The Benton County Museum has ended its 2024 display of “Fashion through the Years,” and has replaced it with a Quilt Show throughout the building. The Curator, Marsha Eaton, says they have in excess of thirty quilts from all over the county.
The Museum began doing a quilt show after the Spoonbill Quilting Club disbanded in 2021. That club had held a Quilt Show at the Overlook during Heritage Days for many years. With the demise of the group the Museum decided to fill the gap and revive the show.
At first they only displayed antique quilts but it was pointed out how amazing the new modern designs and colors are, with some designs creating visual masterpieces. One of the new quilts on display was sewn by Gini Bird. Gini calls it “Arabella” and entered it at the Cole Camp Fair where it won the blue ribbon.
After the Spoonbill quilt club dissolved they made their display racks a gift to the museum. The racks allow the quilts to be displayed on both sides and Marsha has also utilized all the flat surfaces in the entity, such as the piano or table tops. Marsha is especially grateful for the loan of an antique quilt rack by Judy Smasal of the Handel Haus in Cole Camp.
The Cole Camp Museum has loaned, for the show, two friendship quilts. Marsha stated, “People really like to look at the friendship quilts with the names embroidered on them. They look to see if they know them.”
The Benton County Museum is once more selling raffle tickets on a beautiful quilt crafted by Valerie Fauquier. The tickets are $1 each or 6 for $5. Drawing for the quilt will be on Sunday October 27. The museum is open in October on Friday and Saturday from 10-4 and on Sunday from 1-4.
