How did I start...hmm...no sewers or quilters in my family...I use to be a total work acholic...then in 2009 my group was laid off...including my boss and me...wow...what a change of life style...at first it was very hard. I was not the type of person who relaxed ever..I was always on the go...at first I did major cleaning, started cleaning out closets, then painting walls, ceilings, kitchen redo (my husband had no idea what he was coming home to each day). I tried to finish each project before he got home...I went to dump every day...then after a few months I was done...yup...one hour of cleaning a day and then what...I volunteered for Animal shelter, Meals on Wheels and of course looked for a job. I then started to find time each day to read and started to relax after about 9 months but still missing something. A friend of mine said she was having a grandson and was going to make a quilt...I kidded her about making me one...and she said...I will not make you one but I will come over and we can make one together. So that is how it began...I made a wall quilt and she made a baby quilt. We tied the quilt, this was prior to me nowing how to FMQ and all cut with my rotary cutter. I was never good at picking colors and never really had a hobby...well I had a blast...and searched the internet, found this board who helped and taught me how to quilt along with many utube video and haven't looked back...I love it...now my only issue is my shoulder is not loving it...so hoping it heals. I now I will have to slow down. I would make a quilt in a weekend...I just had the bug. It has been great for my marriage of 30 years. My husband love to record music for a hobby so spends time in his music room for a few hours so this gave me something to do and I did not feel ignored. Hubby is wonderful and very supportive of my hobby. He even upgraded my sewing machine a christmas gift st first I was totally afraid of it and left it on the box for a week...LOL...he ended up setting it up for me and then a year later made a sewing room for me. Yup...love the quilting world...only tough time is all the fabic and how messy it can get at times...and how hard it is for me to throw anything out...but I am getting there...this year using more scraps in my quilts before I start new projects, and finding ways to use up my scraps of batting and materials that I don't want for quilting. like dog toys, baby bibs, floor mats, and other small crafts. Great Thread!!! Got me thinkings....Oh and a life saver for those cold snow days and all the rainny days...I have now been back to work for 2 and 1/2 years which is why I was able to invest in Accuquilt and buy many dies...I wanted to make sure I will have plenty to do when I retire...also I admit I went a bit nuts buyig lots and lots of fabric since I went back to work. I have now slowed down on that...I think I have enough for a life time...Quilting has been wonderful for me and has bought a lot of joy into my life!