I took classes from Jean Sheppard and Sandra Dievendorf and no I never entered a contest but I love to hand sew. The quilts we worked on were for the Skagit Gleaners, a self help group to sell to defray costs of operating so we all did the work on them. I live way out in the country and do not drive so all my quilting is out of left over sewing projects from my kids clothes I made. There are no guilds around here that I know of but yes I have my First quilt and the row quilt I am working on. What got me started is the velvet Crazy Quilt that was on my bed for years made by the ladies of my fathers church in Custer So. Dak. I use to sleep under that 40 pound quilt every night. Angeline