| OMAHA, NE -- There are over 5,000,000 antique | | | | for their services. "We find a lot of |
| quilts in need of restoration estimates Nancy | | | | teachers and nurses looking at restoration as |
| Kirk of The Kirk Collection in Omaha, NE. | | | | a retirement career" she said. |
| But there are less than three dozen quilt | | | | |
| restorers working professionally around the | | | | The September session also includes a field |
| country. | | | | trip to see antique quilts up close and |
| | | | personal, and a two-day advanced workshop |
| Kirk is determined to change those odds and | | | | focusing on restoring crazy quilts and other |
| save more quilts by training the next | | | | Victorian silk quilts. |
| generation of quilt restorers at two | | | | |
| workshops in September in Nebraska. | | | | Kirk says the five day session is the study |
| | | | equivalent of a semester-long course in |
| "On September 19 and 20 we offer a Beginning | | | | graduate school. "We give the students all |
| Quilt Restoration Workshop where people learn | | | | the information they need to tackle the most |
| to repair patchwork and appliqué quilts," | | | | common restoration problems. Then they need |
| said Kirk. Each person who takes the | | | | to go home and practice their skills for at |
| workshop gets to bring an antique quilt they | | | | least six months before they start their |
| are planning to restore and goes home with a | | | | business if they plan to turn professional." |
| plan for its restoration. | | | | |
| | | | Not all the students become professional |
| The workshop also covers dating fabrics, so | | | | restorers according to Kirk. "Many people |
| restorers can identify the age of the quilts | | | | just want to learn how to repair their family |
| they are working on and the vintage fabrics | | | | quilts. Others want to learn the best ways |
| they collect to use in restoration. Students | | | | to finish antique quilt tops they've |
| learn how to wash antique quilts and ways to | | | | inherited or found at auctions." |
| display and store them safely. | | | | |
| | | | To register for the workshops or get more |
| "We also teach them how to start a business | | | | information go to or call The Kirk |
| in quilt restoration," said Kirk. Restorers | | | | Collection in Omaha, NE at (800) 398-2542. |
| generally charge between $25 and $65 per hour | | | | |