My teammate and I each tried to create quilts that reflect something of ourselves and our communities. My goal was to represent family, community, and country. I designed my quilt based on a photo taken by my spouse at a local ballet school, and made it with fabrics obtained from local businesses and from an amazing quilt store we found in Casper, Wyoming during a visit to view the total solar eclipse in August 2017. By participating in IMQE, I gained an increased understanding of my teammate’s country, Zimbabwe, including, if only to a small extent, what it is like to live there. Coleen and I continue to develop our connection. This is my first quilt. I joined the exchange to push myself to take that first step – something I had intended for over 5 years. The design was partially planned in EQ7, so I began learning that software. During the planning and construction, which uses multiple techniques, I learned to hand appliqué, and hand and machine quilt. Among my unexpected discoveries: I prefer a needle in hand to one in the machine; hand sewing is like riding a bicycle (once learned never forgotten); I love hand applique; and some battings are impossible to hand quilt! Thanks to TQS and others for all they taught me and the excitement they bring to the craft. This quilt and all others that follow are dedicated to my mother who would have been surprised that I chose this road.