Terry Russelburg, of Philpot, Ky., one of the coordinators of the Runaway Quilters, poses in front of two of her quilts. The one on the left is a “mystery quilt.” Beginning in January, she sent monthly clues to 40 quilters without telling them what they were quilting. Russelburg’s quilts are in various places around the Mount this week. She’s been a Runaway Quilter for 15 years. More than 100 quilters from up to 11 states have come to the Mount every September for 17 years to learn from each other and make new creations.

Terry Russelburg, left, of Philpot, Ky., and Amanda Harvey of Owensboro pose in front of one of Russelburg’s quilts that was begun in February at the Mount.

Beverly Keyser, of Brentwood, Tenn., pieces her “Whirligig” quilt in the gymnasium Sept. 24. She enjoys taking old patterns and using new techniques. This quilt will be a reproduction of a 1930s style quilt that would have been depicted in the Kansas City Star. Keyser has been a Runaway Quilter since 1986.

Denise Stewart, from Dunnville, Ky., in Casey County, sews a table runner she’s making for her home at Christmas. Stewart began with the Runaway Quilters in 1991.

Quilters will fill the gym and the Retreat Center all week.

Deanna Kaminski, of Owensboro, stands in front of “Drifters,” her depiction of leaves drifting in the river. “It’s going to my kids in Arizona, who don’t have leaves like that.” Kaminski was teaching a class on piecework and appliqué in the Center on Wednesday. She began her first quilt in 1983.

Quilts in the Courtyard