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When many people think of quilts the image that comes to mind is something warm to curl up under during the cold weather months, but on the Kenai Peninsula quilting is far too popular to be restricted to just the winter.

"It has a very strong presence here, and all throughout the Pacific Northwest. It's a strong artistic venue, " said Pat Reese, of Robin Place Fabrics in Soldotna, and an organizer of this weekend's "Quilting on the Kenai" event.

An annual summer staple for the past 15 years, this year's event will be slightly scaled down due to construction at the usual host institution. Only two of the three regular portions of the event will take place.

"With the construction, we had to limit the size of the show, so the Quilt Show isn't going to happen," Reese said in regard to the juried exhibition.

However, the rest of the regular yearly quilting events will take place like always.

"We'll still have the Quilt Walk and the Art-to-Wear Fashion Show," Reese said.

The Quilt Walk begins Friday and runs through June 27, and entails 11 Soldotna businesses displaying a quilt in their stores.

"Participants can pick up a passport card and take it with them as they visit the stores to view the quilts," Reese said.

If people get their passport stamped at every store and return it to Robin Place Fabrics or the fashion show, it will be entered in a drawing for prizes donated by the businesses displaying the quilts.

Passports will be available at Trinity Greenhouse, Birchtree Gallery, Frames & Things, Donna's Gifts, Odie's Deli, Tammy's Flowers and Gifts, Dragonfly Gallery, Foot Flare-N-Wear, River City Books, North Country Fair, and Robin Place Fabrics.

Quilting festivities continue on Saturday with the Art-to-Wear Fashion Show, which Reese said this year will celebrate Alaska's 50th anniversary of statehood, by showcasing the work of Alaskan designers from around the state, as well as that of local garment sewers.

The fashion show takes place at Christ Lutheran Church in Soldotna, at 7:30 p.m. Admission is $7, but prior to the opening of the show, there will be a special exhibit with free admission that opens at the church at 5 p.m.

"There will be a special children's garment exhibit featuring Pink Fig Patterns. These are lovely little girl things," Reese said.

The special exhibit will also feature the quilts of Trish Stuart, as well as the work of the winners of the Homer and Seward quilt shows. Stuart is a Texas-based Master Quilter whose methods range from traditional quilts to contemporary quilts, including trapunto, foundation paper piercing, beading, thread painting, textile design, felting and embellishment. Stuart is also a quilting author.

"We be presenting her new book 'Sizzle and Pop' during the show," Reese said.

For more information on the Quilting on the Kenai event, call Robin's Place Fabrics at 262-5438.

Joseph Robertia can be reached at joseph.robertia@peninsulaclarion.com.