In 1982 I began because a friend asked me to draw scenes (I am an artist) on some blank squares of fabric for a memory quilt she was making. It was just the blocks sewn together and sashed and stitched in the ditch. That was it. So...I did the same thing for my parents, daughters and mother-in-law. I was in Germany at the time and did not know anyone that quilted. When I got back to the states I went to work and did not quilt again until 1992 and I made a full size quilt for my granddaughter. I absolutely loved it and I taught myself by reading books gotten from the library. I made a few more quilts until 2007 when we moved from NC to AZ. That is when I retired from teaching and took up quilting and now belong to a quilt group. I enjoy this art form as much as I enjoy painting and drawing. This board has been so wonderful and I have learned so much. THANK YOU to all the ladies and gents on this board - you are so inspirational.