I went to a quilt show in Aurora in 2006 and took a bunch of photos. Yesterday I found the program from the show and the info on this beautiful quilt. “Sunflower, by Matilda Knight Stauffer, first wife of Jacob Satuffer. We know the quilt was finished before 1867 because Matilda died giving birth to twins in April of that year.”
This is why people make art work. This is why people make quilts. 143 years later here is the work of her hand, still vibrant, still beautiful:
On The Way 
Exquisite quilts. I have my great-grandmother’s quilt on the back of our couch. I stored it for many years feeling it was too valuable to use but at one point decided I loved it too much to leave it packed away and I needed to live with it…an emotional thing I guess.
It was Patricia who convinced me that the precious stuff lasts better if you have it in use. Table linens, quilts, etc.