Wow.....thank you everyone for such wonderful comments on my hubby's quilt. I have to admit it was an interesting collaboration.
For those of you who have asked about the pattern, it was published in the March/April 2008 issues of Fons and Porter's Love of Quilting (page 66). It is called "Study in Black & White" and was designed by Julie Popa. The pattern is for a 108x108 size quilt but I modified it down to a (generous) lap size by omitting the last two vertical pattern rows of boxes.
I can't take credit for the quilting. The long arm quilting was done by Jamie Miller, who is the owner of The Quilted Heart, a quilt shop in Horseshoe Bend, Arkansas, and the pattern is called Cinnamon Buns.
It was easy and fun to make. I'm looking forward to making this pattern again some day.