Several inspirations...I have always remembered, as a child, combing wool from worn out quilts to have them remade by a family of sisters in our community. These quilts were whole cloth with awesome handstitching. We slept under those quilts which were so toasty warm. Then many many years later, I remember going to visit a friend who had a little frame in her living room with her sitting handstitching baby quilts (also whole cloth). Then I began watching Georgia Bonesteel ((((blush))) not sure of her last name... showing those beautiful quilts. I remember her putting on her white gloves to show them. What pride and respect! I began watching any and all quilting shows I could catch on LPB and then HGTV. Then alas, in the mid ninties, a friend at school (a quilter) threw out this idea: Lets all make blocks to swap so we'll all have a friendship quilt. Well, this do do bird (ME!) made 15 blocks and did the swap. I was the second one to assemble my blocks. I was so proud. And that's where it started. I began collecting books and patterns. Then along came the internet -- of which I'm also a do do bird. And the rest is history.