You have a real treasure. Shortly before my mother died in 1959, she gave me a package of dresden plate quilt blocks (all but 3 were finished) and she said she had started them while she was carrying me in 1934. In the middle 70's I had a friend who said she quilted, so I showed them to her and she said she would finish them for me. She finished them fine, but instead of quilting it, she tied it with yarn, so there are big holes which make it impossible for me to take out and quilt myself. If only I had known I would be a quilter some day. I started in 1989, I could have done it myself. O well! I still treasure the quilt. Another think back then I thought I was doing good by sending it to the cleaners instead of washing it myself - don't do that!!