Inspiration drawn from letters, journals, historical sources, and—essential vehicles of women's storytelling through the years—quilts fills this narrative re-creation of the history of the
West from the time of the early pioneers to the present day. The purpose of quilts and the art of quilting provide a window into the lives of these women, their friendships, and their
sorrows. Quilts provided warmth and occasionally served as death shrouds during the gold rush years. They were nailed to the walls and floors of rough-hewn cabins of shanty mining
settlements. Quilting bees provided a rare opportunity for female fellowship at the turn of the century. The voice of a masterful storyteller brings to life the heroic and heartbreaking
stories of generations of women in this sensitive and artistic portrait.
