Quilt Show week kicks off with stroll

Quilt Show festivities get underway with the 13th annual Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show Fiber Arts Stroll from noon to 4 p.m., Sunday, July 3 at sponsoring businesses in downtown Sisters.

The fiber art stroll is a free, self-guided walk featuring more than 25 artist demonstrations and special exhibits of textile-related arts and quilting. Visitors will be able to engage in hands-on activities with a number of the artists. Fiber art stroll maps can be found in participating businesses that host the artists, Stitchin' Post, and at Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce.

The goal of the event is to increase the awareness and showcase fiber arts to the public while honoring the work of fiber artists from a broad range of mediums. The event will provide artists with a quality environment to present their work to the public.

The fiber arts stroll artists share and demonstrate their textile work including weaving, felting, hand-knitting, fabric dyeing, basketry, quilting and more. Artists are selected on the basis of originality of their work and adherence to a "fiber arts" theme. The event kicks off a week of festivities for the 41st Annual Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show.

The SOQS Fiber Arts Stroll is just one of many events surrounding the main event, the Quilt Show itself, which runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on July 9.

From July 1-29, enthusiasts can enjoy a self-guided tour of more than 90 quilts on display inside businesses that sponsor SOQS. Brochures assisting the self-guided tour can be found at the Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce and participating businesses throughout the month of July. The world's largest outdoor quilt show will display more than 1,200 quilts that day. A special exhibit and lecture on Sunday takes place at the FivePine Campus.

On Wednesday, July 6, at 5:30 p.m. is the annual fundraiser featuring the third Men Behind the Quilts Calendar Preview Party and Calendar Quilt Auction presented by Moda Fabrics. Community-minded men are models in the third calendar, a 12-month 2017 calendar. These men who volunteer their time and donate equipment and expertise to the local community are featured along with gorgeous quilts.

For tickets or more information, call 541-549-0989 or 541-549-1004 or visit www.sistersoutdoorquiltshow.org.