I'm self taught. My mom was one who could see something, then go home and make it. She would get the Penny's and Ward's catalogues, then make the clothes without the need for ordering them.
She never taught me anything. Partially because she was too ill to teach and partially because she thought by the time we grew up women wouldn't need to know any of that stuff anymore.
I took one 4 hour beginner class years ago. Almost everything else I've learned from here. I've gotten books now, but more for the patterns than the techniques in them. I recently started playing around with free motion quilting (FMQ) and all the links and resources I've used are either on this board or links from members of this board.
8 years later, I consider myself an advanced beginner...don't know if I'll ever be intermediate, but I'm having a great time!