Wow, what a great topic! I have so enjoyed sitting here reading about how everyone got started quilting.
My mom and grandmother and aunts all made quilts.
The first thread in this post-
http://www.quiltingboard.com/posts/list/23168.page
is the story of WHY I got started making quilts.
I love fabrics and quilts. I love the process, well, everything except the basting, and now I have spray!
There is nothing so peaceful, so relaxing, so calming than to sit down and quilt by hand. Someday I would like to learn to machine quilt, but for now, hand quilting is my therapy. To feel the beautiful fabric under my hand and very slowly, never a hurry, just take my time and put in all those little stitches is just my joy.
At first I thought it was just me and that I was really weird or something, but then my Aunt told me that they used to have to MAKE my grandmother stop quilting so she could eat. Then my daughter was visiting me and I realized that after I had gone to bed she stayed up ALL NIGHT quilting. She inherited the quilting gene!!!
I wonder if we all have it?