What about me?  I have been making glass beads since 2002.  I've always loved glass and fire, so when I found a hobby that could mix the two, I was hooked.
 
I belong to our (sort of) local lampworking group -- the Bead Buddies.  The group hosts classes at least twice a year.  So far I have been lucky enough to learn from Sage and Tom Holland, Anne Ricketts, and Kimberly Affleck.  I really enjoy taking classes because I always have something to learn and I always learn something.