For a few years now, I have wanted and intended to attend the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show in central Oregon, but was always in the midst of packing as much as possible into our annual vacation. Now that I live here (love that!) I was able to plan a weekend trip with my mom, her best friend of the last 43 years, her neighbor, and baby Kit who could not imagine passing up a quilt show for anything. I didn't bring the big camera, so my photos aren't as fantabulous as they should be. The weekend was so great - it was fun to spend some time with my mom and her ladies. Kit was spoiled rotten of course. The other highlight of the weekend is that I had a wonderful dinner with Amber and her sweetie. They are the best people. It was one of those "old friends who just met" kind of dinners. I can't wait to see her again soon. Hopefully next time Kit will keep her pants on.
On to the quilts!
This one reminded me of the quilt I'm making now for Gunnar and of this one, but with the motif on a grand scale.
Going to Sisters was really an inspirational experience. It's amazing what can be done with some fabric and thread and imagination. The quilts ranged from very traditional to modern to photorealistic art. They ranged from really tiny to king size and were every color of the rainbow or no color at all (the all-white quilts were stunning). These are a few that I wanted to remember for future reference as I plan quilts in my mind and hopefully eventually get to making them. Ahem.
I loved the floral detail in the white space on this quilt. Some of the quilting was truly remarkable. Those long arm quilters are talented people, indeed.
Love the use of solids on this one, as well as the color combo. Some of the triangles were folded over on an edge, but not sewn down, so there was an added textural element. The quilting really makes this one.
love the double wedding ring in the black & white. Love. And check out the quilting detail.
I think I squealed out loud when I saw that. All hand quilted. Talk about a labor of love, people. Just like marriage.
I am so swoony over this quilt (I may run out of words soon). First of all - it's all made of 2" hexagons. Second, the blocks were pieced by her great grandmother in the 1930's from feed sacks, the top was pieced together by her mother in the 90's, and if I remember correctly, it was all sandwiched together and finished by her. Hand quilted of course. Such a treasure this is. And huge. That is a LOT of work right there. Boggles the mind.
Totally different look. Love the geometry at work here and the usse of color. Talk about a perfectly pieced quilt - I don't think I could take this one on because I'd make myself a crazy person with trying to match up all those angles.
I have almost enough of these fabrics left to make a quilt like this one. Definitely enough for a little one, which may move up to the top of my list. I love the blocks set on the corner and the way that orientation sends your eyes all the way around the quilt.
Love a good spiderweb quilt - this one's a total winner. I default to white backgrounds usually, but I love the grey in this one. So much more practical for everyday use.
and the back for quilting detail. I think I want to have something similar done for my spiderweb quilt in progress.
I nearly keeled over when I saw this one. I immediately saw it living on the blank wall space over my kitchen sink. This quilt was made for hanging in my kitchen. Sadly it was not made for my budget ($550!! eek!). However, the rooster fabric may have been purchased for an "inspired by" quilt of my hown. Just maybe. Also - quilting it in a chicken wire pattern made the look. So clever.
As a side note - about 1/4 or so of the quilts were for sale. The prices ranged from "please buy this quilt for my fabric cost so I can buy more fabric" type prices to "well, if you're willing to pay me this, then I'll let it go." This was one of the latter. Most of my faves were not for sale at all, and I don't blame them. I think pricing all that work and love and talent fairly is so difficult. I'd rather keep it or give it away.
This one turned out to be my favorite of the show. It's right in my wheelhouse, aesthetically, and not so difficult that I wouldn't want to make it. Plus, I love that twist on the flying geese pattern. The fabrics are all Heather Bailey from the Fresh Cut, Pop Garden, and Bijoux lines. I'll probably make it as a scrap buster, but I like the unity that using those fabrics exclusively gives it. Totally lovely work, and of course, not for sale. Look for one like this on my bed one of these years.
And a close up of the block construction and quilting. As the owner said, the quilting is what took it from pretty to fabulous.
And there you have it! Some of my faves from over a thousand quilts hanging all over town. There was just no way to see them all. Next year I'll go without my little tagalong and be able to spend a few more hours. And maybe even enter one myself. We'll see.
My goodness, those are all amazing - what a fantastic festival. Really, I must learn to quilt soon.
Posted by: teopea | July 18, 2011 at 11:59 PM
Thanks for sharing! Amazing work. So glad you took the time for you!
Posted by: Sarah | July 19, 2011 at 04:38 AM
eee! those are some amazing quilts.
(just signed up for a long arm class so i can rent time on the machine....)
Posted by: Erin | house on hill road | July 19, 2011 at 04:56 AM
Wow! What a great place to go to be inspired!
Posted by: jess | July 19, 2011 at 05:30 AM
I love a good quilt show. And I'm thinking a hex quilt might be just the thing to work on if we hit the road....
Posted by: laeroport | July 19, 2011 at 06:03 AM
wow! so much inspiration!!
Posted by: beki | July 19, 2011 at 06:07 AM
and thats only one teeny tiny sliver of it. The whole thing is pretty overwhelming.
Posted by: Sarah Jackson | July 19, 2011 at 08:47 AM
A hex quilt would be a fantastic on the road project. And what a great keepsake youd have from that time.
Posted by: Sarah Jackson | July 19, 2011 at 08:47 AM
Plus its just a beautiful place! I think were going back in September just for fun.
Posted by: Sarah Jackson | July 19, 2011 at 08:48 AM
Awesome! Id love to do that someday. I should probably learn to free motion quilt on my own machine first. :)
Posted by: Sarah Jackson | July 19, 2011 at 08:59 AM
There were so many that were true works of art. I took photos of the ones that were more along the lines of I could and would do that instead of the oh wow, that would send me to Crazytown if I tried to make that. Maybe next year Ill photograph those. They were stunning.
Posted by: Sarah Jackson | July 19, 2011 at 09:02 AM
Its very rewarding. Try with a small one and youll never look back.
Posted by: Sarah Jackson | July 19, 2011 at 09:04 AM
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh why are you trying to get me interested in another hobby?
Hehehehe these quilts are amazing.
Posted by: Trish | July 19, 2011 at 10:23 AM
Because I am an enabler. Thats why. :)
Posted by: Sarah Jackson | July 19, 2011 at 10:26 AM
Oh my, you chose some fantastic quilts to highlight! I really love the solids though, they're just so bold!
Posted by: ~Michelle~ | July 19, 2011 at 10:39 AM
And here I am, agog over the wonderousness of quilts hanging for display outside. It's like an amazing sculpture park or outdoor gallery.
Posted by: Sonya | July 19, 2011 at 10:58 AM
Ive always really loved solid quilts. I think I need to plan one.
Posted by: Sarah Jackson | July 19, 2011 at 12:14 PM
It really is remarkable. Its a big outdoor art show.
Posted by: Sarah Jackson | July 19, 2011 at 12:16 PM
I am so glad you shared photos and not just your enticing words. What beauties.
Posted by: Heather | July 19, 2011 at 06:39 PM
Holy wowser. I'd love to see a spec sheet that had a tally of the hours for some of these. I could never have such patience!
Posted by: emily | July 21, 2011 at 12:00 PM
Sarah - thank you for your comment on my blog about my FMF quilt. Have you started yours yet? I have scraps if you need some. I always love a swap :) Let me know and thank you again!
Posted by: Violet | October 04, 2011 at 12:13 AM
Amazingly beautiful quilts!! Thank you for sharing.
Posted by: Dorine | December 28, 2012 at 08:33 AM