There's a great PBS show called "Why Quilts Matter" currently running in my area (Detroit MI). It's been fascinating to watch and hear about the technology and advancements made in the "art" of quilting.
A recent episode was about the re-emergence (excuse if I didn't say that right) of quilting. It is estimated that there are around 20 million quilters just in the U.S. and that in 2010, almost $4 Billion (yes, billion) was spent on this craft.
The average quilter has around $4,000 worth of fabric stash (I'm probably half way there LOL) and has spent around $8,000 on supplies (machine, rulers, tools, etc.).
If you get a chance to see this, it's definitely worth it. Here's a link to the official website --
http://www.whyquiltsmatter.org/welcome/
Not sure you can watch all the episodes online.