In the Central Oregon landscape, Teri Wood sees how the aspen trees shimmer. Inspired by the vision, she designed a quilt that features eight aspen trees with 365 shimmering appliquéd leaves. It will hang as part of a dozen of her pieces displayed at this year’s Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show (SOQS), where Wood will be honored as the event’s featured quilter.

Quilting for more than 20 years, and moving to Sisters in a large part for the quilting community 12 years ago, Wood — the Stitchin’ Post floor manager — combines history, fabric, inspiration, and art into the challenging and timeless craft.

“Be free,” advised Wood, reflecting on the art of quilting. “Don’t limit yourself. Let yourself go and let it reflect who you are.”

The accomplished quilter learned how to sew from her mother, and fashioned her own clothes in high school. Years later, she saw a quilt hanging somewhere and was intrigued by its shape and design.

Wood began to take classes. Her first quilt was a fence rail pattern, followed by a log cabin creation; then she attended a sample class that she recommends all beginning quilters experience. More than two decades later, Wood has completed about 30 quilts, often gifting them to family members.

What Wood really loves is blending the different colors and textures of fabric to create a traditional style in a contemporary manner. She knows that the sky is the limit with quilting, and that quilts can serve as anything people want them to be. They can be functional, can soften a room as a decorative wall hanging or act as table runners or pillows.

“Quilting started out steeped in tradition,” she said, “And it has gone so many different directions.”

Wood often begins with a final piece in mind. While challenges occur during the process, she takes the time to work with her passion to complete the vision.

“She gets it done,” said Carla Merrell, education director at the Stitchin’ Post. “Her follow-through and completeness is a strong quality.”

Attending the quilt show every year for the past 15 years, Wood feels inspired by looking at others’ quilts and meeting people from around the world who come together for this event. While her quilts have hung in previous shows, this is the first year that she has been named featured quilter, and the first time designing the show’s raffle quilt.

Part of the fun of the SOQS is talking with other quilters, which Wood is looking forward to doing while she spends the day on the corner of W. Hood Avenue and S. Ash Street among her pieces. The texture of the chosen fabrics and contrasting colors will be enhanced among the natural beauty of the outdoors, likely instilling motivation in others — as the event has always done for her.

“The quilt show itself is inspiring,” Wood said. “I love going around and looking to see what is possible.”