Your story is much like mine. At 21 ( I'm now 69) my mother came to the house with a sewing machine and said "here, learn to sew." and then left. It was perhaps the greatst gift mom ever gave to me...the ability to make my own mistakes and rectify them. I've since made men's clothing (matching suits for a CW band), worked in a bridal shop doing alterations, made childrems clothing, curtains, and lately quilts for the last 20 years.
You can do anything you set your mind to. Good luck to you!