Great Expectations Quilts’ History

From winter of 1974 to spring of 2003, Great Expectations Quilts was one of the largest and most influential quilt shops in America. In the spirit of quiltmaking, it was always a family affair. It was started by Karey Bresenhan, a fifth generation quilter, because of the great interest in her family's quilts, which were hung around the antique shop she and her mother-in-law, Mary Kelly Bresenhan, opened to pay off campaign debts from Karey's race for the Texas Legislature. Her mother, Jewel Pearce Patterson, was Great Expectations' first teacher, her aunt, Helen Pearce O'Bryant, frequently helped out there, and her cousin, Nancy O'Bryant Puentes, helped behind the scenes with whatever was needed.

Great Expectations Quilts' first anniversary "thank you" party to its enthusiastic supporters grew into what is now the world's largest annual quilt show, sale, and quiltmaking academy, the International Quilt Festival. Five years later, in 1979, Festival's success led to the creation of International Quilt Market, the world's only wholesale trade show serving the quilting industry.

Realizing that through Festival and Market, she was able to reach more quilters and pass on the quilting tradition to them. and thereby help them create more great quilts. Karey reluctantly decided to close the doors of Great Expectations Quilts. In doing so, she promised the quilting friends she had made around the world who had taken classes there, bought fine quilts there, or purchased fabrics and supplies there, that Great Expectations was not closing for good, just undergoing a metamorphosis.

Now, with the aid of technology, the Great Expectations spirit will continue in Great Expectations OnLine, a virtual shop which will offer commemorative items from Festival and Market, along with related books, gifts, and exclusive memorabilia. We invite you to take a look, offer your suggestions, and check back frequently to see what new items have been added.