ALTENBURG — For Ann Hazelwood, quilts have never been just fabric and thread.
They are memory. They are art. And in her case, they are a lifelong passion brought home.
Hazelwood, a Perry County native now living in St. Charles, has returned to her roots with a striking exhibit of her red-and-white quilt collection at the Lutheran Heritage Center and Museum in Altenburg. The display features more than 40 quilts — a mix of antique and newer pieces — all united by a bold, visually captivating color palette.
“It’s just candy for the eye,” Hazelwood said.
That simple description captures the effect. Row after row of red-and-white quilts fills the gallery, creating a vivid contrast that is both elegant and inviting — the kind of display that draws visitors in and encourages them to linger.
Hazelwood’s love for quilting began decades ago, but her connection to the craft stretches back even further.
Born in Perry County and raised in Perryville, she grew up surrounded by quilts. It wasn’t until later, however, while restoring an old home in St. Charles, that her passion truly took shape.
What started as a personal interest soon became something much larger.
Hazelwood launched a home-based quilting
business that eventually grew into three specialty shops — a quilt shop, a needlework shop and even a button shop.
“It’s been kind of a wild ride,” she said.
Along the way, she discovered a particular fascination with the red-and-white color combination — a focus that would come to define her collection.
Red, she said, is a bold, passionate color, associated with celebrations like Christmas and Valentine’s Day. White, by contrast, represents clarity and purity. Together, the two create a striking visual harmony.
That harmony drew her in — and over time, shaped a collection that grew almost organically.
People who learned of her interest began contributing pieces, and her focus expanded beyond quilts to include red-and-white household items such as buttons, potholders and textiles.
“I got a little carried away,” Hazelwood said with a laugh.
But that focus, she added, ultimately gave her something meaningful to share.
Her collection has been featured in books and exhibits, including a showing at the National Quilt Museum in Paducah, Kentucky. It was there, she said, that she first realized just how powerful the visual impact of red and white could be when displayed together.
Now, that same effect is on display in Altenburg — a place that still feels like home.
“I can’t tell you how much it really is home to me,” Hazelwood said.
Her ties to the area run deep, from family connections to the inspiration behind one of her novel series set in East Perry County.
After retiring from retail, Hazelwood embarked on a second career as an author, writing for nearly two decades — another creative outlet for someone who has always found ways to express herself through art. Today, her focus is on sharing her collection and the joy it brings.
She hopes visitors to the Lutheran Heritage Center will not only appreciate the craftsmanship of the quilts but also experience the simple pleasure of seeing something beautiful brought together in one place.
“I just hope people take time to come and see it,” she said.
Looking ahead, Hazelwood said she would love to see her collection find a permanent home at the museum — ensuring that future generations can continue to enjoy it.
For now, though, the exhibit stands as both a celebration of her life’s work and a homecoming of sorts — a reminder that sometimes the threads that guide us forward are the same ones that lead us back.
