A rare collection of historic textiles is now on display in McKinney, which is located approximately 13 miles north of Plano. The exhibit, titled the Crazy Days in May Quilt Expo, is housed at the Church Street Auditorium near Chestnut Square Historic Village. The showcase centers on a donation of 470 quilts created between 1870 and 2002. These items were amassed over several decades by a single collector who sought a permanent home for the group rather than distributing the pieces individually. Museum Director Annie Quinn stated that the donor believed Chestnut Square was the appropriate institution to preserve the significant items within the collection.
The display focuses specifically on "crazy quilts," a style characterized by irregular shapes and asymmetrical designs. Unlike traditional patchwork that relies on repeating geometric blocks, these textiles utilize pieces of silk, wool, and velvet stitched together with elaborate embellishments. Head curation volunteer Dana Repp described the items as unique works of art rather than copies of store-bought patterns. The quilts feature hand-stitched details such as spiderwebs, owls, and floral motifs, alongside political ribbons, names, and beading. Some pieces incorporate fabric samples originally distributed by manufacturers, while others contain dozens of distinct artistic elements.
The designs reflect cultural shifts during the industrialization era and the popularity of traveling shows. Imagery such as elephants and tigers appears in the stitching, while color palettes often feature deep, rich tones influenced by Queen Victoria’s long period of mourning. The asymmetrical style itself draws inspiration from Japanese art introduced at world’s fairs, challenging the symmetry common in earlier American quilting traditions. The result is described as a visual scrapbook where texture, color, and technique tell individual stories.
The first phase of the exhibition features 56 quilts in the main gallery. An additional 32 pieces are available to visitors with a VIP ticket. The display includes pairs of "sister quilts" created by the same artists to highlight shared origins, as well as standalone pieces that encourage close inspection. Quinn noted that visitors might find hidden details within a single quilt, creating an experience of discovery. The exhibit aligns with Chestnut Square’s mission to preserve local history and maintain a sense of connection to the communal settings where these textiles were originally created.
