I found a hand-pieced quilt top in my mother's hope chest after she passed away a few years ago. The pattern was "Trip Around the World". The top had to have been somewhere between 50-60 years old as think I recall her talking about working on one before she got married. Prior to that I'd had no real interest in quilting (although I'd been sewing since I was 13), but thought it would be nice to finish it and give to my daughter when she got married. At first I tried to find someone to quilt it for me, but had no luck (just didn't know where to look at the time), so finally decided to do it myself, and I'm so glad I did. I spent the next couple of years learning about quilting, taking classes, and practicing, and at the same time developing a real appreciation for all that goes into the art of quilting, not to mention how much fun it is to shop for fabric. I added the border, binding, batting, backing and then took a deep breath a FMQ'd it. It came out pretty well, if I do say so myself. And it made a wonderful bridal shower gift for my daughter - I put both my mother's name and my name on the quilt label.

I have always liked quilts, and the ones I remember from childhood were just squares. I began sewing my own clothes as a very young teenager, and then made clothes for my boys until they began preferring "store bought" clothes. I continued to sew for myself, however, and eventually decided to make a quilt from scraps. I found these cat panels and decided to build a quilt around them. It's just random squares, very scrappy, and tied with yarn. This quilt was made around 25 years ago and is beginning to need some repair. I've already patched a couple of holes caused by the dog's chewing. I still like the quilt, though.

I made my 1st one from a kit that I bought from a member of Kaye Woods old forum and with the help of so many of the members, one even made up and sent me the binding for it, aren't quilters the most generous of people, I made this one that my quilt tester approved and is the proud possession of my Niece.

I made it 6 years ago although you wouldn't know it looking at it's condition as it is so treasured.

http://inlinethumb63.webshots.com/53...425x425Q85.jpg

My first quilt was a scrappy sampler and I still have it. It's over 20 years old and still in use.