Is it a form of art, a craft, or a hobby for you? I want to know what you guys and gals think!

For me, it's a hobby that i want to perfect and make it into a work of art. It allows me to express myself in a way that I wouldn't be able to do otherwise. I can play with color and designs and it just makes me happy :).

Ditto Girlfriend!!! I just love to create and succeed!!!
Learning new techniques...always a blast!

for me its an art and my only source of income.

It's art when you create something from nothing. The big plus for me,it's my therapy. It helps me control my blood pressure. So it's win win.

It's my passion. The cares of the world go out the window when I get to my machine and fabrics:)

It is my escape. From work, the television, the telephone.. the world outside.

When I am hunting for the perfect fabric, pattern, design, etc..... then planning and cutting..... the sewing it back together... the whole process is an escape to peace and quiet, a chance to be creative and unique.

A sense of accomplishment and wonderment when finished.

A feeling of joy when presented to a loved one as a gift or a charity for the needy.

Contentment when covered and warmed by something I made myself.

It's almost an obsession for me! It does allow my creative juices to flow so I would say it's an art form. I wouldn't call it a hobby because I never stick with hobbies but once quilting gets in your blood you are almost hook for life.

Art, passion, obsession. Stress relief. I even have a physical response to fabric I love - it literally jumps out and says, "take me home".

I am loving these responses! You all are so inspiring :).

I am a new quilter. I think it is a way for me to stay connected to my mom and my grandma. They are both quilters - so it is in my blood. I love everything about fabric. I enjoy creating something for people I love.

My grandkids and I had a picnic today on my first quilt. I can't explain the awesome feeling I had.

Quilting allows me to express my creativity. There is something about quilts that nurture the human spirit.

I get great satisfaction from the creating process.

It makes it possible for me to shower my family and friends with handmade gifts that you cannot purchase in any store. One of a kind gifts that are just for each one. I love the process and the smiles when one of these gifts is received by someone who does not sew or quilt. I love the creating and choosing specific fabrics for each person to keep them warm or decorate their home. I just plain love quilting!!

Home, warmth. love and inspiration put into a useable colorful proect we can enjoy for a long time.

There is something deeply home and hearth about making a quilt .. rather like a bird nesting. Sorry I can not explain myself better lol

Julie

Quilting is a form of therapy for me. I can lose myself in my quilting and for a while, all worries are gone. And it gives me a sense of accomplishment when I see a quilt finished.

I love all the responses too!! Once I tried to analyze my passion for making quilts. The whole process is delightful but the final result is my main attraction, so to speak. Sleeping under a quilt or knowing that someone I love is sleeping under one is the most wonderful feeling for me. I hope to make many quilts for those I love during my lifetime so they have a part of me with them long after I'm gone :)

Quilting is my way of expressing myself.I love to create my pieces of art.

Quilting allows me to be a bit of an artist with fabric and thread. I really love it. I look forward to it and thoroughly enjoy it. Another poster said it was a way to escape - and I agree.

It is my sanity!

Ditto!

Quilting means a lot to me. It's a wonderful craft, an art form and also something like a therapy and a good training for patience. Quilts have what I wish to have by myself: beauty, balance, structure, calmness and softness. When I quilt I feel complete...it's much more for me than hobby - it's passion, a little obsession and a lot of emotion.

I consider it an art..as a matter of fact..I informed a lady of just that when she said "oh..I do crafts too" I told her I didn't do crafts..lol..it's my passion..my solace..my escape..love it !!!

Quilting to me is like gardening...practical and yet an art. When I sit surrounded by my animal companions and put needle and thread to fabric, it is almost a form of meditation. Quilting brings me peace.

I love to create! I love learning and accomplishing something new. It is my gift to others, something I can leave for them to remember me by. It keeps me out of trouble and is very relaxing.

Quilting is my challenge, passion, stimulation and therapy.

Being a part of this QB forum has provided opportunities for me to communicate with a diverse group of quilters.

On a local level, quilting is an amazing and thriving activity. Some of us have learned "quilt documentation".The state quilting associations are accumulating archival pictures and surveys to preserve their legacies.

We also give back to our community by donating quilts made with love and hope.

Happy Quilting. :D

Its all of the above for me..There is something about quilting that is relaxing even when I make a boo boo ..I normally do not like to sit still for long but when I am quilting I can sit for hours..

Being a new quilter I just wanted to learn how it was done. I am very involved in genealogy and, as DebQuilter50 said, I think it is a way to reconnect with my mother and grandmother who made some quilts but that was before I was born and I am 62 yo.
I wish I would have seen them doing the quilts that ended up in my house after they were gone.
I am still learning so the whole process is still difficult for me but I like the result so far. Seeing fabrics getting a new look as it is pieced with different fabrics in different shapes is amazing and satisfying to me. As SherriB said: it gives me a sense of accomplishment when I see some blocks finished. I have not completed a whole quilt yet but I beleive I will be proud to see it done.

It brings me peace. If I were diagnosed with ADHD quilting would be my Adderall. Then to have something so beautiful at the end of my therpy makes it a win win for me.

I echo what everyone of you have said!

quilting for me is keeping a tradition going forward from our early settlers of the united states its gives me the feeling of accomplishment of knowing our mothers great grandmothers and all other women and gentlemen brought this craft for us to love and enjoy

Quilting is a wonderful way to be creative and you're never bored if you quilt. It seems like a few miniutes have gone by and it's hours.

I quilt, therefore I am - I am, therefore I quilt. :-D

To me it is THERAPY!!!!
Well it is more than that, but the last year of being so sick and other issues going on in my life it is my time to "get away from it all"!

It is my hobby, my addiction, and also my home based business!!!

I have had a couple of dolts (men) who asked me why in the world anyone would cut up a lot of fabric and then sit and sew it all back together again when you could buy a blanket so cheap. My answer...It keeps me out of the bars and away from people I want to hurt! I agree that it's the best therapy in the world! Hours just fly by when I am busy in the sewing room.

A sense of connection when someone else likes a quilt I've made. Mostly I made quilts for charity. I feel so good when I know I'm helping someone who may be cold, alone, forgotten. I have a sign above my sewing machine - "Someone somewhere is looking for exactly what I have to offer - by Louise L. Hay".

I am obsessed (for the most part, quietly!) with quilting. Once I got over my fear of the quilt police and the idea I might actually have to give up on a certain projects it was full speed ahead. For many, many years it was the only thing I did for myself alone: nothing to prove to anyone, no one to criticize, and a break from all the other stresses in my life.
I call quilting my sanity saver.

Therapy. Sanity!

Quilting is my legacy. It allows me to touch and imerse myself in color and fabrics. At one time I was going to be a writer and even wrote a weekly column in our local paper for almost ten years. I tried to have a career as a hot shot insurance person I just wasn't aggressive enough. I have survived 34 years as a mother and step-mother and divided my spare time between volunteering and needlework of any kind. I am currently immersed in producing Linus quilts averaging 20 a month. They allow me to indulge in cute kiddie prints that I would otherwise have no reason to purchase. They are also a perfect excuse to purchase a Acquilt go machine and update my emboridery machine and software etc. Quilting is so much more forgiving than garment sewing and my current figure makes garment sewing for myself a chore rather than a pleasure. Handquilting can be portable and allows me to accomplish something while I watch TV or kill time when traveling and is a great conversation starter in public places. All of my relatives can expect to recieve somekind of quilted item as a gift whatever the occasion. I have dabbled in many crafts in my 60years but quilting is always the one I return to and enjoy the most.

Quilting is my time. No one bothers me when I am quilting. I must say I enjoy time alone. I have a family, friends, and a very special dh, but sometimes I just need time alone. Quilting gives that to me. I love fabric; I love cutting it up and putting it back together; I love the feeling of accomplishment; I love the feeling of giving. What more can you want from life.

It's enjoyment - a happy time - its accomplishing and giving.