I have always loved Christmas so it was natural to visualize the sort of Christmas quilt I wanted . It was to have symbols of Christmas such as stars and candles, and it had to focus the nativity. I wasn't even a quilter when I started this. That's why there is no binding. I drew all the designs and appliqued them by hand and by machine. I didn't care what method I used as long as it looked the way I envisioned it. I had never worked with lame' so it was a new experience making the star, crowns, and gifts. I had never heard of paper piecing, but foundation-work was an old term from my childhood - hence, the method for the trees. I hand quilted this using metallic golds and purples, and at that time I didn't know anything about hand quilting either, so I drew the holly designs on tissue paper and sewed through the paper! Every Christmas this quilt has a prominent position in the house. However, as much as I like the quilt I wasn't satisfied with the drawings of the kinds and the shepherd. I knew that someday I was going to draw better designs. That day came in June 2000, and the pattern Joy came about.