My Nana and Gramma quilted, however: we lived far away from them growing up so they weren't so much the insipration but rather I knew genetically I had the ability :) Truly though, my significant other (I am too old for a boyfriend) lived in Los Angeles and I lived in Vancouver, BC Canada. We did played cards every night on the computer, and he was going away for almost a month to Virginia in May 2005 with no internet access. So I decided, I would make him a super California King size quilt. I bought a rotary cutter and mat and then the fabric at Walmart - after reading not to invest a ton of money in your first quilt, got out my old Kenmore from 1978 that I used to mend clothes with etc. Found a pattern I liked on the internet and started - no classes, no friend to help me out. I pieced the top together and it did resemble the picture! Then I went to stitch in the ditch - did a few rows and got right up and went and bought a new sewing machine - an Elna 3210. I was hooked after that. Still haven't gone to a class but joined a guild after we were married and moved to LA. I sew everyday and love it! We still use the quilt I made on the bed and it truly was a work of love.