No Jibber Jabber

…had way too much fun at the Ninth Annual Fiber Art Stroll in Sisters, Oregon.

After visited 13–out of 27 fiber art sponsored stops–within a 3-hour stroll, I’m too pooped!

Just enjoy the slide show I made for you.

Sew many photos and slide shows ahead…so little time.  If you have a few moments, do take a walking tour of beautiful downtown Sisters and enjoy over 100 quilts in local shops. Or visit The Old Mill District in Bend where quilts are also exhibited in more than 20 locations. All fun, fabulous, and inspiring. ♥

Happy crafting and keep those creative juices running!

(still doesn’t do texting, MySpace, Twitter, StumbleUpon, DiggIt…but caved into Facebook!)

Two Rivers, Three Sisters

formerly known as A Quilt for Two Rivers.  Two Rivers, Three Sisters–among 67 entries from 19 states, the winning title was submitted by Teresa Mitchell of Star, Idaho.  Truly a masterpiece of modern folk art

Wow! What a fun evening I have had.

My dear friend Kristin and I attended the Artist Reception for the Two Rivers, Three Sisters and the Falls of Whychus this evening

at the Black Butte Ranch Lodge.

It is always fantastic featuring beautiful quilts,

wonderful people,

tasty hors d’œuvre

great wine

 

and terrific conversation

catching up with old and meeting new friends

surrounded by a full 40-foot installation of these striking quilt arts.

Visualize the enormous effort to align each piece and hang in such perfection

just as each remarkable quilter focused on each seam, each panel…pieced together different fabric to make a unified whole, with the big picture in mind.

This is a quilt exhibit you have to plan to spend hours in,

not just one to run in and run out of.

Take your time and see the treasured landscape as it is.

Wonderful details!

Abundance of inspiring ideas.

Most beautiful collaborative masterpieces.

Stunning designs, styles and colors!

This is a close up of Donna Rice’s quilt.

Donna is one of my favorite designers, also one of the masterminds behind the big Whychus Creek quilt. Beautiful quilt. I know I am not alone to think she does wonderful work.

I do not normally like a lot of browns and yellows, but this one by Mary Koons

is fantastic. I love the use of color (and with my favorite purple peeking through back.)

Plus a great part of the reception…you may take home a piece of this unique and completed work, a masterpiece of contemporary American fiber art.  It was one of the ideas I had suggested to Ann Richardson when we were at the Quiltworks gallery exhibit in April.

Love ‘em all.

Can you feel the magic of the evening and–through this incredible unique effort–how we may connect with our forests and preciousness of the river in different ways and help spread awareness of the value of wild, scenic rivers and native fish?

Two very special places here, Whychus Creek and the Metolius River.

A bewildering tale it tells. “…the story of how important our rivers and fish have been from Native American times to the present. The theme of native fish returning to home waters is visible in many of the quilt panels.” said Ann Richardson, Executive Director of Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show.  Thank you Ann and everyone who made this a reality.   I’m still high on fiber fumes.  It’s been a privilege to follow this innovative project up close since early in the year to its glorious completion.

If you are in the area, be sure to visit the tranquil  Black Butte Ranch during the month of June and/or The Clearwater Studio during early part of July.

The quilts hit the road for a tour after Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show.

Summer in Sisters, Oregon, can’t be beat.   It’s where you may do all of your early Christmas shopping!  Hope to see you there in July

Imagine how life might be different if I pursued every relationship as if it would not be there tomorrow…

Happy crafting and keep those creative juices running!

(still doesn’t do texting, MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, StumbleUpon, DiggIt…)

Vibe and Style

At the center of the community is the vibrant Stitchin’ Post

dedicated to nurture a close-knit venue

and enthusiastically embraces citizens

from surrounding neighborhoods and visitors.

Another big day today.

It’s the Small Wonders Challenge quilts.

What a treat

from food

to music (Jeremy behind the hula girl and his guitar)

to art quilts.

The challenge and fundraiser is indeed one of the highlights of the  Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show (SOQS.)

It’s a judged contest (with prizes) and all donated quilts are of original designs.

Want to know how important Quilt Show is to some people?

Small Wonders are quilts sized between 18 and 24 inches

donated to help raise money for the show and for kids to attend summer programs through Sisters Park & Recreation District (SPRD.)

Last year, over 80 entries were received, raising $1,100 for a local charity. Not a quilter?  No problem. There are other ways to help…from becoming a sponsor, a friend of SOQS, a volunteer, or buying one or more of these small wonders,

or this year’s bright and cheery poster–designed by local inspiring artist Kathy Deggendorfer–from her Go To Town painting done with liquid watercolor on Rives BFK Printmakers paper. “The smooth surface of the paper and the liquid watercolor make it possible to achieve really intense and saturated color.”–said Kathy.  It’s just the way she likes it.

or other show memorabilia at the shop or at the July’s quilt show.

Here again, quilters from all over the country have let out their Inner Animal.

The Small Wonders quilts will be exhibited at the shop for the month of May.

In July, the quilts will be sold and the quilt show will donate 25 percent of the proceeds to the Malone Scholarship Fund at SPRD. The Malone Fund supports recreational, sports and art programs and activities for Sisters youth.

Five of the sixSmall Wonders Challenge winners were announced.   Best Use of Color by Jean Wells Keenan

Best Art/Contemporary Quilt by Betty Gientke

Best Use of the Michael Miller challenge fabric by my dear friend Kristin Shields, next year’s SOQS Featured Quilter.  (Our friend Myria on the right.)

Best interpretation of the show theme by Bev King

Judges Choice by Betty Gientke again!

e-voting is now available for the Viewer’s Choice Award.  Check out the photos of all fifty-eight quilts in the Facebook gallery album.

Here’s your chance to to participate, too…cast your Viewers Choice vote for your favorite!

All Small Wonders quilts will be on display at the Stitchin’ Post throughout the month of June.

Thanks, Ann RIchardson, for all your hard work.  You’ve outdone yourself, once again, Ann.

Thanks to Kristin‘s impeccable door-to-door service,

I arrived at Summit High in time to listen my middle teen sing in choir.

Life is good!

Happy crafting and keep those creative juices running!

(still doesn’t do texting, MySpace, Twitter, StumbleUpon, DiggIt…but caved into Facebook!)

A Forgotten Gem

no more.   A new way to connect people to the wild rivers that frame Sisters-–the Metolius River and Whychus Creek–has been found and ignited through the lens of fiber art via the Quilt for Two Rivers.

I’ve had my head down working, working, working…It’s both good and bad.

The good, I’m getting stuff done, and that makes me happy. The bad, I’m feeling terribly disconnected from my fiber and homeschool community.

You know that feeling you get–when you’re walking up the stairs and you think you have another step to go, but you don’t...Instead, your foot goes down.  There’s this sinking feeling at first. Then you realize you’re okay. I sometimes think I want to disappear. But, all I really want is to be found.

My bloglines have so many new items in there (over 4k) that I feel overwhelmed by guilt when I look. I’ve missed birthdays, anniversaries, new spectacular finished goodies and whatever else that hitting some fans. I’m sorry…especially for the lack of my timely reply to all your wonderful comments. I hate being such a taker, and not giving back. I do fear that I’ll be away more than I am around the next few months. I hate that. I hate feeling disconnected from you all.

In the middle of all the chaos, I had a terrific couple of days at my favorite shop The Stitchin Post in Sisters, getting a taste of Valori’s new fabric collection coming in April and Fall.

overfilling my daily cup of inspiration.

This week’s preview of all the quilts-in-progress on the Quilt for Two Rivers left me speechless. Total awesomeness.

The recent post describing Jean Wells’ quilt panel, by Maret Pajutee–Ecologist, Sisters Ranger District, U.S. Forest Service–gives a good peek at the way the quilt mimics the beautiful color and texture of her inspirational photos; as well as where she drew inspiration from. Excellent interpretation and presentation, Jean!

When asked if my cup is half-full or half-empty my only response is that I am thankful I have a cup.

This steady supply of inspiration keeps my engines running.

I have been blown away and humbled by the amazing master art pieces that arrive each day

from artistic quilters who have had powerful experiences that they’d like to share with us.

Some are funny and light. Others are deeply meaningful tales.

Endless, bottomless supply.

I’m happy to share these with you and hope that you may send a note with your own story of optimistic inspiration.

Most of all, help us raise awareness of the stunning waterways that frame the Sisters Country. Share this wonderful project with everyone you know in your community and on your social media.

Each week, the collaborating quilters will be sharing tales about their quilt panels at the sponsoring sites. The second art piece by Tonye Belinda Phillips–Metolius Meader–will be up next at Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show and Stitchin Post.

It’s such an honor to have the opportunity to preview these work of art and soon the exhibit on their maiden voyage here at Black Butte Ranch for the entire month of June.

Here is your chance to be part of the Quilt for Two Rivers Masterpiece!

Get ready for the naming contest on Facebook for the Quilt for Two Rivers beginning on May 7.  The winner will get $100!

Happy crafting and keep those creative juices running!

(still doesn’t do texting, MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, StumbleUpon, DiggIt…)