Quilts, quilts, quilts and more quilts
For details on exhibit hours for Saturday, Oct. 8, and information on the quilt auction Saturday evening, CLICK HERE.
For a special slideshow featuring samples from the exhibits, CLICK HERE.
A woman born in Hope, Kan., in 1886 tool center stage at the Lutheran Church’s Fellowship Hall Friday evening to wrap up the first day of Concordia’s KS150 QuiltFest.
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Renowned quilter Rose Kretsinger — portrayed in period dress and mannerisms by Debbie Devine of Salina — who was at the heart of what has been called “the Emporia, Kansas phenomenon,” a small group of women who produced some of the 20th century’s finest quilts. Kretsinger studied design at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, graduating in 1908. She studied in Europe for a year, then returned to Chicago and designed jewelry. After marrying, she moved to Emporia with her husband. In 1926, she made her first quilt, initially finding the handwork a consoling form of therapy after her mother’s death.
In Devine’s presentation, she told the life story of the late Kretsinger, who died in 1963, and talked about her philosophy of quilting.
After her presentation, the audience of about 40 — mostly quilters themselves — had a chance to chat over cookies, punch and cookie and talk with Devine about Kretsinger and her work.
The QuiltFest continues all day Saturday, with exhibits at the Nazareth Motherhouse and Living Hope Foursquare Church. The first-ever event concludes Saturday evening with an auction of 20 quilts and quilted pieces at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, 307 E. Fifth St. Doors open at 7:30 p.m., with the auction scheduled to begin about 7:45. There is no admission charge to take part in the auction.
QuiltFest was organized and sponsored by a variety of local organizations and groups, and proceeds will go to Neighbor to Neighbor, a center for women in downtown Concordia operated by the SIsters of St. Joseph of Concordia.