Loving Summer

I'm not quite sure what happened.  One minute it was mid-July and I was wondering if my zucchini plant would ever make a veggie and the next minute it was August and I've got a ton of zucchini.  I also have a couple of million green tomatoes.  Soon we'll be having tomato everything.  It's one of the things I love about summer.  Also, the warm nights, the smell of sweet peas and so much wonderful color.

Now that I can look at all the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show pictures without feeling totally overwhelmed, I'd like to share a few.

Theses quilts were featured at the Quilters' Picnic in the Park.  Some were made by employees of The Stitchin' Post and others by The Folk Art Chicks, Tonye Phillips, Gwen Marston and Sue Spargo. The photos were taken as the quilts were walked by.

Look at those luscious colors.

The quilts below all feature the Three Sisters Mountains, which the town is named for.

Now to the Folk Art Portion:

I have to admit that by the day of the show, I feel overwhelmed by quilts and colors and new ideas.  This was my 20th year and I don't take as many pictures as I once did, but I can share a few that were favorites for one reason or another.  This show has to be seen in person to be appreciated.

I really love this last one.  Don't see that sentiment much!

As you can see, there's all kinds of everything.  As usual, it was incredibly organized.  The whole thing is hung outdoors first thing on Saturday morning, all over the town of Sisters.  It's a lot to take in over just one day, but always worth the time.

Enjoy August.  I'll have pictures of quilts made from out new pattern by the end of the month.

Keep Quilting,

Candy & Barb

I love the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show and the week of Quilter's Affair classes that precede it.  This was my 20th consecutive year!  The quilts and the people never fail to inspire.

We're only gone six nights and yet the whole experience seems to take up way more time than that.  First there's the week before we leave which includes last minute shopping, packing up and since we rented a house this year, some food planning.  The week at Sisters is always full of classes, shopping, and seeing old friends.  This year, Barb and I added a day to goof around and float down the Deschutes River in inner tubes. We always go to bed too late and get up too early.

The week after we get home is recovery week.  In addition to getting my sewing stuff from the trip put away, I  also decided to move some furniture around to make the space more efficient.  I do like the new arrangement but the jury is still out on whether it's actually more efficient.

This week has been a sewing week.  I'm working on a new pattern and  making two quilts from it at the same time. It's an interesting way to work, but seems to go very slowly.

The Quilt Show had fabulous quilts, as always and next week I'll share a few.  This week I have to show you the Quilt Show Dogs.  The Sunday before the show, the students for Quilter's Affair start showing up.  There are a few hundred of us and it makes an impression on the Central Oregon town of Sisters, population 2000.  It sits between the Cascade Mountains to the west and the high desert to  the east.  Check out this beautiful scenery.

On show day, about 10,000 people descend on Sisters.  They come in cars, on buses and in RV's of every description.  In addition to the quilts hanging all over town, there's food and drink and music and dogs.  (One year there was a guy with a big snake, but that's a whole different story.)  The highway traffic is detoured around the town so that we can do this:

Since quilts and dogs are two of my favorite things, I take pictures of both.

This guy was all business, as terriers tend to be.  Look at that focus!

We saw more poodles this year than any other breed.  They're less interested in quilts than they are in collecting fans.

Some were just chill in'.

Others were on the hunt.  Or just checking for a dropped cookie.

I thought at first that he was checking out his own reflection.  But on second thought, he was just hoping to drop in for a cup of coffee and a bit to eat.

This big sweetheart is local.  Came out of the store to check the crowd and then returned to the cool air.

"Can we go over there?  Please, please, please?"

Some came with their own buddies.

These guys were just taking it all in.

And then there's this.

This open field toward the outskirts of town is home to ground squirrels.  This one was pretty interested in all the goings on in his town.   They're so cute when they aren't burrowing under my flower beds.



Next week, I'll show some of our favorite quilts from the show.  Until then, enjoy summer!

Candy