Sisters woman honored to be featured quilter

Cathy Moen is a lot more comfortable quilting than she is talking about it. But when you're the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show's "queen for a day" - otherwise known as Featured Quilter - lots of folks want to talk technique and history with you.

The longtime Sisters resident held court on the lawn at Ponderosa Properties on Saturday with a crowd of quilters who treated her like a star.

"I'm so blown away by being honored to be the featured quilter this year," she told The Nugget, genuinely humbled by the singular distinction.

She described her entry into the world of quilting many years ago.

"I started quilting in '98, in Seattle," she said. "My husband gave me a gift of a beginning quilting class and the tools..."

Cathy and husband Harv moved to Sisters shortly thereafter, where Harv took up traditional farming and ranching with horses. Cathy went to work at Sisters' quilting headquarters, Stitchin' Post.

Inspired by the creative atmosphere, she quickly became dedicated to her craft. She had some arts background to build on.

"I have a BS degree in art which probably has helped give me a basic knowledge of working with colors and designs," she noted.

"My style has changed so much over the 14 years," she said. "I started out following patterns, making traditional blocks and traditional quilts."

Inspired by classes at Stitchin' Post and by easy access to interesting fabrics, she gradually moved more and more into art quilts.

Moen says she makes two to three quilts a year, often for family members. She made a wedding quilt for her daughter Kelley and son-in-law Eli Pyke and she also makes a challenge quilt for Stitchin' Post. Those quilts are traditionally hung on the side of the shop during Quilt Show.

"We decorate our home," she said. "We've got quilts all over our house."

The distinguishing feature of Moen's quilts is color - and lots of it.

"I like a lot of color," she said. "I think that's what most people think about my quilts, they're really colorful."