The Orcas Island Artworks features quilts by Irene Anda, Maggie Kaplan and Merry Bush from Oct. 1 through Nov. 15.

Quilt artists Anda, Kaplan, and Bush have been living on Orcas Island for a combined 39 years. And they have been quilting and quilting for many more years. Kaplan wanted to be in the Jr. High band but was dyslexic and couldn’t read the music properly so she was moved to an art class where the teacher gave her a bag of fabric samples. She took them home and put them together into her first quilt. Kaplan has taken many workshops and quilting classes and names David Walker, Jean Rae Luary, and Nancy Crow as those who have influenced her work the most. The new ideas and techniques learned keep her moving forward in her art. Kaplan sells her quilts, wall art, and other fabric art items through The Artworks in Olga.

Anda doesn’t remember her first quilt but has always sewed, knitted. She now shares her home with a dog that eats her yarn and books so she has taken up quilting with a passion. She says the color work in quilting and knitting is the same, building art from color. This will be the first public display and offering of Irene’s quilts and will include several bed-size quilts along with wall art pieces.

Bush is a beginning quilter and is encouraged by Anda and Kaplan. She says the best part is selecting fabrics and that for now, she is sticking to making quilts where the points don’t have to match exactly. Bush has been sewing since she was nine years old and currently makes baby buntings along with hand knitted items for The Artworks.

The Artworks is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.