With every stitch and pattern, a quilt reveals a glimpse of the past as narrated by its creator. What started out as a personal hobby and interest in quilts by Fleur Bresler, emerged as an extensive, historically significant collection of American quilts within a span of 30 years.

Originally organized and presented at the Mint Museum of Craft + Design in Charlotte, N.C., in 2004, this rare showing of 36 American quilts will be on view again at Bellevue Arts Museum from Jan. 27 through May 31.

Between 2000 and 2001, Fleur and Charles Bresler gifted their 36-piece American quilt collection to the Mint Museum of Craft + Design. The Bresler collection of quilts illuminates both the intricacies of pattern and process.

Works range from late 18th and early 19th century whole cloth, white work, indigo resist dye and block printed chintz quilts to mid nineteenth century appliqué, stenciled, mosaic-template pieced and album quilts. It also includes examples of late 19th century log cabin quilts, crazy and charm quilts as well as a handful of unique pieces from the 20th century.