I am self taught; jumped right in and made "Judy's Flower Garden". Was very difficult for me but am not the kind to start with a pot holder. I still have it, tho it is a little tattered. My favorite quilt is one where we found an old pattern of girls w/umbrellas which I appliqued in squares. Very unique. I either use the quilts or give them to my married children. Don't have a "collection" per se. I am too backward to go to guilds or workshops and don't have enough confidence in my work to enter in shows. I began quilting because I was crocheted out and hands don't work as well anymore. I love to quilt and can't ever wait to finish one so I can start another. I still hand quilt but am about to venture into machine quilting.