I started to needlepoint right after I graduated from college. My life had been so busy with working, going to class, and studies, I didn't have much time anything else. I felt like I always needed to be doing something. Then I saw a special on Rosie Grier, who was a football player for the LA Rams. He had taken up needlepoint because of his fear of flying. That peaked my interest, because at that point, I seemed to be afraid of everything. :)
It worked. It calmed me down, and I was happy with the creations I came up with. I was never without a project. I then started doing cross stitch. It was many years later that my friends at work were talking about quilting. My head must have been under a rock, because I had never heard of it. I was doing lots of crafts, but what was this quilting stuff?
I kept watching and then I began to love what they were doing. My friend of 30+ years eventually got me sold on it. I finally took the plunge five years ago when I retired. I took a class, became totally HOOKED, and purchased my 440 QE Edition Bernina.
I love the whole process, beginning to end. You meet great people, and it is fun to have a hobby you can share with so many people.