Another hand quilter here who also took shorthand. Guess that's showing our ages, eh? I actually used shorthand when I first started working and never could get the hang of a dictaphone. I used to listen to the dictation on the machine, take it down in shorthand and then type it up! I do machine piece, although I have also hand pieced a quilt. I machine quilt charity quilts that require it but I, too, far more enjoy sitting in my LR watching TV w/DH and quilting away. In fact, getting ready to sandwhich and start the next one!