Two of the three kids left home, hubby working full time and I needed a hobby/creative outlet. We rented so there were no decorating projects that used to keep me busy when we owned our home.
I had always like miniature doll houses and thought how fun that would be. Made a trip to A.C. Moore, looked it all over, headed to the magazines. Had thought about quilting too. Picked up one of each and thumbed thru. What caught my attention was there was a quilt show in a neighboring town just weeks away and I got excited. The doll houses, even on the Internet, there wasn't anything locally for me to check out.
So I became a "quilter." Finally I was able to take a beginning class, wasn't so keen on the instructor, but it soon consumed me. Looking back, I think based on what I've spent, it may just have been cheaper to do a miniature doll house. And yes, I realize how expensive those can become.