2026 - Celebrating 40 Years of Everything Quilting

It been a few years and a few more members since a group of women in Grand Junction Colorado sat down and formed Sunset Slope Quilters in 1986. Dionne Warwick had the number one hit on the Billboard Charts - "That's What Friends Are For" - the Chicago Bears won the Superbowl and "Out of Africa" was the Best Picture at the Academy Awards. There were 4 original members in SSQ and now in 2026, almost 200.

Our year-long celebration actually started in late 2025 with the Grand Junction Holiday Parade of Lights! We entered a float adorned with lights, quilts and huge signs, promoting the 2026 Mesas to Monuments Quilt Show! Our resident "Dinosaurs" (members dressed up in dino suits) challeneged parade goers to think about the fact the Dinosaurs did not quilt and now they are extinct. Coincedence?

Ruby Red is the color which represents a 40th Anniversary. SSQ is celebrating with a special Red and White Show, a mini-quilt exhibit at the Mesa County Main Library. From February 20 to April  9, the building's Ary Gallery will be filled with the Red and White Mini Quilts made by members. The display will not only promote the SSQ anniversary, but the Mesas to Monuments Quilt Show, May 1 and 2, 2026 at the Grand Junction Convention Center. SSQ Members entering a quilt in the Red and White Show, must fill out this Library Artist Form please and submit it with your quilt at the February General Meeting. 

You cannot celebrate 40 years without a new  signature logo. The new graphic sports the 1986 to 2026 dateline and will be appearing on all materials and signage throughout the year. Many thanks to members and the Board of Directors for their work on the final presentation.

One of the biggest events ever hosted by Sunset Slope Quilts is the Mesas to Monuments Quilt Show. Taking place every-other-year for the past 5 years, the show dates for 2026 are May 1 and 2. Quilters from anywhere in the world may enter up to 2 quilts in the non-juried event, with prizes going to the top three quilts chosen by the public in attendance. The show includes special exhibits and amazing vendors. For more information, to enter a quilt or to be come a vendor, please visit our M2M page here.

The Sunset Slope Quilters Community Affairs Committee, along with the in-house group, Orchard Stitchers and all guild members, work hard every year to provide quilts for partnering organizations helping those in need throughout our community  To celebrate our 40th Anniversary, our organization has a goal of making 240 quilts this year for donation! Most of these quilts will be made from supplies donated by the entire Western Colorado region. If you have cotton fabric to donate, please reach out to us by filling out the form on the Home Page. Thank you!