DescriptionIn 2010 my father was diagnosed with terminal cancer and in early 2011 I began commuting regularly to Florida to assist him. This quilt began as a project to while away the evening hours I spent in the hospital room. I remember packing two beautiful Hoffman Mango Margarita pre-cut jelly rolls, quilt ruler, portable cutting board and rotary cutter in my luggage to take to Florida with me. Each evening I sat in dad's wobbly leather armchair and cut the fabric into smaller strips. The plaits aka. French braids or cornrows I often wore my hair in inspired me to make a French braid quilt. Working with the beautiful tropical colors of the fabrics gave me joy during a very stressful time. My father passed away April 23, 2011 and I finished cutting the pieces for this quilt the same day. When I returned home to NJ I began sewing the strips in long braids. Initially I was going to create a piece with long braids and sashing between the vertical rows but I liked the way the richness of the liquorice batik framed the bright colors and decided to use it to embrace the smaller blocks of braids. I love butterflies, thus the butterfly border.