Such neat stories!
My mom sewed all of my clothes as I grew up on a Singer Featherweight. When I was in the 4th grade, I joined 4-H, and she taught me how to sew on that machine. I made an apron, and didn't really sew anything after that until my second son was born. Then I got a Viking, and went to town. Sewed all of my clothes, sewed my ex's shirts and shirts for my boys.
When my mother turned 60, I decided to make a friendship quilt for her...cut out 12 inch white blocks and sent them to all of her family and friends to "do their own thing" on. Got some back painted, some embroidered, some with photos...put them together with blue sashing, tied it, and slapped a binding on it. She was thrilled with it. Didn't do anything else until we moved to Montana, and I made a couple of wallhangings that I donated to a fundraiser for the local volunteer ambulance that I was a part of. Good thing no one told me that I probably shouldn't tackle a Mariner's Compass or Feathered Star right out of the gate...that's what they were, hand pieced/hand quilted and I was amazed that they sold for over $200 each at an auction! I made one more wallhanging for my mom... and then I quit quilting for awhile. A long "while". Got a divorce, he refused to let me take my machine. Got busy with life, got remarried, stayed "too busy" until recently when I asked for a sewing machine...hubby bought me my Janome last September for my birthday, and I've kept it humming ever since!