Carol Davis
A Day at the Oregon Coast
59" x 63"

This quilt was inspired by a summer trip to Lincoln City, Oregon.

Pam Duren
Oregon History (In the Shadow of Marys Peak)
30" x 42"

"I started this quilt two years ago in an online class through Quilt University taught by Ila McCallum from Salem, Oregon. At the design stage, I altered the mountain shape to resemble Marys Peak. Putting it aside for months, I kept thinking about a way to incorporate some symbols of Oregon history using this traditional log cabin pattern as a background. While browsing the internet, I found three invaluable sources by Patricia B. Hastings, 'Quilting the Journeys of Lewis and Clark' in three volumes, which provided the ideas for the symbols I used. The foreground flora and fauna are in color and the silhouettes from long ago are shadows of the past. I did the machine quilting as well." --Pam Duren

Debbie Garvin
Oregon Trail
69" x 69"

"This quilt came about when I won nine Oregon Trail blocks from Marys River Quilt Guild's block challenge. I set the blocks on point with setting triangles and squares. I chose colors to depict the landscape of Oregon. There are pale greens for the fresh growth in the spring. The blocks themselves are various shades of green that are prevalent in Oregon's summer months in the valley. The outside border showcases the beiges found in eastern Oregon. The rusty red flange and additional red border represent the fiery tenacity of the first settlers.

"I wanted a quilt motif that signified some main element of Oregon. I was interested in a grapevine wreath since the Oregon grape is Oregon's state flower. Jill Miller, a professional long arm quilter, modified an existing design.

"I think the quilt turned out very well. I'm excited and proud to exhibit this quilt to honor Oregon's 150th birthday." --Debbie Garvin

Loosely Bound
Benton County Vistas: Mary's Peak
60" x 90"

"This piece was originally conceived as two scenes, an urban scene and a landscape scene, built of five panels for each scene. Each panel was completed by a different artist from the local fiber arts group, Loosely Bound. For the piece's premier exhibit, the scenes were merged into a ten-panel piece, alternating a panel of the urban scene with a panel of the landscape scene. For the subsequent exhibition, the scenes were split into a five-panel urban scene and a five-panel landscape scene. This entry, Benton County Vistas: Mary's Peak honors the beauty and wonder of Marys Peak, a local landmark that defines our community and sense of place. It was interesting to the makers how the feel of the quilt changed when the busier, urban panels were taken away and a calmer, more meditative quilt was revealed.

"Members of Loosely Bound are Nancy Bryant, Diana Cleland-Boyle, Marcia Gilson, Marcy Gregg, Babette Grunwald, Liz Hoffman, Susan Johnson, Kerry McFall, Sidnee Snell, Shirley Strub, and Ann Smith."--Liz Hoffman

Dianne Jackson
Onward to Oregon
37.5" x 23"

"This quilt was designed and made for the Marys River Quilt Guild Challenge in 2007 and was to represent my family's connection to Corvallis. My great grandmother came to Oregon on the Trail as a young child and settled near Drain, Oregon. My family has been in the Corvallis area for over 60 years. My husband's family homesteaded a Donation Land Grant in the Tangent area in 1849 and still farm there. That farm was presented with one of the first fourteen Sesquicentennial Farm plaques last year. This represents both families journey toward a new and wonderful life." --Dianne Jackson

Judy Juntunen
Courthouse Steps
19" x 17"

"This very simple quilt was made for the 2007 Marys River Quilt Guild Challenge --'Quilting Our Heritage'. Except for the photograph, all the fabrics were in the challenge quilt packet.

"The Benton County Courthouse is the oldest courthouse in the state still used for its original purpose. The Courthouse has special meaning for me. I served on the 1988 Courthouse Centennial Committee, and I am currently the chair of the Benton County Courthouse Preservation Committee." --Judy Juntunen

Jan Tallis
Quilting Our Heritage
64" x 51"

"My quilt is based on blocks from Eleanor Burn's book Pioneer Sampler. The quilt was made for the Marys River Quilt Guild Challenge in 2007, which was entitled 'Quilting Your Heritage'. The fabrics from the challenge are used in many of the blocks and also the outer border. I picked fabrics for the entire quilt that were similar to those used in the late 1800s." --Jan Tallis

Sandra Thiesen
48 State Wildflowers
104 "x80"

"My mother started the quilt that I submitted before Alaska and Hawaii became states so those two state flowers are not represented. The embroidered squares were from a hot iron transfer set called Aunt Martha's State Flowers (#9901). After the quilt was completed, I found the exact transfer set in a quilt shop in Salt Lake City. The designs for the last two states to join the union were included in the set so I purchased the pattern and am working on the final two squares. I plan to make pillow shams with these final squares.

"My mother became deaf at age four and a half from spinal meningitis. She was a highly intelligent homemaker and mother to two girls. She was interested in embroidery and crochet and loved to keep herself busy. Sometime after she completed the embroidery on these squares they got put aside and she did not take them out again until sometime in the late 1990's.

"One day when I came to visit her I found her trying to hand stitch them to aqua blue setting squares and she was having trouble because none of the squares were the same size. I offered to put them together for her and took them home where I washed them and determined that the smallest block was over a half inch smaller than the recommended size. In order to make the quilt large enough I decided to use setting strips and chose the dark green and white floral print with white cornerstones. The result added extra length that I didn't anticipate, so we now have a quilt for a giant's bed.

"After the top was pieced I hired Esther Nisly to hand stitch the quilting design to join the layers. It took her over 180 hours to complete this stitching. When the quilt sandwich was completed, I finished the binding and created the label for the back. The original pattern called for curved triangle shapes on each corner, but I chose to omit them creating the rounded corners that I think are less likely to create a tripping hazard.

"I know that this quilt took hundreds of hours and many hands to complete and it is now an heirloom to pass on in our family. My mother passed away in February 2008, but she had a chance to see the finished quilt before she died and she told me that she wanted it to go to my niece when I am finished enjoying it. I'm proud to share it with the visitors to the museum." -- Sandra Thiesen

Yvonne Thomas
Awesome Autumn
76" x 60"

"This quilt was made to celebrate a beautiful time in Oregon. As an educator for 40 plus years, I look forward to the season when students show up polished on the first day of school. The weather can be warm in the day and cool at night. Leaves change from the rich greens to golds, bronze, and yellows, and eventually brown. My quilt represents those colors that warm my soul each year. The design represents how all of the activity as students and teachers gather together, groups interacting and gathering together in the circles of education.

"Fall has many memories for students of the past and present. It was to Philomath College many came. Through the years, Oregon State University, formerly Oregon College of Agriculture and Oregon State College, has welcomed students and staff members from far and near. Fall holds many memories. It represents times of the past and the future." --Yvonne Thomas

Yvonne Thomas
Celebration
50" x 55"

"This quilt is machine pieced, with 150 candles that make up the cake. The flames and the lettering are machine appliquéd with the raw edge method to give a 'handmade' look. I have thought about the quilt design since I first heard there would be a 150th birthday celebration for Corvallis and eventually Oregon.

"There are 150 'candles' that make up this cake. The black and orange in this quilt were chosen to represent OSU and the other fabrics of the candles are symbolic of things in our area. Note the flowers and Moo fabric!

"Corvallis has a special place in my heart. I came here to school and ended up working in the Corvallis School District and at different times for Oregon State University. Corvallis has been a great place for me and my husband and our family.

"All three of our children were born in this town. It is their heritage. As sixth generation Oregonians, they know Corvallis is the county seat and that it was almost the capitol of Oregon. For a short time, it was the proposed capitol of the Oregon Territory. Salem eventually became the capitol. Corvallis and all Benton County have good reasons for celebration." --Yvonne Thomas

Lisa Ullmer
Twisted Bear Paw
84" x 82"

"The top was conceived about four years ago as one of my quilt groups, Twisted Sisters, was discussing an upcoming display for Quilt County. The challenge was to take a traditional block and modify it. I have always had a fascination with the Bear's Paw pattern and was inspired by Pat A. Syta's book Bear's Paw Plus.

"This is my version of Twisted Bear's Paw using primarily Civil War era reproduction fabric. The pieced blocks and stippling have been long arm quilted by Jean McDaniel. The wreaths and borders are hand quilted by me. Initially, I had planned on the entire quilt to be long arm quilted but changed my mind after seeing the reduction of hand quilted quilts at the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show. I have found the combination of both quilting methods to be pleasing to the eye and easier on the hands!" --Lisa Ullmer

Corvallis Public Library staff
Friendship Quilt for Louise Bollman
1985
85" x 61"
2007-030.0001

Friendship quilts first appeared in the 1840s. While they might commemorate any special event, they were often made for a woman who was leaving for a new home farther west. Individual friends and family would create blocks, which they signed. Many incorporated messages or fabrics that would help the recipient remember individuals she might never see again. They then pieced the blocks together to make a quilt for the new home. There are two types: the friendship quilt in which the blocks are all of the same design and the friendship/album quilt in which the blocks are of different designs.

French Star
1824
77 "x 71"
H11201

This green and white pieced and appliquéd quilt was made in Indiana and brought across the plains to Oregon in 1852. Two small hand-embroidered initials, "M A," appear in one of the blocks.

Ohio Star
Circa 1850
85" x 83"
H11375

The primary block type of this framed Medallion quilt is "Ohio Star" or "Friendship Star," done in two sizes--smaller size within central medallion, larger size in outer body. An East Coast provenance is surmised, based on its diverse fabrics and set design. "Millie B M", or possibly "Millie Barnes," is inscribed on the reverse side.

Nelle R. Farley and Lucinda Roberts
Beavers!
1934
81" x 60"
H1985-05-0001

Checkerboard
1890
76" x 69"
1986-025.0004

The backing of this checkerboard quilt is made of flour sacks, some labels of which can be read. "Northern Flour Mill Company" and "Gold Medal Flour" can be read clearly.

Eii Johnson
Pinwheel
May 16, 1877
79" x 65"
1987-035.0001

Mrs. Eii (sic) Johnson of Indiana made this quilt in 1877, the year her granddaughter, Mary Johnson Buckley, was born. For many years, it belonged to Mrs. Johnson's daughter, Emma, who lived in Linn County a few miles south of Albany. On May 16, 1932 (date on back of quilt), Emma gave it to her niece Mary and it has been in Benton County, Oregon, ever since.

Alpine Maple Leaf Rebekah Lodge
Nine Patch
1939
2004-060.0001
80" x 63"

Members of the Alpine Maple Leaf Rebekah Lodge made this quilt as a fund raiser in 1939. Each person paid 10 cents to have their name on the quilt. The quilt was then raffled. The winner of the quilt was Bertha Rhodes. The cream colored squares were originally apple green. (Apple green and pink were the lodge colors.) Officers' names and titles are in the center wheel. The donor was born in Corvallis but lived in Alpine from 1929 to 1940. Rebekah Lodge was located above Christain's store in Alpine.

Oregon Rose variation
Circa 1840
87" x 85"
H1981-096-0005