Quilters earn national recognition

East of the Cascade Quilters (EOCQ) in Sisters was invited by the U.S. Forest Service to send 15 Christmas and/or Western-themed tree skirts to go inside Federal building lobbies in Washington, D.C. Each of the quilted tree skirts will be labeled with the maker's name, city, and state.

"The quilters were busy but took time to quilt such a wonderful variety of tree skirt styles to represent our community," said Jean Wells, owner of Stitchin' Post and founder of Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show. "This is such a Mecca for quilting."

Early in 2018 Jeanette Pilak, Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show executive director, received a phone call from Catherine Bell, a representative of the Forest Service in Oregon.

"Catherine asked me if there were any quilters in Sisters who would make and donate 15 tree skirts," Pilak said. "I took the request to our local guild that has been in existence for over 38 years."

Wells and quilting friend Joyce Coats, who has since passed away, founded EOCQ with seven members, and over the years the group has grown to over 55 quilters.

"We are part of a loosely organized group compared to other quilt guilds, but we do a lot of meaningful work," Wells said. "We end up having a little more time to share our work with others, whether it's making the quilts for kids or firefighters' families."

In addition to sharing quilting tips and their projects, EOCQ has a community project, Quilts for Kids. The group makes and donates more than 400 quilts each year to the community.

From 1980 to 2005, EOCQ was the group that assisted Wells in producing the annual quilt show (labor, logistics, hanging quilts, organizing, special events). The quilt group meets monthly, and the members bring canned foods to the meeting and donate them to the local food

bank.

"I think that the quilters are the quiet backbone of goodness in our community," Pilak said.

Diane Tolzman, who is current chair for EOCQ, quilted Christmas trees in Western fabric as her donation.

June Jaeger's tree skirt is representational of "Sisters Country" and has captured the area's outdoor activities of skiing, fishing and hiking. Jaeger quilted in the historic Sisters Saloon & Ranch Grill. 

Quilter and Sisters resident Julie Mills said, "We are honored to be able to sew something that will be shown in our Capital."

The tree skirts that are on their way to the ranger station in Sweet Home were quilted by these members of East of the Cascade Quilters: Teresa Wellington, Corni Quinlivan, Cece Montgomery, Jean Wells, Vaunell Temple and Laura Simmons, Janet MacConnell and Julie Mills, Pamela Ake, June Jaeger, Mike and Sue Denton, Diane Tolzman, Susan Cobb, Janice Demers, Linda Hespe and Kim Addison, True Duerden and Leah Chapman.

The 2018 National Christmas Tree will come from Sweet Home.