I always pestered my mom to sleep on the porch in the summer as I didn't like sleeping in a hot (before Air conditioning) room. I always slept under a grandmother's flower garden quilt when I was allowed to sleep outside. I absolutely loved that quilt but have no idea who made it since I never saw my mother quilt even though she was a fantastic seamstress. I never remember seing the quilt used otherwise.
I moved to an area that has a history as being a stop for the underground railroad and learned about their using quilts as a sign as to whether it was safe to move. So there were and still are many good quilters in this area. Never having made aything more that just putting square patches together someone showed me a quilt they were working on and when I looked at it close I said I can do that - and did.