This is our 50th year!

Have you put it on your calendar?  Don’t forget that in May Pioneer Quilters is commemorating 50 years of hand quilting together in May!  Will you celebrate with us?  Friday, May 2 (1:00 to 6:00) and Saturday May 3 (10:00 to 4:00) at the First Congregational United Church of Christ at 1050 23rd Avenue in Eugene. (The entrance faces 24th Avenue, with parking lots on the west and north sides of church).

It’ll be wonderful to see the display of quilts made by our earliest members.  We really appreciate the quilters and their families who are so generously allowing us to display these treasures. 

We current members are looking through our creations to each select a few small quilts/wall hangings, etc. that we will also have on display for your viewing pleasure.  I can’t wait to see them all! 

You won’t want to miss founding member Carol Gassman’s presentation about the early days of the group on Friday at 1:30, followed by a reception at 2:00.

Who were the visionary women who created this long-lived hand quilting group? Thanks to the efforts of our historian Judie Plancheon, we have a bit of information to share about that! The women who attended the  organizational meeting at Pioneer Museum on September 24, 1975 and/or the first meeting on October 1, 1975 were Martha Allwander, Donna Andrew, Alice Ariss, Dorothy Bond, Dorothy Bettis, Bernie Clark, Rose Hagerman, Loretta (Conger) Harrison, Althea Fisher, Pam Forster, Dorothy (Fox) Luttrell, Betty Jackson, Carman (Johnson) (Mowery), Evelyn Johnson, Donna Lake, Betty Metzler, Hilda Nielsen, Sheila Rose, Suzette Shoulders, Louise Smith, Carol (Sorenson) Gassman, and Iris Spangler. 

So far, we haven’t come across a photo of these 23 women together, but we do have early photos to share.  If you scroll back in this blog to our 4-24-15 post, celebrating 40 years, you can see some early group photos.  And there will be many at the celebration, as well as some must-read articles in national magazines.

A list of members ten years later (1985) included 4 women who are currently still active members—Jenny Bonynge, Sylvia Bugley, Carol Gassman, and Sheila Steers.  Forty years of weekly group quilting gatherings—amazing ladies!!  As is their talent!

We don’t yet have a formal 2025 group photo, but I found one of us from 2022.

I’ve been sporadically blogging here for you about our hand quilting and quilt shows since 2014, most heavily close to quilt show times.  Do spend some time scrolling back to see more history and photos of this enduring group!  

 

And yes, of course, we've been making wonderful items for our popular Pioneer Quilters Boutique--more on that in an upcoming blog.  But you can scroll back through previous years' blogs to see our handmade creations that have been available for your purchase!  Stay tuned!

 FRONTIER HERITAGE FAIR

We will once again be demonstrating the beautiful art of hand quilting at the Frontier Heritage Fair this month.  Members of Pioneer Quilters will be quilting around a frame both Saturday and Sunday.  We will also have a few completed and vintage quits displayed to delight your eyes, including an award-winning quilt made in the late 1990s by 4th and 5th graders in the Brattain Quilt Club celebrating Oregon Trail history.

When you come to the Frontier Heritage Fair, you can see our ongoing demonstration of hand quilting, along with all the other fun historical activities that celebrate Oregon's  pioneer heritage and ancestors.  You'll get a glimpse of how different life was in the 1800s. 

Join us February 15th (9 am to 5 pm) and 16th (9 am to 4 pm) at the Lane County Fairgrounds Events Center and enjoy the history demonstrations.

 and in May . . . 

PIONEER QUILTERS CELEBRATES FIFTY YEARS OF HAND QUILTING TOGETHER!

In 1975, a few local women decided to form a group to hand quilt each other's quilts.  Pioneer Quilters will be celebrating our 50 years of continuing love of the art on May 2nd and 3rd at the First Congregational Church on 23rd Avenue in Eugene.  The friendships formed while stitching on quilts around a frame are golden, a much appreciated benefit of quilting together each week.

At our two-day celebration, you'll see some beautiful quilts created and quilted by those founders, as well as some eye candy from current members of our group.  Enjoy the speakers and take the opportunity to purchase some handmade items, all made by our talented members, at our popular Pioneer Quilters' Boutique.

Stay tuned for more details!

MASK MAKERS!

A couple of weeks ago pleas went out nationwide and worldwide for fabric masks.  The masks don't have the ability to protect you from the corona virus, but do a pretty good job of protecting others from your germs.  So, as the Czechs are saying, "I protect you.  You protect me."

There have been many articles in the media internationally about how sewing volunteers are jumping in, forming information-sharing groups, posting patterns and tips, and donating their time and supplies to get the masks made and distributed.  The New York Times posted this one today.  The Cottage Grove Sentinel featured our own Robin Fouquette and the many masks she's created in their April 1 issue.  Many governments, local, state and national, are urging or requiring everyone to wear a mask when they leave their homes.  Los Angeles just joined this group today.

We quilters just happen to have a wee bit of fun and beautiful fabric in our homes, and we jumped at the chance to use it to help keep our family, friends and community a little safer.  There are several styles of masks available, and many of us have made a variety before settling on one we personally prefer.  For us, probably the most fun part is the fabric, and we Pioneer Quilters been sharing some photos of our creations with each other.  Many are now in the hands of local essential workers, while a few others have gone to friends and family members here and across the country.

Enjoy a peek at our online Show and Tell, just a sampling of the several hundred masks Pioneer Quilters have made and distributed in the past few weeks.  So many styles, and such fun fabrics!

AND THE SHOW OPENS

ALL I CAN SAY IS WOW!

The quilts are amazing, delightful, beautiful works of art!  Wait until you see them!

The vendors have a wonderful and inspiring array of wares--I can't wait to take some of those treasures off their hands.

Lots of creative talent went into this year's great selection of items in our Boutique.

When you come in the lobby and pay your admission, there's a handout list of places to eat in Cottage Grove.  

When you go up the steps at the front corner of the building, you'll enter the lobby.  If steps are difficult for you, there's a gently inclined ramp on the right side of the building.

The lobby is also where you can see all 30 of our exquisite raffle blocks, and purchase your tickets.  They are simply beautiful!  What a great quilt they'll make.  

Parking!  On-street parking is 2- and 3-hour, but on some blocks there's no limit.  The funeral home across the street has said our guests can park in their lot, leaving the designated spots available for staff on Thursday and Friday.  On Saturday, the whole lot is available.  

There are also city parking lots nearby that are 3-hour parking.

We hope you enjoy our 2019 show!

COUNTDOWN TO SHOW TIME!

IT'S THIS WEEK!

We are SO excited about our 2019 Unbroken Thread Quilt Show.  The Cottage Grove Armory (628 E. Washington Avenue, Cottage Grove) is such a spacious, light-filled and appealing historic building--we can't wait to see it festooned in quilts.  

And there will be so much going on . . . 

HERE'S WHAT'S HAPPENING:

Tuesday, September 17.  If you've had one or more quilts accepted for the show, this is the day to bring them to the Armory, between 10:00 am and 1:00 pm.  Be sure you have a 4" sleeve on the top back of your quilt, and have sewn the paper Show ID label to the bottom left corner on the back. Don't forget to bring your Entry and Loan Form along with your quilt.

Sleeve along the top edge

Label in bottom left corner

                        

Wednesday, September 18.  This is a day the Pioneer Quilter elves do their magic behind the scenes--hanging the show, setting up displays, readying the boutique, putting a fresh quilt in the frame, and our vendors set up their booths.

Thursday, September 19.  The Pioneer Quilters' Unbroken Thread Quilt Show is open 10 am to 4 pm 

10:30--noon   Speaker  
     Sheila Sinclair Snyder:  Barn Quilts, Past and Present

2:00--3:30   Demonstration
     Barbara Trunnel:  Single Square Beginner Quilt


Friday, September 20.  The Pioneer Quilters' Unbroken Thread Quilt Show is open 10 am to 4 pm

10:30--noon  Demonstration
    ChrisAnn Mead and Beth Weldy:  Appliqué Prep Techniques

1:00--2:00 pm   Speaker  
     Marsha McCloskey:  A Patchwork Life
     Marsha will have many of her books (1984--2014) available for purchase after her presentation.
  
2:00--3:30  Demonstration
     Caren Ross:  Having Fun With Fabric Crumbs

Saturday, September 21.  The Pioneer Quilters' Unbroken Thread Quilt Show is open 10 am to 4 pm

10:00--4:00   Class
     Mindy Reeves:  Farmhouse Table Runner
     There are still a few spots available for this class.  
           Scroll back to June 1 post for photo and information.
          If interested, email weaverlady@q.com

10:30--noon   Demonstration
     Barbara Fox:  Self-binding Baby Quilt

1:00--2:00   Speakers
     Ann Pfrender and Susie George:  Vintage Quilts from Pioneer Quilters' Collections
     
2:00--3:30  Demonstration
     Linda Steller and Lisa Ponder:  Quilt Labels

3:30  Raffle of appliquéd quilt blocks

4:00  Quilt Show closes

5:00--6:00  Pick up your quilts.  Be sure to bring your receipt form!


AND EVERY SHOW DAY,  ALL DAY:

On-going demonstration by Pioneer Quilters of  hand quilting in a frame

A stellar group of vendors to inspire you

Our popular boutique, with hundreds of items handmade by Pioneer Quilters

Block Raffle Tickets available to purchase!  Will you be the one to win these 30 amazing appliqué blocks?  Tickets are $1.00 each or six for $5.00.  We'll draw the winner's name at 3:30 on Saturday.

Photo shows half of the lovely blocks.  All unique!

SHOW PASSES

If you plan to be at the show more than one day, I urge you to buy a show pass on your first day, rather than 2 or 3 individual day passes.  Daily passes are $7.00 and show passes (any/all days) are $12.00.  Admission for students is $3.50 a day, and under-fives are free.

LOCAL EATERIES

I know many of you will want to browse the shops and eat while you're in Cottage Grove for our quilt show.  COMING SOON--A list of some restaurants.

SNEAK PEAK

You may have scrolled down and seen photos of some of the great items for sale in our Pioneer Quilters' boutique at past years' shows.  There are always so many delightful handmade gems!

Today I stopped in at the boutique meeting and was able to see a few of the amazing items this gifted group of Pioneer Quilters has made for this year's show.  Much more was already boxed away.  But here's your sneak preview of what was out today.

We hope you're as excited as we are!  Only 5 weeks to go!  You've got it on your calendar, right?

QUILT SHOW ENTRY FORMS ARE DUE AUGUST 1

Entry forms for our September quilt show are due this Thursday!

If you have quilts to enter, but haven't gotten your hands on the entry form yet, not to worry.  Just email quilterspioneer@gmail.com and request one.  We'll send one to you as a PDF.  Remember to submit it by August 1st!