Penny Stephenson is my dear friend and fabulous quilter.  I was explaining to the kids about how quilts are made and how the stitches are added to the work I do.  Clark asked me if it might be possible to go see “the machine that does that.”  When I called Penny to ask if I might bring the kids over, she said “Sure!”  This morning we took a field trip to Penny’s quilt room when she showed the kids with Heidi and Claire how it’s done.  She’s saved the very last edge of the quilt to show them.

Then she did the unexpected, inviting Clark, then Josie, then Margot to help her finish the quilt.  She put them on a stool and let them put their hands on hers as she steered the quilting machine over the last row of blocks.  It was magical!

And then the quilt was finished!  Penny unrolled it from the quilting machine and let the kids help pull the pins out that held it in place.

I started this quilt around 1999 when the pattern first came out.  It’s been in my applique basket on and off since then.  I finally got it finished and I love it.  The last step will be the binding.  I’m grateful to Penny for her beautiful work and artistic eye.  She makes my quilts glorious!