Guild tour shows how to decorate with quilts

The River Heritage Quilters Guild recently held its biennial quilt home tour "Decorating With Quilts," giving almost 70 visitors new ideas on how to use quilts for more than comfort and warmth. The 125 members of the guild have varying levels of experience, from beginners to advanced.

The guild holds shows in even years and quilt tours in odd years. On the tour this year were five homes featuring 126 quilts. The homes were in Fruitland, Jackson and Cape Girardeau, plus the historic McClure Homeplace in McClure, Ill.

Selections were made according to the age and style of quilts. Displaying them throughout homes encouraged enjoying their beauty rather than keeping them in storage. They were creatively draped over damaged furnishings or used as table toppers or throws, or decoratively hung over doors -- even damaged quilts had their place on the tour. Most of the quilts on display were antique.

The Victorian-style McClure Homeplace owned by Brenda Webb is currently on the National Registry of Historic Places. Built in 1882, the home has always been in the same family, has retained the original woodwork and fixtures and was a perfect backdrop for antique quilts.