Quilting has different meanings to different people, but all quilts have a unique look and tradition. “What makes art is its life, pulsating and shining with the energy and intentions of its creator. The art of quilting shines with respect for all the generations that came before – bringing together thread, needle, and fabric with vision and love” (Wilson 7). Born in ancient times as a necessity and a work of art, quilting has changed over time, but is still practiced in myriad cultures around the world. While there are many types of quilting, there are three common types identified as full cloth, darning, and appliqué. The whole fabric technique uses just one piece of white fabric for the quilt top, usually to show off the quilt's fine stitching (Wilson 9-10). Piecing refers to sewing pieces of fabric together to make the quilt top. At first the pieces were sewn together randomly, but as scrap collections grew, quilters began piecing together colorful patterns to form a perfectly perfect square. Some of these had up to 1600 small patches in a single quilt (Hechtlinger 61-62). Appliqué is the stitching of small cut fabric shapes onto a background of another fabric arranged in a decorative design. This technique, often used to represent stories and ideas, has been used for hundreds – if not thousands – of years (Wilson 10-11). The oldest known piece of quilting material was discovered in Asia. The floor of the tomb of a Scythian leader, found between 100 BC and 200 AD, contained a quilted material that included finely detailed appliquéd animals. Therefore, the techniques used in quilting today date back at least 2,000 years, with some patterns and designs being… the center of the paper… more than quilts intended to cover a bed (Hechtlinger 221) . However, instead of using scraps of material, many quilters today purchase mass-produced fabrics, often making quilts look similar, more expensive, and less personal. Additionally, some quilters today use computers to design patterns and sew quilts instead of hand-drawing with pen and paper and hand-sewing (Beyer 40). As stated by Mrs. Sara Shell, a member of the Winnfield quilting club, “There is nothing more beautiful than a hand-sewn quilt. A quilt is a labor of love from the heart. "From the tombs of ancient Egypt to the present day, quilting has played a significant role in society. From ancient burial shrouds to the elaborate tapestries of the modern world, quilting tells a story of function and beauty. Quilting will continue to play a significant role in the life of man in the future.