Sisters Quilt Show draws thousands

Wrapped in quilts and sporting its most pleasant summer weather, Sisters made quite an impression on the throngs of visitors to the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show on Saturday, July 14.

"Sisters is like a little taste of Paradise," quipped Marie Hettenhouse of Walla Walla, Washington, as she admired the colorful quilts hanging outside the Garden of Eden.

From Anchorage, Alaska, to Jacksonville, Florida, hard-core quilters were drawn to Sisters like bees to honey.

Gayden and Leslie Nelson, from Logan, Utah, were here for their third time.

"There are lots of quilters in Utah," said Leslie, who is part of a quilting guild. "I overheard some of the gals talking about this one year and decided we needed to go."

While Leslie attended Hawaiian quilting classes and shopped for fabric, husband Gayden and their twin daughters explored another side of Central Oregon.

"Yesterday we rafted down the river," said Gayden, grinning. "Now that was fun!"

Selma Johnson flew up for the quilt show with 13 of her friends from Houston, Texas.

"This is my first time to see the Sisters Quilt Show," she said. "We have a big quilt festival in Houston every year, but it's nothing like this, with all the beautiful quilts hanging outside.

"Sisters is definitely unique -- I hope to be able to come back next year."

Most of the men attending the quilt show weren't quite as enthusiastic as their wives, but many of the males expressed their appreciation for the work and skill that went into the quilts.

Curt Lather, a retired sailor from Bay City, Michigan, rested in the shade while his wife poked around some antique shops.

"I developed an appreciation for quilting when my wife made one for our daughter out of her old University of Michigan tee-shirts," said Curt, as he sipped on a smoothie. "Although LeRoyce had to prod me a bit to come to the quilt show with her, I am really amazed at the work these ladies put into their quilts. They are beautiful."

Cathy Emerson, from Springfield, Oregon, believes that there is more to quilts than just beautiful stitching and patterns. She wears a tee-shirt which reads: Thurston Healing Quilts -- Joining Hands Against Violence.

"Healing Quilts is a group that came together after the Thurston High School shootings," she explained. "We made quilts for the families of the victims. People from all around the community made quilt blocks and sent them to us. We've designed a quilt promoting non-violence which is traveling around the country. It's even been to the White House."

Bobbe Leonhardy brought Jean-Luc the miniature donkey to the show to serve as a mobile quilt display.

While Jean-Luc declined to comment on the quilt show, he didn't seem to mind being the center of attention.

"He likes to keep moving," said Leonhardy, who said she named the wee donkey after a character on Star Trek.

"I think the quilt Jean-Luc is carrying is the most photographed quilt at the show today," Bobbe said, as a group of grown women stopped to have their pictures taken with the patient animal.

"A good friend of mine, Carole King, designed the quilt on his back -- she got the idea from my business card for Sundown Ranch," Leonhardy said.

As the colorful afternoon wound down, and the soft breeze picked up, Flora Hannon took advantage of a bit of shade on the lawn of Sisters Christian Church.

"I don't quilt -- I'm sewing impaired," bemoaned Flora, who lives in Sweet Home. "But I can come and enjoy!"