Maxine Rosenthal started quilting about fifteen years ago. She used to make clothing, but never anything as large or as time-consuming as a quilt. Maxine did many things before quilting. She had a career writing computer software, and even took a break from that to learn furniture refinishing, which she considered a walk through history. She was commissioned to make a quilt for the movie Grumpier Old Men, and still has a copy of the check from Warner Bros. But, like many, her appearance ended up on the cutting-room floor. Maxine started making kaleidoscope blocks with hexagons and octagons almost as soon as she began quilting. Maxine resides in Minnesota.