I have a good friend I've known forever who really got into sewing and quilting back in the mid 70's. When I'd visit her (in another state) once a year, she always had a couple new quilts in progress and ones hanging in her home that still had the blue ribbons from the fair on them. She kept encouraging me to try it, but I was always sure I couldn't.
Then, a few years ago, when I was there she had a beautiful stained-glass wall-hanging that I just HAD to try. Coincidentally she belonged to a guild who ask their members to teach a small workshop each year, and this was 'her' project. So, she still had the kit and instructions and bagged them up for me. I spent an afternoon making 1/2 a flower at her house, then worked on it at home, with long-distance and email teaching all the while. It is my favorite quilt so far. I'll try to post my first picture on the forum of it. I haven't made any other "keepers" yet, but have made two gifts and about a dozen charity quilts, both baby quilts for a shelter and quilts for Soldier's Angels for wounded soldiers.
A funny aside, my friends DH made a big speech to my DH about how he should RUN, RUN AWAY as fast as possible because I was joining a cult. A cult that had taken over his wife and his home and his dining room table and all the walls and the whole basement. The next year, her DH decided I'd be a great way to cull her stash and encouraged her to build "me" a stash and get some of the darned fabric out of his house. Lucky for me! I try to include some of "her" fabric in all my quilts.