I had sewing lessons as a teen, but always used my mom's machine. After I got married, I would go to mom's house and use her machine. When we bought our first house, my parents bought me my own machine. Nothing fancy at all, but it was mine. I set up my own sewing area in the basement. A few years later, my dad gave me a big coffee table book of quilts and $100 to help feed my antique quilt collection. Another thoughtful gift!