Lakeland is a nice place, usually nice weather for Christmas ..too bad the great LQS downtown closed. I live all the way north of Lakeland, heading towards Dade City. Just think --we might just meet at Joannes!! LOL...

I dont think the popularity has changed as much as the fact that our awareness has increased because of the internet.

After 9/11 all the hand crafts BOOMED, there were stories of women that day walking into stores and picking up knitting needles, yarn and just sitting down and knitting.. knit, or crochet if thats what they bought. I think its because its very relaxing, and most women want to leave their children, grandchildren more than just money, or a used deck of playing cards. It gives a deep feeling of satisfaction. I used to make my own bread and canned my garden vegetables. I loved the feeling of being able to look at those jars in the pantry and would say to myself. I did this, to feed the people I love.

Unfortunately, Am at the point now, cannot do the large projects (quilts).. am not capable any longer, and I KNOW it. Am settling now on making small things, table runners, etc.

I think that all things: style, clothes, crafts, hobbies and quilting all go through phases, and right now it's the time for quilting to make a strong comeback. I also think people are once again appreciated the time and talent it takes to make a quilt.

I am a third generation quilter. I grew up with quilts. No house is a home without some quilts! I think in today's hurry-up world where we are required to do what everyone else wants/needs, it is so refreshing to just sit a while, think your own thoughts, choose what fabrics you want to use and how you want to put them together and rest your soul for a little while. We all need some time to be creative, to make plans of our own, to enjoy the colors of the world around us and enjoy life. That's why I quilt! It doesn't have to be a big quilt, a quilted purse, placemats, table runners, all have that same aura, relaxation, freedom, enjoyment. Quilt on!

I think women have always had the desire to make their bedrooms as well as other rooms in the house "inviting" and pretty. Even the pioneer women made beautiful patterns on their quilts. They didn't just sew hunks of fabric together to stay warm. They created beautiful designs. Everybody appreaciate a little beauty in their home and nowdays we have more colors to choose from. Plus we have all this inovative technology that makes things so much easier and faster. We have better everything to work with. We have just expanded the horizons of the earlier quilters.

I too took a class years ago. It seemed to precise for me. I now love to watch videos of different patterns and techniques. My sis got me onto this board and it just keeps you interested in trying new things. I've never used the same pattern twice yet!

quilting was popular LONG before any of those 3 things!

LOVE this reply...I am also 3rd generation, and learned at a very early to love and appreciate a good quilt. I also love how now I can ADD my specialty stuff and make smaller items as well! We are really just "textile Junkies"!

the crafts did not BOOM, the industry did because people panicked that they would not have money shortly after that....The craft/leisure/hobby industry was already riding a very HIGH wave prior to 9/11. The market then was driven by those fixing to retire, who had disposable income and did not care how they spent it! Those folks are now wishing they had held on to some after the last 5 years. They also have houses/rooms filled with stuff they will never use, and thus are no longer putting $ into the market.

Today the market is driven by younger moms who stay home and want to reinvent the pioneering woman! HA...like they could that without blogs, youtube, etc....BUT they are also more frugal, and are not putting the same degree of $ into the market/industry. They are more apt to "share" a pattern online than buy one and in that sense have driven the industry backwards 30 years! They are also the ones that are creating the demand for MORE sewing lessons! BUT are not buying NEW machines. So this NEW age of quilting/sewing is more like the OLD age. DO more with less, it is a craft not driven by $, unless you make it so. Just read this forum. THere is more chat in the topics about FREE patterns, how to make "X" template instead of buying one, etc...while some say " that is how quilting should be, use it up, make do, etc" there are others that argue that as an industry you can not do that, you have to create NEW stuff for people to buy or you lose the industry. Yes, but that does not mean you will lose the craft! I believe that quilting, sewing, etc, is here to stay no matter the industry. It is the industry that is making harder to get NEW people into it though. Just look at the prices today compared to 5 years ago. You can do that buy finding an old magazine/catalog(keepsake especially) and looking at the prices! Todays prices are more prohibitive than ever for newbies!

what keeps it alive is our economy. More people "have" to work to an older age. Older people who are at home are raising/caring for grands, younger moms who stay at home have to DO for their families instead buying all the time, all of these people are keeping ALL crafts alive. Be it scrap booking/card making, crochet, knit or sew. If it can be done for the betterment of the household it is being done!