That is a great first quilt, and a great story. I sewed for years, but never thought I would be interested in quilting. I had taken 2 pieces of fabric and put batting in the middle and enveloped it for grandchildren, but never would I be interested in cutting the fabric into little pieces and then sewing them all together again. What a waste of time, I thought.
We moved from a big metropolitan area (Seattle, WA) to a small town in southern Idaho (Twin Falls). I went to the local sewing machine shop for sewing classes. In one of the classes 2 nice ladies asked for help in putting together a quilt representing 9/11. They were doing it as a charity project for the local battered woman's shelter. Over the next 2 or 3 classes they asked repeatedly and no one would help them put it together. I thought it was a good charity project so I told them I had never quilted before, but I would love to help them if I could. I didn't realize it but I was hooking up with 2 very accomplished sewers/quilters. They designed the quilt, let me help them sew the pieces all together (I am sure they had to rip many of them out) and then they put the blocks together. We took that quilt to local events and shows and sold raffle tickets. We earned over $3,500 for the charity. We appeared on the front page of the local newspaper a couple of times. There was a magazine article about the quilt. When we would open up the quilt at events there would be ooooohs and aaaahs. People would cry. Needless to say this was such an experience for me that I now am addicted to quilting. I know I will never be as good as my 2 mentors are, they are truly artists, but they have given me a joy that I would have missed out on if not for them.
The quilt was called "Lest We Forget". You can see it here:
http://www.stitchintime.ws/community.htm