It’s not just real estate that’s hot in Central Oregon! The region absolutely jumps the entire summer . . . Balloons Over Bend, Bend Summerfest, the Pacfic Crest Triathalon in Sunriver, the Oregon Open at Brasada Ranch, the Cascade Cycling Classic, the Jeld-Wen Tradition. But few events attract attention more than the Sisters Outdoor Quilt show, held for the 35th consecutive year on Satuday, July 10. For one weekend, Sisters thinks of itself the “quilt capital of the world.”

The event is always special to me, for, as a wee lad, I never dreamed of becoming a successful Bend Oregon realtor; I didn’t aspire to be a baseball player or a cop like the other boys. . . I wanted to be a quilter!

Each year, quilters from around the world descend on Sisters Oregon. The western-themed downtown area is then draped in color as quilters showcase their wares.

The show usually draws between 15,000 and 20,000 folks, and fills the town’s hotels and restaurants. This year, over 1300 quilts were featured in the show . . . they were hung from virtually everywhere.

Traffic had to be directed around town.

To me, a couple of the coolest entries were the “car quilts” . . . a PT Cruiser and a Honda Odyssey, each with a “snug suit of multi-colored clothing.”

The latter is supposed to be used later in the year in a promotion to help sell homes in Bend Oregon, as well as general real estate in Central Oregon. Drivers will have to constantly run their air-conditioners (the quilts are quite warm!) and adhere to a strict 45 mile per hour speed limit to reduce the accumulation of bugs.

This year a special group attended the show . . . a bevy of women from the small rural enclave of Gee’s Bend (not to be confused with Bend Oregon), Alabama brought their distinctive quilting style to the show. In the past , they have appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show.

Their quilting style, rather than focusing on “traditional patterns and flawless reproduction,” is much more free-flowing. Over the years, the style was passed down from mothers to daughters. I think I’d like to visit Gee’s Bend. Below is one of my favorites.

At last, tired of the crowd, my quilt Jones sated, I decided to take the long way home. Driving south on the Powell Butte Highway, I marveled again at the workmanship of the re-claimed barnwood custom home sitting proudly on the rimrock overlooking Brasada Ranch.

As I pulled into Bend Oregon, the summer night sky was already bright in its multi-colored splendor. . . reminding me once again of a huge Gee’s Bend quilt.

For more info on Gee’s Bend quilts or Bend Oregon homes for sale, please click here.