Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show

Sisters, Oregon Before the Madness

tierneycreates: a fusion of textiles and smiles

Saturday, a week before the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show (SOQS), I met up with a couple friends to wander around Sisters, Oregon and have lunch.

A Little Bit About SOQS

SOQS, the world’s largest outdoor quilt show, is always the second Saturday in July. If you are a quilter or a person who loves quilts, I recommend you put it on your bucket list to see at least once in your life.

Per the website: “More than 10,000 visitors from all 50 states and 27 foreign countries” attend the show. We wanted to wander around Sisters before the madness of all those visitors descended upon the town!

While waiting on line to order lunch at The Depot Deli in Sisters, we chatted with a quilter from the UK that was in town for the SOQS and the week of classes prior to the show – the Quilters Affair.

At the Quilters Affair, renown quilters (Tula Pink, Joe Cunningham, Jean Wells, Rosalie Dace, Sue Spargo, Karla Alexander, Hilde Morin, Elizabeth Hartman, Rob Appell, etc.) teach classes.

My friend Susan created this year’s SOQS raffle quilt which will help raise funds to help cover the administrative costs of this free to the public event (the Saturday SOQS main event is free, all other events are not). The proceeds from the raffle also benefit various community programs such as the Sisters Food Bank.

While wandering around Sisters Saturday, Susan and my other friends stopped at the Stitchin’ Post quilt shop where her quilt was hanging out front (and of course we went into the quilt shop and wandered around):

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“A Story of Stars” designed and pieced by Susan Cobb and quilted by Laura Simmons.

Many of the quilts at SOQS are for sale. Last year I had 6 quilts in the SOQS (5 for sale and 1 in a special art quilt exhibit); and Terry the Quilting Husband had 5 quilts in the “Made by Men” Exhibit and he sold 2 quilts!

This year for the 2017 SOQS I will only have 1 quilt in a special show by the art quilting group I belong to, Central Oregon SAQA. I will post photos after next Saturday’s show.

If you would like to get a feel for what it is like to attend this amazing show checking out my Central Oregon blogging buddy, Anna and her blog Woolie Mammoth or her YouTube Channel – Quilt Roadies, where you will find videos from past SOQS and she will post videos about this year.

Additionally, I have added a category for my posts – Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show, if you want to check my posts from previous years on the show.

The Drug Store Quilt Show

During the 2nd Saturday of July for the SOQS, the entire downtown of Sisters Oregon is shut down from traffic and quilts are hung from every building in the town. They are also hung inside all the downtown buildings!

A couple weeks prior to the SOQS, Sponsor Quilts are hung in many downtown shops as a prelude to the SOQS. Patrons of these shops have the opportunity to purchase the quilts on display prior to the SOQS.

When you go into a drugstore you never expect to also be walking into a quilt show (not something generally associated with drugstores!). While wandering around Sisters, we stopped in the Sisters Drug & Gift Shop to see another one of Susan’s quilts displayed. Here are photos from inside the this downtown drugstore (and awesome gift shop!) – note the first photo is an incredible paper pieced quilt by teacher Janet Storten who I have mentioned in previous posts (see Adventures in Appliqué):

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I bet you have never attended a Drugstore Quilt Show!

This drugstore is famous for its handmade chocolate counter, which will tempt visitors during the SOQS:

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I am looking forward to the 2017 SOQS next Saturday!

Postscript

While wandering around Sisters, we stopped at the Habitat for Humanity thrift shop and I picked up this Crosley radio for $12:

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These radios retail for $54 – $79 and look like antique radios. The sound is excellent and the only thing wrong with it was a couple cosmetic scratches.

I added this radio to my paper crafting and jewelry making station I created in my sunroom:

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I am determined to start card making and jewelry making again. So many crafts, so little time…

 

Published by tierneycreates: a fusion of textiles and smiles

Quilter, crafter, obsessive tea drinker and lover of all furry creatures (especially dogs and cats) - join me on my tierneycreates blog as I share stories from "A Crafter's Life".

20 thoughts on “Sisters, Oregon Before the Madness”

  2. I’ve never been to a quilt show but I think it’s a cute idea to have it in a drug store. Your photos are great and that quilt with the trees is spectacular! Thanks for sharing your trip with us.

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  3. I’d love to go! There are several shows on my list, and this is definitely one.

    What are the criteria for entering? Guess I could look it up… 🙂

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  4. I have put the Sister’s Quilt Show on my bucket list. I’m going to start planning for next year. Thanks for the suggestion. I’ve always wanted to go. And I’ve always wanted to visit Oregon. So win – win. Two marked off if I make it.
    And yes, there are so many projects always swirling through my brain. Wish I could quit my day job! Have fun!!!

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  5. Ah, you make me regret that I’m not going this year. (I did the Omaha weekend instead). Maybe next year. I don’t have any quilts hanging either. Guild specifically wanted row-by-row and I didn’t get into that project. Next year though, we are doing quilts with words and I have an idea brewing.

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    1. Quilts with words!!! That will be very cool! Well SOQS will be here waiting for you when you are ready to come. I think next year I might try and take the whole week off work and take classes. The only challenge is for those of us who lives here the classes are much cheaper off season 🙂

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  7. LOVE all the quilts! I would get into so much trouble in a place like that! The candy would probably also be a temptation! I also love all the little stations that you show around your home.

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    1. Thanks so much! Yes I like to encourage myself to craft by having my little craft nooks! The candy is super yummy looking but we were headed to lunch after touring the drugstore so I was able to be good! 🙂

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  11. I was at Sisters for a few days before the Big Hanging (& was there as well). I so enjoyed all or it. I was quite impressed with the drug store’s display of quilts AND the store itself. I Helped it’s bottom dollar that day. One of my quilts hung outside Habitat for Humanity on Saturday.

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