My story is a little different. I had a niece (I have two boys) that was going to turn 4 and I wanted to make her a blankie to love. My grandmother pieced but always tied her quilts and I never got to learn before she passed away (I was 18.) Anyway, I found a cheater panel and added borders to it (pink fabric of course) and hand quilted it. I didn't get it done for her birthday but shortly after. I live in Oregon, she lives in Southern California so I had to mail it to her, her Mom told me she absolutely loved that little quilt to shreds. That was the beginning of my addiction. After 22 years I still love handquilting but don't do alot of it anymore(now more FMQ). :lol: