Artists create fiber painting for quilt show fundraiser

The Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show (SOQS) offers a variety of exhibits and events - and not all of them involve quilts.

Wish Upon A Card, one of the most popular of these events, is a fundraiser that benefits both the SOQS and "Wendy's Wish," a program of the St. Charles Foundation and sponsored by the St. Charles Cancer Center Radiation Oncologists.

Original hand-made fabric postcards are donated, a select number are then framed, and finally all cards are offered for sale or auction throughout quilt show week. This year, more than 500 of these cards have been donated by artists throughout North America.

Artists Lisa and Lori Lubbesmeyer, owners of the Lubbesmeyer Studio & Gallery in Bend, have created an original fiber painting called "Verdant Fields" as a donation to the fundraiser. Sealed bids for this art piece will be accepted until 2 p.m. on July 8, and bidding details can be found online at http://www.sistersoutdoorquiltshow.org - click "Verdant Fields."

"Losing our Mom to cancer inspired us to collaborate artistically, which subsequently started us on the path of creating fiber 'paintings,'" the artists explained. "Since then, it's been a priority for us to support cancer research and those undergoing treatment whenever we can. We're grateful to have this opportunity to create an original piece for this unique fundraiser."

Also featured as part of the Wish Upon A Card event is an optional Fabric Challenge, sponsored by Michael Miller Fabrics. More than 100 Challenge postcards were submitted using Michael Miller Fabrics and juried for cash prizes.

A total of 87 cards were selected for framing and entry into the Silent Auction portion of the fundraiser. Each piece is custom framed and incorporates Museum Glass® thanks to a generous donation from High Desert Frameworks! in Bend and Tru Vue, Inc.

Myna Dow, owner of High Desert Frameworks! and a SOQS Board member, personally frames all the cards for display and sale.

"The Wish Upon A Card event allows me to use my artistic talents to give back to the community through a project that speaks to me personally," Dow said. "Since 2007, SOQS has helped to raise and donate more than $70,000 to Wendy's Wish to assist cancer patients with non-medical expenses as they undergo treatment."

All cards are on display and for sale in Sisters the week of July 6. There are several ways to view and purchase these unique cards:

• Sunday, July 6: Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce (SACC) opens their card display and auction at noon. Individual cards may be purchased, and challenge cards viewed, beginning Sunday through Quilt Show day.

• Monday, July 7: The second display and silent auction of cards opens at Sisters High School, including the sales of individual cards there all week between the hours of 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. This silent auction features the framed cards created by instructors teaching at Quilters Affair from around the U.S. The silent auction at Sisters High School concludes at noon on Friday, July 11, at the end of the Quilters Affair at that venue.

• Thursday, July 10: A public celebratory reception for all the card makers will be held at Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce from 3:30 to 6 p.m. The winning bid for the Lubbesmeyers' "Verdant Fields" fiber painting will be announced, and awards will be presented to the winners of the Fabric Challenge. During the event individual challenge cards become available for purchase for the first time.

• Friday, July 11: The silent auction at Sisters High School concludes at noon.

• Quilt Show Day, July 12: the Wish Upon A Card Silent Auction at Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce ends at 3 p.m.

For more information, visit http://www.sistersoutdoorquiltshow.org. On the website, select Contests/Exhibits at the top of the page and scroll down to the Wish Upon A Card project.