SILVERHILL, Alabama – Joann “J.J.” Joy has no idea how many quilts she has made over her lifetime.

“I couldn’t even begin to say,” says the Atmore native, now a resident of Silverhill. “It’s a lot.”

And she’s only been making quilts for a little over 30 years.

“I know both of my grandmothers made quilts,” she said, “and I learned how to sew from one of my grandmothers.”

Joy grew up in Atmore, got married and moved to Bay Minette, where she lived for almost 25 years. After her husband died, she was working at the Southern Host hotel where she met Stan Joy.

The two struck up a relationship, were eventually married and moved to New Hampshire. It was there where she decided to take up quilting.

“I do a lot of things, but quilting is my passion,” she said.

While living in New Hampshire, she opened up a fabric shop, which she operated for nine years before she and her husband retired and moved to Baldwin County.

After moving to Baldwin County, she became active in the Loxley Quilt Club, which would later move to Robersdale and become the Stitch N Friends sewing group.

She continues to teach quilting classes, along with smocking and heirloom sewing.

Through her involvement in club, she began helping with Robertsdale United Methodist Church’s annual Quilt Show which is held every February.

This year, she will be the honored quilter for the show, which will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday through Sunday, Feb. 7-9 at the church on Highway 59 in Robertsdale.

Over 300 handmade quilts will be on display with antiques and collectibles. Vendors will be on hand with lots of quilting supplies, including patterns, kits, machines, fabrics, needles and notions.

Joy estimates that she will have over 80 quilts on display at the show.

“Some of the quilts I’ve given over the years to family and friends have been loaned back to me for display at the show,” she said. “I’ve given quilts to all my children and I figure I have enough now to give at least one to all of my grandchildren.”

Over the years, Joy has given away dozens of quilts, including quilts that have been auctioned off for charity and quilts she has made through the club’s “Quilts of Valor” program, which provides quilts to family members of soldiers serving overseas.

“I’ve only ever sold one quilt,” she said. The Silverhill Evangelical Covenant Church hosts its Down Home Christmas event every year and one year, Joy said, she took some items to the church to sell.

“The lady that bought it said she told a friend before they went, ‘if I see a black, white and red quilt there, I’m going to buy it,’” Joy said. One of her quilts matched that description. “She bought it right when she walked in the door.”

Of course, none of the quilts Joy will have on display at next week’s quilt show will be for sale. Admission for the quilt show is $5. Lunch will be served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at a cost of $7. Musical entertainment will be provided during lunch.

For more information about the show contact Betty Gwaltney at 251-947-5354; Mary Barnhill, 251-964-5169, or visit the church’s website, www.robertsdaleumc.com.

Joy says her favorite part of quilting is doing appliques.

“I just love putting colors together, and putting patterns together just to see what I can come up with,” she said. “I’ve been sewing all my life and this is something I’ve found that I enjoy doing.”