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Technical Information: 64" x 80". Machine pieced, hand quilted. Shown at the 1996 American Quilters Society Show, Paducah, KY; Best of Section, Professional Quilts, 1996 Virginia State Fair.

The story behind the quilt:

This is one of those quilts that is much prettier in person than in a photograph. Honest.

This quilt doesn't have much of a story, really. I made it for my daughter, Phoebe, using the traditional Virginia Reel/Snail's Trail pattern, using her favorite color (and my least favorite). I used over 100 different prints, each having blue in it somewhere. I had to beg, borrow, and steal, and I used the reverses of some of the fabrics rather than have to buy more blue fabric.

This is a very forgiving pattern to piece. It is sewn from the inside of the block out and also would lend itself to foundation piecing. I started piecing it soon after having my second carpal tunnel release, in October 1994. I finished quilting it in the fall of 1995. I made the mistake of giving it to my daughter before it did the shows. She was fine sending it to Paducah; I think she understood that her quilt had been 'chosen.' It was the State Fair that caused a scene.

The Virginia State Fair does a terrible job of displaying quilts. They don't have enough space to do them justice, and so they are bunched up and/or folded and/or draped over pieces of furniture. All but one quilt. That one quilt is hung at the back of the Home Arts Building where you can see it from the far end of the building. Well, in 1996, that quilt was Phoebe's. We went to the fair not knowing if her quilt had won anything or not, and we were trying to work our way across the fairgrounds to go see, but the kids wanted to stop for the pig races. I couldn't wait any longer and ran ahead to see the quilts. I still remember how it felt, seeing her quilt at the other end of the building, in the 'place of honor.' I remember thinking, 'There must have been a mistake.' Well, there wasn't a mistake, there was not only a blue ribbon, but a purple 'Best of Section' ribbon hanging on my quilt.

I went back to the pig races to collect the rest of the family, and we went over to the quilts again. And my darling daughter pitched a fit, because I said that I had won a ribbon, not her. It was her quilt, so she had won the ribbon. Yeah, right. We compromised; I got the purple ribbon, she got the blue. And the quilt.

The lesson I learned here--my son's quilt is done, but it's not his yet. And it won't be until it's done the shows. (It won a blue ribbon at this year's State Fair already). (1997)