These aren’t your grandma’s quilts.

And the women who created them are not quilters—they are fiber artists.

The Highline Historical Society is showcasing the work of four outstanding Highline area fiber artists March 18-29 at the Burien Community Center, 14700 6th Ave. S.W. The exhibit is open during the community center’s regular hours. Admission is free.

“A Sense of Place: In my Garden, Under the Sea—Four Highline Quilt Artists” will feature the work of Marie O’Kelley, Carla Stehr, Sonia Grasvik and Linda Johanson.

How did the four become interested in creating quilts?

“We’re women,” Grasvik noted. “We were raised around fibers. This is what our moms did.”

O’Kelley observed, “It’s in our genealogy. Of course, our moms didn’t know about art quilts.”

”These are ones you definitely hang on the wall,” Grasvik added.

The four have done many shows. In fact, Grasvik is flying to Brazil for a show prior to the Burien event.

Lloyd Herman, a Highline Historical Society board trustee, saw the women’s’ work at various events and decided to bring them together for a hometown show.

Herman, director emeritus of the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Gallery in Washington D.C., chose a number of pieces from each of the women.

Historical society curator Nancy Salguero McKay and Herman are curating the Burien show.

“I’ve never shown in the heart of Burien so this will be good to get hometown recognition,” O’Kelley said.

O’Kelley creates her craft by hand while Stehr, Grasvik and Johanson use machines. She pointed out to the others the wear on her fingers from her handiwork.

The four say they have done bed quilts but Grasvik notes there are just so many beds that need quilts and a limit on how many are appreciated as gifts.

“It is definitely a different style,” Stehr said. “The amount of work on each one is more than you would do for a bed.”

Grasvik notes there are shows that feature elaborately made bed quilts.

So how long does it take to make a piece of fiber art?

Stehr says she tells people it’s taken all her life when she factors in deciding what to create and the learning of the craft.

A fellow artist once told Grasvik, “It takes as long as it takes.”

O’Kelley concludes, “I don’t have a clear idea when I start. The quilt tells you when it’s done.”

For more information on the show or the historical society, visit www.highlinehistory.org.