Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Sisters Trip

Last week's trip to Sisters, Oregon was FULL of inspiration and excitement.  You asked for lots of photos, so here you go!
We left Seattle on Wednesday, and got there in time to see Bill Volckening talk about his quilt collection.  He showed MANY wonderful quilts.  This one is by Lucy Mingo of Gee's Bend.


This is one of his New York Beauties that I especially liked.  It appears to have been salvaged and repaired from a larger quilt.


Thursday morning we shopped at The Stitchin Post, and look who we saw!  Kathy Doughty from Material Obsession in Australia and her friend, Cheryl.  There's Tonya too.


In the afternoon, we had a class with seven of the Gee's Bend quilt makers.  From left to right:  (I've forgotten the first woman's name.  I think it was Rivla?)  Anyway, next is Mary Ann Pettway, Louisiana Bendolph, Stella Mae Pettway, Lucy Mingo, China Pettway and Ruth Kennedy.


After a bit of singing, we all got to work.   Stella Mae helped me make this. 


Look who else was in the class.  Janet Bolton from London!  She is a lovely woman.  I hope to take a class from her someday. 



This is where we ate and slept, all seven of us Rebels, very comfortably in a cabin that was larger than these.


With a beautiful creek just outside the window.


 Friday was the "Garden Party" class with Kathy Doughty of Material Obsession.  Here she is, helping me with my quilt.  She is amazingly talented, generous, fun and approachable.  Two of her Australian "posse" helped out, also extremely talented and friendly.  Oh, to be able to work with them more often!!  Below are some other quilts made in the class.





You can get the pattern for this quilt at the Material Obsession site.


Saturday was the quilt show, with 1,300 quilts all hung outside.  They say it's the largest outdoor quilt show in the world!


There were so many fabulous quilts.  I focused on the Gee's Bend ones to share here.





                                                        This one is by Stella Mae Pettway.







                                                  This one is by Mary Ann Pettway.



                                                     This one is by Rita Mae Pettway.

                                                              This one is by Ruth Kennedy.




Remember the block contest I entered?  Here are about half of the entries.


Mine is top left.


Here's the winner, well deserved!


One of the most impressive things about the Sisters Quilt Show is the community participation.  Everyone comes out to help.  Here are some girls selling water.


Here are the Gee's Bend gals, ready to sign books.  L to R:  Lucy Mingo, Ruth Kennedy, Stella Mae Pettway, China Pettway and Mary Ann Pettway.  I've been fortunate to have seen them four times, and it's always hard to say "good bye."  This time, I'm saying, "See you at your place next time!"



Then it was time to leave beautiful Sisters, Oregon.  Mountains like these stand all around.


On Sunday, Tonya and I got to play in my sewing room.  My neighbor, Shannon, brought over a kitten so Tonya could get her kitty fix.


Then we played with orphan blocks.  Gratitude is a fitting word for how I'm feeling about this great trip, the visit with Tonya, all the talented quilt makers out there, the Rebels gals, and you with whom to share it all!

36 comments:

YankeeQuilter said...

Looks like you all had an amazing time!

Rachaeldaisy said...

I just want to hug you for sharing all these photos with us!! What an amazing time it must have been surrounded by friends and inspiring people and incredible quilts!! And such a beautiful setting. I really hope I'll be able to attend a Sisters Festival one day.

sallgood said...

Thanks for sharing! I think I'm going to have to get to Sisters next time around!

Sharon said...

Thanks for the Sisters update, I haven't seen many blogs posting photos so it was great to see yours. I love what you've done with your applique! And the kitty is sooo cute, glad Tonya could get her kitty fix!

liz said...

Sounds like you had a marvellous time. I particularly love the quilt you finished the post with. Keep going on that one.

Jan said...

Wonderful post...jealous! Thanks for all of the pics!

Jessica said...

thanks for sharing your experience with us. the photo of tanya & kathy in Stitchin Post really makes the world seem small.
I love your Gratitude quilt, can't wait to see where it goes from here.

fiberchick said...

Thank you for such a great post... You got to rub elbows with many of my quilt idols... Please write more about your workshop with Kathy Doughty!

Anita said...

Gratitude is a good word and just how I was feeling as well. It was so nice to meet you face to face!! And we bumped into Tanya and Jessica at the coffee shop on Saturday. So fun!

farmersdotter said...

Thanks for all the great photos and stories. I would LOVE to go there someday! I'm from the midwest and I'm just getting a quilting business going. Retreats, patterns, trunk shows and workshops. Take a look if ya get a chance. I'm gonna have a booth at the AQS show in Des Moines this fall if you get chance to go to that, I'd love to meet you! Been following your blog for a while.
Brenda....the Farmer's Dotter

Janet said...

How inspirational, you are so lucky, I'm just a bit jealous.

Anonymous said...

Thank you for share LeeAnn. It must have been wonderful and exciting. I like that you centered on G.B. quilts. You know what we are expecting for...
Love the quilt you are making. Those orphan blocks look great.Beautiful solid colors!!.

antique quilter said...

so jealous looks like a wonderful time was had by all
love the way your quilt is coming along...ah yes gratitude....great word to describe your trip
I have always wanted to come to the Sisters quilt show
and take a class with Kathy. a dream
not my style quilts but I know I could learn so much and have fun at the same time!
Kathie

Clare said...

Jealous!

Gorgeous photos. The Gees Bend quilts really are the best!

Glad you got some sewing time with Tonya too.

Julie Fukuda said...

What a wonderful trip! Thanks for taking us along.

Selvage Quilter said...

Thanks for all the great pics. Very inspirational. I'm making plans to go to Sisters next summer. We've been there for the mountains, but not the quilts...yet. And I love seeing what was on the design wall when you and Tonya were playing. What fun!

Chris said...

Spending time sewing and sharing with quilters is the best, isn't it!!! Thanks for sharing with all of us. I have been in awe of the Gee's Bend group since way back - love the piece you created int he class. I must ask, your comment about the singing really intrigued me! Tell more about that!

Teodo said...

What a wonderful trip across colours, quilts and friends.
ciao ciao

regan said...

Wow! Thanks for sharing all these great pics!

Nancy said...

Grand!! And I love your plates quilt from the class.

Alexis said...

I love seeing all your photos and hearing about your trip! That settles it for me- Sisters 2012 or bust!

Kim said...

I'm green with Envy!

Happy Sewing

Mary Keasler said...

Oh My! What a fabulous time you all must have had. I wish I would have been there! Your words and pictures have made my day. Thanks so much for sharing all. That blue/red/grey/gold quilt by Stella Mae leaves me breathless. However, your "gratitude" piece with the orphan blocks is looking mighty nice. Tell Stella Mae she best watch out. :)

Tonya Ricucci said...

such a wonderful time. I believe that's Rival Mosely on the left in your Gee's Bend quilters photo. you did a MUCH better job than I did of taking photos. Gracie the kitten was such a sweetie pie - hope she and Junie B. find a great home. the tulip and gratitude quilt is fantastic - love it! Hope the transition back to work has gone smoothly. (boo! we need more quilting time!)

meli B said...

What an amazing trip. Great to hear you enjoyed the Aussie class. Love all the pictures. The outdoor show looked incredible. It always surprises me how many people are into making things and it is so inspiring to realise how appreciated the craft of quilt making is. I am enjoying the evolution of your orphan blocks into a single work. Thanks for your mini show for those of us who can only wish we were there.

flowerbrite said...

Thank you so very,very much for all the great photos and commentary. Loved them. As many have said, I am envious too.
The final quilt "gratitude" is so great, and quite meaningful.

Victoria said...

Wow! What a fabulous trip and adventure! The Gees Bend Ladies and Janet Bolton to boot, what a treat! I really, really need to get out more and do something like this one day. Thanks for letting me live a little vicariously thorough you!

Helen said...

What a great post! I am in love with Gee's Bend quilts and am terribly envious. Your collaboration with Stella Mae is just beautiful. Want to see where you go with it. Your Gratitude quilt is perfect! Thanks a million for sharing.

Michele Bilyeu said...

Revil Mosely. I met her in 2009. Isn't Sisters just the best? And I was so happy the weather was better than in years past. I did three big long blog posts with my photos and now I am having a giveaway on a brand new Mary Lou Weidman book if you're interested in throwing your name in my magical hat!

Victoria Findlay Wolfe said...

looks like you all had an amazing time!!! love what you have on your wall!

Theodora quilts said...

well what a wonderful time and plenty of wonderful quilts to look at as well,and your block looks great in with the others,my modem wasn't working and I didn't have internet for a while and I got a new one ,I don't know how I managed without internet for nearly 2 weeks,thanks for the photos you gals must have had a great time.

Quilter Kathy said...

Sounds like a fabulous adventure!

Nyima said...

Thanks for the tour, with special emphasis on the exceptional Gees Bend quilts and quilters. What a visual charge!

Looks like you and Tonya stayed in Camp Sherman?? My old hometown. Nostalgic ... I could almost hear the Metolius from here.

smazoochie said...

Thanks for sharing your fabulous time!
What I am feeling is definitely NOT one of the Virtues -- envy!

Sandra Kaye said...

Thanks for stopping by my blog!! I really like the dresden plate quilts. Oh, and the wrapped trees are a hoot:):):)--hugs --Sandie

MariQuilts said...

Wow...what a fabulous time!!!