I have been sewing for years, since I was small - doll clothes etc. Mom taught me to do embroidary and crochet. She did some applique and piecing but after we kids went to bed. Mostly she did quilts for covers, not for art. We never had blankets except for electric blankets when it was really cold. It took me many tries to teach myself to make a quilt. Finally I took some classes and it really took off. Mom still makes quilts with embroidered blocks for her church quilting group. At least one a month, and she still asks me often, Why do you need so much fabric? I just laugh. You either get it or you don't.