Hundreds enjoy beauty of Camp Sherman quilt show

The Camp Sherman Quilt Show hosted by the local Camp Sherman quilting group, the Pine Needlers, began with a bang.

People were lined up waiting for the doors to open, and over 550 people walked through those doors in the first few hours. As usual, the nearly 350 hand-crafted potholders were hot sellers and were sold out by 1 p.m.

Out on the lawn, the Pine Nuts, husbands of the Pine Needlers, were warming up the barbecue. Visiting folk musicians played fiddles, auto harp, dulcimer, clarinet, bodhran drum and banjo, trading instruments as the mood struck.

Peter Esherick, who has a cabin in Camp Sherman, brought friends Greg and Mary Donohoe, Gary Libman, Erika Gerety, Bill Balassi and Pat Aruffo. These are people who have traveled the world, playing music as they go. Even the Pine Nuts joined in song.

Every year, the Pine Nuts, who both prepare and serve food at the show, sing their rallying cry, "Go, You Pine Nuts."

"There's nothing more enjoyable than the journey of making a quilt," were the apropos words on a quilt fashioned by Carol Vogeltanz.

"I have stitched, formed friendships, laughed, shared secrets..." she said.

Vogeltanz started quilting in 1997, at her daughter's suggestion. A testament to a quilter's dedication, she was up until 4:30 a.m. finishing a large quilt for the show. Vogeltanz likes to use wool batting because it is lightweight and so warm in winter. The needle goes through it like butter, and it's washable, although not machine dryable, as it would shrink.

Hero Quilters, of Sisters, displayed quilts they make for wounded soldiers. They are sent to Madigan Hospital in Fort Lewis, Washington, and soldiers can take their red, white and blue quilts home when they leave. The quilts go to all branches of the service. The notes of gratitude are touching.

The Pine Needlers quilting group of Camp Sherman meets weekly to sew, share, and exchange ideas. The Pine Needlers every year sew for charity, making baby quilts for grandchildren and raise funds to donate scholarships to graduating Black Butte School seniors.

Quilter Kathy Bourdage teaches Junior Pine Needlers Marissa Young and Leilani Fernandez, among others of Camp Sherman, once a week except in summer. Their stitching successes were on display in the hall.

Camp Sherman resident for 11 years, Andrea Balosky, left behind several quilts before she moved to India. The group has worked on completing her projects, and they were on display and for sale this year. Her unique style and intricate designs fascinated men and women alike.

This year's show offered more quilts than in prior years, so Andrea's quilts, along with sewing demonstrations of works in progress, were displayed outside on the lawn.

There were nearly 700 attendees at this year's show.