There is a very high standard of quilting that is shown in all the quilting magazines and on line. These are a large exception to what most people can achieve. The average person, who does not quilt for a living or have time to devote entirely to quilting, can not be expected to do show stopping quilting. I quilt to the standard of enjoyment, not perfection. All the truley exceptional quilters started somewhere not so good and worked hard and developed their talent over a time. Thanks to them, we average, self taught people have something to strive towards, even if we don't get there. We can always improve our talent. I remember being told by teachers I couldn't sing, play an instrument, cook, sew or draw. This one selfish act by a teacher can stifle anyones esteem and makes them powerless. How many of us had someone in our lives telling us we couldn't? I am lucky my mom never said this to me even though others did. Keep on spending time doing what you love and love doing it. You are to hard on yourself.
peace