The East Mountain Quilters of Costa Rica
began our quilting journey together in March of 2004.  In four short years, we
have come a long, long way and the response to our work has left us breathless.

Curiosity drew us together:  "What IS quilt?"  Discovery kept us together:  
"Ah, so THAT'S quilting!"  Marvelous creativity and a "WE CAN DO THIS!"
attitude have seen us through some pretty interesting times.

Within the first 5 months of our meeting once a week together in the basement of
the local health center, we had the opportunity to put our 5 months' work on
exhibit and up for sale. You should have seen our smiles!
The East Mountain Quilters of Costa Rica were born!

Since that time, we have participated in four national quilt exhibitions in Costa
Rica and two international quilt shows in the United States.  We have hosted a
major quilting event in Costa Rica; won first place for one of our large quilts by
popular vote in the national quilt guild of Costa Rica, Quilt-Ticas ; tied for
second place popular vote in another exhibition held by Quilt-Ticas; and, have
participated in the  designing and quilting of quilts for donation to various
charities here. Two of our members served on the first Board of Directors for
the newly formed national quilt guild Quilt-Ticas in 2006:  Ana Cecilia Salazar
as Treasurer and Carolyn Underwood as President.

Perhaps most amazing of all our accomplishments to date is that the  
no-longer-quiet and timid women from Rancho Redondo de Goicoechea are
involving themselves in important social issues.  One such event  was raising
enough social concern and awareness in our small mountain community that after
years of neglect, the school crossing signs were repainted and new signs placed
notifying travelers of the school zone.  The EMQCR women also successfully
fought to have a man dismissed from his job, something unheard of in the mountain
culture of Central America, because he poisoned over 40 small pets.  You go,
"girls".

***************

Currently, we are busy making small quilts to test the international tourism
market.  In the near future, look for our work in Café Britt shops at the airport
and other tourist destinations throughout Costa Rica.

****************

Beginning in 2003 with the first-ever-in-the-history-of-Costa Rica quilt
exhibition, the Centro Cultural Costarrisence NorteAmericano better known
here as the CCCN, has provided wonderful venues for the quilters of Costa Rica
and other countries to exhibit their quilts. The CCCN has several gallery
locations within Costa Rica.  In 2007 alone, the CCCN is hosting three major
quilting exhibitions: in March in CCCN La Sabana which featured quilt art and
quilt artists from Iowa and another exhibit of art quilts from other countries;  
from June through the end of August in CCCN Alajuela another exhibit entitled
"Grano de Oro"; in July at CCCN Los Yoses and CCCN La Sabana with quilts
from the gifted hands of Hawaiian quilters and additional quilts from Costa Rica.
East Mountain Quilters of Costa Rica
Our "Stand" at
SINTERCAFE XIX
Maria, Ana Cecilia, Ana and
Marta - the Four
"Quilteadoras"  from
EMQCR who made the trip
to Iowa and Houston in
2005
A specialty quilt
hand-sewn and sold at  
SINTERCAFE XIX
Many hands make light work!
Getting to know the women of the group
ABOUT US
The East Mountain Quilters of Costa Rica group has evolved from only adult
women to  include four of our young daughters.  These young pre-adolescent and
newly-adolescent daughters  are seriously following in their mothers' footsteps
and have sold several of their own original-designed,  hand sewn and quilted small
quilts for years!
Kattia was our fifth quilter to visit
Houston's International Quilt Market &
Festival in 2007.
This is your chance of a lifetime...

ADOPT A QUILTER!

For more information,
see
"Adopt a Quilter"
    Catch us on YouTube  
We are putting together videos
of our home ~~
Rancho Redondo
and the
East Mountain Quilters of Costa
Rica.
Because we currently are
working on a project for
international competition, we'll
delay photos of our group at
work. When the competition
closes and winners are
announced, we'll show you our
entry and the process of
constructing it step by step.
For now enjoy seeing RR and
visiting where we live.
HOUSTON,
here we come!