Sisters Quilt Show: Smiles, Sun and Stitches

From state to state, from near and far.

What started out with just a dozen quilts 36 years ago now has over 1,300 quilts from 35 states and four countries

And it draws nearly 15,000 fans from all over the world who come to ooh and ahh at the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show.

“My favorite part of the show is the sense of community that it brings,” Show Director Ann Richardson said Saturday. “It brings the whole community of Sisters together to make it happen, it brings the community of quilters out, it brings out the community of family — and now we have kid activities involved in the show.”

Almost everyone was carrying around a camera so they can document every quilt they look at.

“They’re interested in making things,” Richardson said. “People just like to make things these days. I don’t think it’s necessarily trendy, but I think it’s a trend.”

Quilts were displayed on the front of businesses, inside tents and hanging from rooftops

Some were for sale, but all were appreciated.

“The people are so nice,” said Jeanne Erickson of Washington state. “We’ve had conversations that are fantastic, and we brought our husbands, and they’ve just been having such a wonderful time.”

Ahh, those husbands — such troopers, showing their support.

“My wife, she has spent I think, $340 — and we’ve only been here 10 minutes,” said Bill Welch.

Cameras, quilts and the hot sun — oh, and fabric, lots of fabric.

“All these people, they come and they go and they all wander around — and they’re all smiling,” Richardson said.