I've sewen since I was 12 in school. Made clothes and home decor. Then a friend talked me into going to a quild meeting so I bought Fons and Porters Complete Guide to Quilting and read up on everything. I have taken 2 classes, one for hand-quilting - which was a total waste of time and one for watercolor quilts. If I was interested in a particular techinique, I bought the book or asked questions.