The MSU Museum is working with fabric designer Susie Osburn to create "Redworks," a reproduction fabric line from Windham Fabrics that will be available in stores in October.

Redwork is a style of decorative needlework named for the technique that usually entails using red thread to embroider designs onto a plain white background. It is also the focus of a special exhibition, "Redwork: A Textile Tradition in America," through Jan. 2, 2008 in the Heritage Gallery at the museum. Visit www.museum.msu.edu/Exhibitions/Current/TextileTradition.htmlfor a preview of the exhibit and additional information.

The "Redworks" reproduction fabric line includes designs drawn from four quilts in the MSU Museum's Kitty Clark Cole Collection made circa 1890-1900, the time period when Redwork was most popular. Samples of the "Redworks" reproduction fabric and the MSU Museum quilts that inspired them can be viewed online at www.museum.msu.edu/glqc.collections_osburnredwork.html

The MSU Museum is home to the Great Lakes Quilt Center, which includes a collection of more than 500 historical and contemporary quilts and reflects a long-standing interest in preserving and presenting traditional arts history. Nationally, 21.3 million active quilters spend an estimated $2.27 billion each year on quilting and quilt-related activities.

Special programs like this, and others, are also presented as part of MSU's Year of Arts & Culture in 2007-2008, with performances, exhibitions and activities throughout campus and community that showcase creative vitality and excellence at MSU.