My first pieced quilt was Grandma’s Flower Garden, a familiar pattern made from hexagons pieced to look like flowers, purchased for my sisters and I by my father. We cut all the pieces and then it languished until I was married and moving away. I asked my father if I could take the pieces and he agreed—on the condition that I promised to finish it—which I did. This quilt was on my bed for many years and is still a cherished piece.

My mother suffered from Huntington’s disease which severely limited her ability to function. My father wanted to make sure my sisters and I didn’t miss out on learning important domestic skills so he took it upon himself to ensure we learned. He built us quilting frames, purchased our fabric and taught us how to tie quilts. We made many quilts and donated them to the new mothers at our church.