I made the first quilt when my son was about to graduate from high school. I decided to make it with no pattern, no how-to books, and really no plan. He would graduate in June, I thought I could finish quickly-I started it the end of April- all hand appliqued with freeform suns. I sang "You are my sunshine" to him when he was a baby! My sewing machine died a painful death and I did every bit, every seam by hand. It was a labor of love and ignorance is bliss. He brought it with him through college, law school and marriage(although his wife doesn't like it). I learned many lessons doing that quilt, it is a very fond and dear memory!