Stroll celebrates the fiber arts

Sisters is gaining a reputation for fiber art that goes beyond quilts, and the annual Around the Block Fiber Arts Stroll is proof.

Now in its fifth year, the stroll on Saturday, July 5, was the kickoff to Quilt Week and gave locals and tourists a chance to enjoy rubbing shoulders with the artists - without the literal rubbing of shoulders that happens on Quilt Show day.

"We wanted to expand activities and give people an opportunity to go into sponsoring businesses without the pressure of the crowds," said Quilt Show Executive Director Ann Richardson.

There were plenty of people on the streets and in the stores, though some men were spotted reading newspapers while waiting patiently outside the businesses.

Sisters Art Works held a display of quilted postcards called Wish Upon a Card. This fund-raiser for cancer awareness and support group, Wendy's Wish (a part of the St. Charles Foundation), gives purchasers a chance to collect some mini works of art from around the country and across oceans.

A selection of the cards was framed by Myrna Dow of High Desert Gallery for a silent auction being held throughout the week. The whole kit-and-caboodle moves to Sisters High School during the week and will be back in the Art Works building on Quilt Show day.

Quilts were found at all the stores, along with artists working on baskets, puppetry, needle felting, wool spinning, fabric painting, weaving and printmaking.

Participating businesses did their part by welcoming visitors and providing snacks and drinks for the strollers to enjoy.

Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show Featured Quilter, Robin Ryan of Bend, drew a crowd to her demonstration behind The Hen's Tooth where she made fish prints. She started with a real (dead) fish, dipped into ink and pressed onto fabric. The print was then transferred onto a quilt. Her demonstration drew many men, with some being summoned from hotel rooms to view the display.

Camp Sherman quilter Tonye Belinda Phillips was at Clearwater Gallery with her framed art quilts and to promote her new book, "Hand Appliquéd Quilts; Whimsical Designs and Simple Techniques." Phillips is well known in the area and has been working on her designs for the past 10 years.

She began, like so many other local quilters, with a basic quilting class at Stitchin' Post. These days, she gets her inspiration from vintage quilts and from her garden.

"Hand appliqué is my deal," she said. "All the quilts in the book are done by hand."

Art Stroll visitor Kathe Sabine from Redmond was carrying a newly purchased copy of the book in her Quilt Show tote bag. Sabine has been quilting for a long time, and comes to Sisters every year for the show and to take classes. She bought the book because she loves to do appliqué.

"It's just the feeling I get when I look at Tonye's work. It's calming, and soothing to do," she said.

Richardson was pleased with the turnout and the caliber of participating artists.

"This is growing," she said. "Artists are starting to contact me."