March 18-27, 2022
Closing Reception March 27, 1-4 p.m. with Bed Turning at 2 p.m. followed by Winners for People's Choice in First, Second, and Third Places.

“Small Quilts Welcome Spring” Exhibition at Crisp Museum opens March 18

Beginning March 18, “Small Quilts Welcome Spring,” will be displayed in Rosemary Berkel and Harry L. Crisp II Museum at Southeast Missouri State University’s River Campus.

The exhibit features Three Yard Quilts, children’s utility quilts, mini quilts, embroidery, applique and a spring-themed contest. These will all be on display May 18 through March 27, and admission is free. Face coverings are encouraged. 

A closing reception will be held March 27, 1-4 p.m. with Bed Turning at 2 p.m. followed by Winners for People's Choice in First, Second, and Third Places. A bed turning consists of quilts fully spread in a stack that are shown one by one, held up by two people. A narrator gives details involving the piece, such as purpose of this creation, its fabric materials, dimensions, design, maker/owner and other memorable specifics about each one.

The small spring-themed quilts on display are between 35 and 61 inches. Visitors may participate in choosing their favorite by ballot and these will be tallied at the end to decide the first, second, and third place winners for people’s choice.

Three Yard Quilts will also be displayed. A three yard quilt uses three separate values of fabrics, a light, a medium and a dark which make the blocks, pieces, and all borders and binding. This makes good use of extra yardage you may have laying around. Pieces are cut to specifications and the arrangement can be inspired by a pattern you have already seen or you can make up your own. Three yard quilts have become popular during the last few years.

Quilts are for kids too. An array of several with bright, fun fabric made by Beth Vegiard will be shown. Her purpose is for these wonderful quilts is to be realistically used in any manner kids need or can think up. They are washable and meant for love.

Karla Kiefner designs mini quilts which use both sides of the beautiful fabric. The more subdued back gives a pastel look to the pattern and works wonderfully to repeat a pattern and color theme in a new way. Her quilts are lovely works of art to be displayed.

Nature Needlers is a group that began through Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center. A nature theme, such as this year’s is “winged things” is chosen. The group learns simple, but beautiful embroidery techniques as they learn about the subjects they stitch from the beautiful landscapes of Missouri. One block design is worked on each month for a year. Many needlepoint designs use only a simple stitch and their blocks are all done by hand before being quilted.

Wooly Gals have a variety of quilted wool pieces in addition to wool quilts, such as table runners, placemats, table toppers, and decorative seasonal hangings. Viewing their applique stitches is a visual treat.

Crisp Museum is located inside Southeast Missouri State University’s River Campus at 518 S. Fountain St., Cape Girardeau, Mo. Admission is free. Hours are weekdays 9-5 p.m and weekends 1-4 p.m. Questions: (573) 651-2260.

ENTRY GUIDELINES

If you are a quilter or know of one interested in participating, send an email to Ellen Flentge eflentge@semo.edu with the subject "Quilt Entry." One spring theme entry per person allowed. No entry fee is required.

Include your name, title of your quilt, dimensions (W x H), contact email and phone, attach clear digital images of the front and back of your quilt with two closer detail images. (If you are not tech savvy please call Ellen (573) 651-2260 for other arrangements.)

• March 6 by Noon - Submissions deadline to enter
• March 8 - Notification of selected entries
• March 13 by 4 p.m. - Deadline to deliver selected entries to Crisp Museum with a label on the back of it.

If your quilt has a sleeve, it should fit at the least a 2-inch diameter pole. The museum will likely use binder clips to display them if not sleeved. The gallery will have a guard the whole time this exhibit is open. We also have security cameras and the room is temperature controlled. Doors are locked during closed hours with an activated alarm system.