“The Biggest Outdoor Quilt Show in the World”

by Dawn Posted on July 17, 2013

Saturday, July 13. A perfect summer day in Central Oregon: temperatures in the low 80s with a light breeze. Thirteen hundred quilts hung just for the day on the fronts, backs and sides of buildings in the tiny town of Sisters. Dozens of other quilts hung inside businesses all over town. Thousands of quilt lovers and other spectators strolling the streets taking in the sights and sounds of the 38th Annual Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show (SOQS).

I was lucky enough to be there for the show and the week leading up to it. For the last seven or eight years (we’ve lost count), my quilt group, the Quisters, has rented a house for the week leading up to the quilt show in order to participate in Quilter’s Affair, a week of classes organized by the Stitchin’ Post Quilt Shop in Sisters. In addition to the talented teachers living in Central Oregon, instructors come from across the country and overseas to share their expertise.

This year I opted not to take any classes so I could continue to work on my ever-growing stack of Works-in-Progress. I was sorry not to have taken at least one class, especially after seeing how excited my fellow Quisters were about the ones they were taking, but I did come home with three completed projects — WIPs no longer! — and the show itself provided a plethora of ideas for new ones.

There was something for everyone at this year’s show: beautiful traditional quilts, edgy modern quilts, and everything in between. Below, in no particular order, are a few of the quilts that caught my eye:

Mid Century Modern by Brita Kimmerly of Seattle WA, 52 x 60
Mid Century Modern, 52 x 60, by Brita Kimmerly of Seattle WA

 

Glacier Star by Pam Nichols of Powell Butte OR, 98 x 98
Glacier Star, 98 x 98, by Pam Nichols of Powell Butte OR

 

In a Spin by Gill Miller of Cambridge UK, 30 x 30
In a Spin, 30 x 30, by Gill Miller of Cambridge UK

 

He Watches by Janie Adams of Bend OR, 56 x 62
He Watches, 56 x 62, by Janie Adams of Bend OR

 

Spring Surprise, 41 x 57, by Beth Rietveld of Corvallis OR
Spring Surprise, 41 x 57, by Beth Rietveld of Corvallis OR

 

What You See by Kathy Doughty of Sydney NSW, 47 x 67
What You See, 47 x 67, by Kathy Doughty of Sydney, Australia

 

anns quilt
Cascade Kaleidoscope, 38 x 42, by Ann Richardson of Sisters OR

 

Two Color Mystery, 53 x 67, by Karen Shadley of Sisters OR
Two Color Mystery, 53 x 67, by Karen Shadley of Sisters OR

 

The Portland Modern Quilt Guild was represented by several beautiful quilts, including these three:

Spring String, 48 x 64, by Gail Weiss of Portland OR
Spring String, 48 x 64, by Gail Weiss of Portland OR

 

Sticks and Stones, 36 x 42, by Rachel Kerley of Hillsboro OR
Sticks and Stones, 36 x 42, by Rachel Kerley of Hillsboro OR

 

Gray Improv I by Cris Pera of Portland OR
Gray Improv I by Cris Pera of Portland OR

 

Every year the Stitchin’ Post Quilt Shop issues a challenge to its employees to make a quilt based on a theme, and all of the quilts are displayed on the side of the Stitchin’ Post building on show day. This year’s theme was “Streams of Color.” This shot captures most of the quilts:

challenge quilts made by staff of Stitchin Post
Challenge Quilts Made by Staff of the Stitchin’ Post

Two of my favorites are this one, incorporating hexagons . . .

one of the Streams of Color challenge quilts
made by Jean Wells, owner of the Stitchin’ Post and founder of the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show

. . . and this one featuring New York Beauty blocks:

Streams of Color challenge quilt
made by Paige Vitek, employee at the Stitchin’ Post in Sisters

Continuing on with the show:

The King -- Elvis, 82 x 90, by Randall Cooper of Madera CA
The King — Elvis, 82 x 90, by Randall Cooper of Madera CA

 

J'Adore Paris!, 41 x 42, by Kristin Shields of Bend OR
J’Adore Paris!, 41 x 42, by Kristin Shields of Bend OR

 

Barbara's Baskets, 68 x 80, by Janet Storton and Barbara Fergusun
Barbara’s Baskets, 68 x 80, by Janet Storton and Barbara Fergusun of Sisters OR

 

Parallel Lives, 44 x 52, by Patty Six of Santa Barbara CA
Parallel Lives, 44 x 52, by Patty Six of Santa Barbara CA

 

Forest Path, 53 x 68, by Patty Six of Santa Barbara CA
Forest Path, 53 x 68, by Patty Six of Santa Barbara CA

 

IMG_0283
Green Orphan Blocks, 42 x 42, by Colleen Blackwood of Pendleton OR

 

Random Windows, 46 x 28, by Hilde Morin of Portland OR
Random Windows, 46 x 28, by Hilde Morin of Portland OR

 

Oh my! I just realized I’m not even halfway through my photos. I think I will end today’s post here and present another batch of quilt photos in the next day or two. I hope you will come back for more.

 

 

 

 

This entry was posted in hexagons, Portland Modern Quilt Guild, Quisters (Quilt Sisters), Sisters OR Outdoor Quilt Show, update. Bookmark the permalink.

11 Responses to “The Biggest Outdoor Quilt Show in the World”

  1. Cindy Morris says:
    July 17, 2013 at 4:17 pm

    Thanks so much for sharing. What a wonderful display of creative talent. I never cease to marvel at individual interpretation and imagination with fiber art.

  2. Vickie says:
    July 17, 2013 at 4:44 pm

    Thank you for sharing! Also want to see pictures of the three projects that you finished.
    Vickie

  3. Rachel says:
    July 18, 2013 at 12:15 am

    Thanks so much for including me. The Portland Modern Quilt Guild quilts can be seen together over at Modern Domestic for the next month if your local readers missed it.

    • Dawn says:
      July 18, 2013 at 2:49 pm

      I love your quilt, Rachel! And I really appreciated your blog post discussing design and craftsmanship in the creation of your quilt. Readers: here is the link to Rachel’s blog: http://2ndavenuestudio.blogspot.com/. Her post contains some beautifully detailed close-ups of her quilt, Sticks and Stones.

  4. Gail says:
    July 20, 2013 at 1:26 pm

    Thanks Dawn! I feel so privileged to have my quilt be a part of your post. What amazing quilts, of course I love that hexie quilt ~ that just sparked a few new ideas for me… which is always awesome! I would love to see the pieces you finished over the week as well! 😉

  5. Anne says:
    July 22, 2013 at 4:38 pm

    Thank you Dawn! What a show! Great work ladies!!

  6. Joanna Price says:
    July 25, 2013 at 7:12 pm

    I can help you with ID’ing one of the employee challenge quilts you show in this post. The first one you pictured (with hexagons) is by Jean Wells (owner of the Stitchin Post and founder of the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show). Sorry, but I’m not sure who made the other challenge quilt you’ve shown.

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