Jennifer Sampou for Robert Kaufman Fabrics. Strips were cut from the fabric by Jackie Erickson then each block was designed by Jean Wells and June Jaeger. Marion Shimoda helped them stitch the blocks together. June sketched an overall design for the quilting and Laura Simmons basted the sketch design on the layered quilt. June and Jean quilted the layers together.

“It became very painterly,

Jean Wells and June Jaeger designed the blocks for this year’s SOQS raffle quilt.

because of the fabric,” Jean said. “I thought it was really fun to do. It went together and everything fit perfect. We were so proud of ourselves; we didn’t have to fudge anything.”

There is an eye-catching shading to the quilt.

June noted, “It’s variegated, so it goes from light to dark, dark to light.”

Tickets are $5 each and may be purchased via the Stitchin’ Post, Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show (www.soqs.org), or in person at various locations in Sisters. The winning ticket will be drawn on Saturday, July 13, at 4 p.m. at the SOQS office, 220 S. Ash St. in Sisters. Winner need not be present to win.

Machine quilter creates ‘basket of mixed cultures’

By Sue Stafford Correspondent

Judy Beaver came late to the quilting world, taking it up after relocating with her husband Frank in 2010 to Sisters, where she discovered a thriving arts community.

Her art, however, reflects their 39 years living in the Hawaiian Islands. Judy’s abstract quilts make use of bright colors, bold patterns, and high contrast. She loves Asian art after trips to Japan and Thailand. Many of her quilts have echoes of the Asian influence. She refers to her work as a “basket of mixed cultures.”

“The beauty of the islands and the exotic mixture of cultures provided a rich source of inspiration that continues to influence my work,” Judy said. “I love all the possibilities: the construction techniques, color and texture choices, and combination of hand and machine quilt work.”

Standing in front of one of Judy’s quilts, the viewer is drawn in to study all the details up close – a variety of stitching and thread creating dimensionality, unexpected materials like cork and

leather, and the interplay of all the fabrics and colors creating curves and hard angles.

Judy believes, “A piece is a success when someone walks up to it and keeps looking.”

Judy doesn’t generally create a design or preplan her quilts before she starts working. She lets a particular piece of fabric provide inspiration and then looks for what goes with it. She hangs the fabrics on the wall of her studio in the Sisters Art Works building and lets them speak to her. From there she builds her palette and pieces come together to gradually form the finished quilt. Judy usually doesn’t name a work until it’s completed.

She is particularly fond of beautiful African fabrics which she combines with other commercial fabrics and her original hand-dyed ones. She tries folding it in different ways to create different looks and gradations. Once she makes the first cut, she rehangs it to study it.

“Quilting is Judy’s third (or more) career. She received a degree in design from University of California, Berkeley, deciding her premed plans were off the table

after taking a design class. She backed it up with a teachable minor – science and math. She met Frank in college where he was in the same program, focusing on ceramics. They were married in 1971 and two weeks later left for Hawaii where Frank was a professor of ceramics at University of Hawaii.

She taught metalsmithing and jewelry making at the Academy of Art before both teaching and serving as an administrator at several Hawaiian schools including Punahou. After earning an MBA at U of H, she worked in the Punahou human resources department for 10 years.

Coming through Sisters on the way to an Alaska cruise in 2005, Judy and Frank stopped to look around, found their friend who was a realtor, and bought a house in Tollgate that very day. In 2010, they left Hawaii for their new home.

Judy and Frank have two adult sons who are married and followed their parents to Sisters for the quality of life. They have three grandchildren in Sisters schools.

Judy’s quilts have won numerous awards including

Judy Beaver took up quilting after discovering the thriving arts community in Sisters when she moved here in 2010.

at the Houston show, where she was awarded first place in the abstract division two years in a row and second place once. Appropriately for the Featured Machine Quilter, numerous sewing machines can be found in Judy’s studio, including a longarm quilter

that takes up one entire wall. Judy makes use of hand quilting as well, often using it to provide emphasis.

Judy’s work will be available to view on Quilt Show Day in the courtyard just east of Hood Avenue Art, located at 353 W. Hood Ave.

Artist

Giuseppe Ribaudo, better known as Giucy Giuce, has a special sense of connection to Sisters.

“Sisters kind of has a pull on me,” he said. “There’s something about that town.”

This year marks his third as an instructor at Quilter’s Affair, and he recently completed a residency at The Roundhouse Foundation’s Pine Meadow Ranch Center for Arts & Agriculture. His work will be featured in the Quilt Show’s Save It For Sunday program at FivePine Lodge & Conference Center. The event will include a lecture and walking tour of a display of Giuseppe’s quilts created during the Sisters residency.

“I’ll kind of premiere those quilts,” he said. “For me, it’s a nice full-circle moment.”

Though he’s noted as a fabric designer, his Save It For Sunday quilts are not focused on promoting his fabrics.

“There’s no rules about this fabric or that fabric,” he said. “If I liked it, I used it. I’m pretty excited about this show for that reason.”

Save It For Sunday includes a lecture at the FivePine Lodge Conference Center with Giuseppe at 10 a.m. on Sunday, July 14. The lecture is a ticketed event at $35 per person. A limited number of participants who add a Quilt Walk ticket can walk along the creek at FivePine Lodge with Giuseppe in an intimate group setting. (Quilt Walk tickets are

all sold out.)

Giuseppe’s quilts will be on display from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on SOQS Save it for Sunday for those of you who wish to walk along the creek unguided at no charge.

Growing up in Long Island, New York, Giuseppe is a first-generation SicilianAmerican on his dad’s side and second generation on his mom’s side. His family lived on the bottom floor of his maternal grandparents’ house.

Influenced by his grandmother, and finding his artistic style with traditional modern quilting, Giuseppe’s fabric designs are an homage to the influence of his family.

One of his fabric collections is a “true crime” collection known as the “Gnarls Hollow Trilogy.” Another pays homage to his grandmother and the house where he learned to sew. The collections reflect Giuseppe’s passion for storytelling.

“My background’s in theater,” he said. “Storytelling is definitely a big, big part of who I am as a creative.”

Giuseppe will also offer a lecture on Friday night of Quilt Week, July 12, at 7 p.m. at Sisters High School, titled “Unbounded.”

“It’s basically my residency journey,” he said.

Friday night event is sponsored by Stitchin’ Post, and tickets are available through their website, www. stitchinpost.com.

Quilters Wish Upon A Card

One of Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show’s primary fundraising tools is also one of the most creative elements in the annual program: The WISH Fabric Postcard Challenge draws entries from quilters across the country, including some made by instructors at Quilter’s Affair. The 2024 fabric post cards include two challenge fabrics donated by Quilt Show sponsor Andover Fabrics (www. andoverfabrics.com), designed by Giuseppe Ribaudo, who uses the name Giucy Giuce. He is a teacher at Quilter’s Affair and the featured quilter in Save It For Sunday (see story, page 18).

Entries are juried, and select ones are framed by local galleries, which enhances their sales value in a silent auction run during Quilter’s Affair in the Sisters High School lobby (you don’t have to be taking classes to participate in the silent auction). Funds raised support the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show (SOQS) scholarship program and help SOQS with production costs.

Laura Wasilowski is a regular contributor, and often a Quilter’s Affair instructor.

“Her cards always go for top dollar, so that’s exciting,” said WISH Challenge coordinator Robyn Gold.

Gold earned honorable mention for her challenge submission this year, which is her third as program coordinator. She loves being part of such a creative endeavor.

“I’ve had the opportunity to work with some amazing women, and I’ve made some wonderful friends,” she said.

Donna Rice enjoys the challenge of working with fabrics that she did not select herself.

“They don’t always speak to you,” she said. “But that’s really fun — to figure out what you’re going to do with those fabrics.”

She noted that the framers do an outstanding job of enhancing the cards, picking up color and design elements.

She highly recommends that quilters get into the game.

“Take it on,” she said. “Enjoy it. The cause is great and it’s a great way to work through creating a larger piece.”

The program also welcomes hundreds of non-challenge cards, with quilters submitting from across the nation. Those are sold during SOQS at the WISH booth at Village Green.

“I make cards beyond the challenge card so they can sell them and make money for the Quilt Show,” Rice said.

Eva Hathaway belongs to four different quilting guilds in

Central Oregon. She responded to outreach from the Quilt Show that encouraged participation in the WISH program.

“They did a very good job of awareness,” she said.

Hathaway decided “Maybe I should take one of those envelopes…” and she’s glad she did. She really appreciates the cause that the program serves, supporting the show and providing art scholarship funding.

“It brings together a lot of good things,” she said. “It sort of belongs to all of us. It’s a neat way to participate in whatever you can.”

WISH cards will be for sale during Quilter’s Affair and on Quilt Show Saturday in the WISH Upon A Card tent at Village Green.

2024 WISH Upon A Card Winners

1st place: Kristan Collins, Sisters 2nd place: Theresa Gray, Bend 3rd place: Karen Murphy, Longview, Washington

UPON A CARD 18th Annual Fabric Postcard Exhibit, Sale, and Auction Thank you to our sponsors, donors, and supporters!

SPONSORS: Andover Fabrics • Wildflower Studio Sisters Gallery & Frame Shop Bend Picture Framing • Eastlake Framing Sage Custom Framing and Gallery

This program has raised over $157,000 to give back to our community and support the production of Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show.

First-place fabric postcard by Kristan Collins of Sisters.

Storybook quilts turn new pages

By Katy Yoder Correspondent

In 2017, when Sisters artist and gallery owner Dan Rickards created his second Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show (SOQS) poster, he saw an opportunity to bring a giant quilt book in his painting to life. Inspired by the 2017 theme, “Storytellers,” Rickards came up with the idea to make a leather-bound book with a binding strong enough to hold quilt-pages. Rickards asked SOQS organizers if he created the book, would they fill it? The answer was a grateful resounding, “Yes!”

“Dan built the book so that we can attach the quilts to the binding. We provide the artwork pages from generous and talented quilters. Dan and Julia Rickards have been amazing supporters,” said Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show Executive Director Dawn Boyd. “Every year since then, we ask artists to donate their work; some are repeats like Jean Wells, Tonye Belinda Phillips, and June Jaeger, who’ve contributed for multiple years. We have so many talented local artists here. I contribute as well. It’s a wonderful thing.”

Coordinator and contributor to the Storybook Quilts project Jan Tetzlaff recruits artists to donate representational work for the three- by four-foot book. Quilts are no

larger than 21 inches wide and 33 inches high. Once Tetzlaff has collected all the donation quilts, she installs them in the book. Rickards built the book with help from a former gallery employee, Julia Zell. A leathersmith, Zell designed and applied the cover art.

“At that time, we were entertaining new ideas to help raise money for the quilt show, but not in a way that felt like overt fundraising. We wanted to find a way that gave as much as it asked of donors. It was a great way to feature smaller quilts that had just as much to offer with artwork and design,” said Rickards at his home studio. “The thought of a giant book reminded me of how big books looked when I was a child. I wanted it to have that old-world book feel. Binding a book wasn’t easy. It had to be strong enough to handle turning the pages that were quilts instead of paper.”

Tetzlaff says it’s always fun to see the designs people come up with each year. Some quilts reflect the theme and others don’t. The end results are creative and showcase different styles and techniques like collage and machine quilting.

“It’s terrific to see how people take a vision and interpret it. Supporting the quilt show is important to me; the storybook fundraiser is a 100 percent way to give back. We’re so grateful to Jean Wells who

donated two quilts in different styles,” said Tetzlaff. “The storybook quilts are good sizes for wall art. It’s something people come looking for and is a popular offering. SOQS isn’t free to put on but is free to attend. Featured quilter June Jaeger is also donating a quilt for the storybook.”

Tetzlaff wants to make sure quilt show attendees who aren’t taking part in the Quilter’s Affair still have access to the storybook quilts. The storybook quilts first appear at the Quilter’s Affair, which begins the Monday before the Quilt Show and goes on for that week at Sisters High School.

“We have someone there to show it and turn the pages of the book. If someone wants to buy a quilt that day they can, but it will remain in the book through Saturday. Most of the time, we sell them by

the end of Quilt Show Day,” said Tetzlaff. “If you’re not taking a class at Quilter’s Affair, at lunchtime, they’ll be for sale in the Sisters High School outdoor commons

July 8–12 or on Quilt Show day, July 13, at the The Open Door; any remaining quilts will be for sale online.”

The storybook quilts will be on display on the patio at

The Open Door/Rickard’s Gallery on Hood Avenue. The proceeds from all the quilts sold are donated to SOQS. Prices are two-tiered; if the artist is a teacher, their quilt costs $500, and the rest are $400. Tetzlaff says they raise about $4,000 from the book per year. Usually, they have 10 quilts to sell. Everyone contributing

Nancy Chapel

Storybook Quilts will become the “pages” of a three- by four-foot leather-bound book that will be on display at The Open Door on Quilt Show Saturday.

to the Dreamscapes of our Storyteller Quilts, whether they’re contributing a quilt, turning pages, coordinating volunteers, or being a volunteer, want to invite prospective buyers to visit the Storyteller Quilts and invest in art that fuels all the machinery required to put on such a large, well-managed quilt show. Julia Rickards hopes attendees and locals alike can appreciate the gifts given by having the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show in a small town.

“Way before we started The Open Door and it was just the gallery, the rodeo and quilt show made up a big chunk of our income for the year. I like to say it filled up the barn or storehouse halfway and then we’d hustle to make the rest,”

said Rickards. “The whole week of the quilt show, from a very young age, our kids sold

raffle tickets to earn money to pay for their 4-H pigs. The SOQS has stayed true to what

it is and is so much more than just another event… and it’s remained free! It’s a huge gift

to the community. The ripple effect is enormous and has happened for generations.”

SNOCAP.HRPOS.HEARTLAND.US

PHOTO BY CODY RHEAULT