Quilting is one of the creative outlets I use to de-stress from working in an office five days a week. Don't I combine color, pattern, and texture into a pleasing whole? Don't we all? Even though a quilt also has a use to offer comfort and warmth, do I still consider it an art form? Yes. But is it a classic art dicipline that has centuries of old masters that were men? Therein lays the difference, quilting evolved from women making something utilitarian from leftovers or worn out clothing or blankets and has never had the respect of a classic art form such as painting or sculpture that has no other use but ornamental.
My Mother paints oil paintings. Is it less art because she does it part time for her own enjoyment? She is an artist and so am I. And I look at some of the paintings that pass for art these days and consider myself quite talented!