Quilt Extravaganza underway at SEMO

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (KFVS) - Two hundred quilts and sewn items are on display during the month of June at Rosemary Berkel and Harry L. Crisp II Museum’s “Quilt Extravaganza.”

From June 2-25, the quilt exhibit is free and open to the public.

The Crisp Museum is located at Southeast Missouri State University’s River Campus.

A closing reception is scheduled from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on June 25 with a Bed Turning at 3 p.m., which consists of having quilts stacked on a bed. Then information will be told about the quilts, including the maker, when it was made, the fabrics, patterns used, and other details.

“A lot of the times there may be a very endearing story to go along with it also,” explained Ellen Flentge, curator of education at the Crisp Museum. “Now being the curator of this event has been very exciting. Some people are shy of wanting to show their quilt, but we have things that it doesn’t have to be perfect. You just realize that in the process of making, there are lessons learned.”

A featured collection of 52 small quilts will be displayed, owned by Mary Meyer of Cape Girardeau, and made by her aunt, Lorraine Bakke. At 92, Bakke challenged her guild in the Yucca Valley of California to make one quilt a week for one year. She included bright colors and some of her husband’s silk ties.

Tim Miller’s collection of vintage Singer sewing machines will also be on display. The models include 201, 15-90, domestic ‘49, 99K, 99K, 327, Domestic 1949, and 221 featherweights in standard black and custom blue. All were produced in the 1940s and 1950s.

Crisp Museum will host stitching, workshops and a demonstration during this time. Click here for more information on these events.

Area quilt groups and fabric stores will have displays with information on their events such as classes, socials, meetings, and fund raisers.

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