I am basically self taught. My mother was actually a Home Ec major in college but she didn't have time or energy to teach me to sew. She and I did take a night school tailoring class at the local high school when I was in my late teens. I think I have taken two actual quilting workshops given by quilt instructors but never a one on one instruction. I had been quilting for at least 15 years before I met another actual quilter. I actually entered a quilt in the Great AMerican Quilt Contest to celebrate the BiCentential. My husband took me to NY to the quilt show where the winners and runners up were displayed. That was the first time I saw another living quilters work. I was blown away. In the years since I have seen many a trunk show or talk by a "professional" quilter. I still basically do my own thing.