Annual show brings out best of area quilting

Albertha Martin worked on an opportunity quilt at the 41st annual Grinter Quilt Show held April 28-29. The quilters raise funds for the historic museum at 78th and K-32 in Kansas City,
Kansas. (Staff photo)

Window on the West
Opinion column
by Mary Rupert

There was a story behind every quilt at the 41st annual Grinter Quilt Show held April 28 and 29 on the grounds of the historic Grinter Place museum at 78th and K-32.

Kay Felix had worked an entire year on an applique quilt she exhibited at the annual event at the Grinter barn.

She said she worked on the pieces by hand, completing one each month, and then it took her three months to put the entire quilt together.

Kay Felix spent more than a year working on an applique quilt that was on display April 28-29 at the Grinter barn. Funds raised at the event went toward the Grinter Place museum, a state historic site at 78th and K-32. (Staff photo)

Felix did a little machine quilting before retiring in 1998, and has increased her quilting in retirement. She has been volunteering with the Grinter Quilters for about five years.

The group usually meets once a week on Tuesdays. They also make an “opportunity quilt” each year that raises funds for the state historic site. Albertha Martin was working on the opportunity quilt on the day of the quilt show.

Felix said the Grinter Quilters hand-quilt for others, charging a fee, and then all the funds raised will go to the historic home.

The group recently bought drapes and curtains for Grinter House, a state museum that is one of the oldest homes standing in Wyandotte County. Built in 1857, it was the home of Moses and Annie Grinter, who ran a ferry across the Kansas River, and also operated a post office and trading post in the 1800s. Grinter Place was on a military road connecting Ft. Leavenworth with Ft. Scott, and was a stop for troops moving through Kansas in the 1850s.

Leslie Brillhart created this quilt for her granddaughter. It was one of many quilts on display April 28-29 at the Grinter barn in a fundraiser for Grinter Place Museum at 78th and K-32. (Staff photo)

Another Grinter Quilter volunteer, Leslie Brillhart, said she worked a butterfly color theme into a quilt she made for her granddaughter.

The Grinter Quilters also attended a program at Grinter Place about quilts from Barbara J. Eikmeier on April 29. A designer, she discussed her quilting and her line of fabrics.

Barbara J. Eikmeier was the guest speaker on April 29, presenting information about quilting and fabrics she had designed. The presentation was at the historic Grinter Place museum at 78th and K-32. (Staff photo)

While the quilt show ended April 29, a few quilt blocks made by Annie Grinter in the 1800s are part of the continuing exhibits at Grinter House. The home is decorated in the style of the late 1800s. For more information on hours and admission prices for Grinter Place museum, 1400 S. 78th St., Kansas City, Kansas, call 913-299-0373.

To reach Mary Rupert, editor, email [email protected].

Several colorful quilts were on display at the 41st annual Grinter Quilt Show held April 28-29 at the Grinter barn. The event helped raise funds for the historic Grinter Place museum at 78th and K-32. (Staff photo)

Several quilts were on display at the 41st annual Grinter Quilt Show April 28-29 at the Grinter barn. The event helped raise funds for Grinter Place, a state historic museum at 78th and K-32. (Staff photo)

Several quilts were on display at the 41st annual Grinter Quilt Show April 28-29 at the Grinter barn. The event helped raise funds for Grinter Place, a state historic museum at 78th and K-32. (Staff photo)