nycquilter

when you gifted it to her, did you explain what is was and what it is used for? Maybe she didn't realize. I think I am so much luckier/blessed than most of you because I have never ever had someone not appreciate a gift I made for them. When I would show a quilt at work, people would ooh and aah and ask how I found the time, how the fabrics were just right, and so on. I have heard years later that they still love and use the gifts.

TanyaL

I'm curious - if a relative gave you a wooly hand knitted sweater which you say you wouldn't like, would you consider yourself an ungrateful little snit? Or simply that they didn't inquire as to what your taste and likes and dislikes were?

taylorsgmom

Many people don't realize the effort it takes to create. I blame many of th "box" stores for this problem. Recently I had a casual friend ask me how much I would charge to make T-shirt quilts for her sons. I quoted her a fair price that my mentor has told me is way too low considering time and materials I would be using. The woman said that was way too much and she guessed it would have to wait. ($300) I thought about it. Then remembered this is a woman that buys her shoes at Nordstroms and doesn't wait for sales.

Yesterdays Dallas paper had a great article about a gentleman that creates and sells his One Block Wonder creations. That are fabulous. His quilts go for about $3000. I thought about sending her a copy of this article. Then again I would be wasting a stamp.

After seeing so many quilts at flea markets and feeling sad, I've realized I have to create for me. Then let go.

May in Jersey

Yes, make him a 'big boy quilt', he will surely use and treasure it.

You never know how people will react to handmade gifts. I was so surprised when my neice Judy, now age 40, she told me she still had the little crocheted purse I made her when she was about 7 yrs old. Double surprise since her mother never appreciated anything home or hand made, always needed a price tag on a gift to be able to appreicite it. Come to think of it neice's father, my brother Jim, called me the other week and mentioned he's still using the quilt I made him a few years ago. I made the quilt when he, a recent widower, moved into his new house in PA.

You know what hurts most about our hand made gifts not being appreciate is not the time or money we spent on it, it is all the love we put into it. I know when making a quilt for someone I think about them and little memories from over the years pass through my mind so if they turn their noses up at my gift it seems as if they don't care about our relationship at all.

Greenheron

I think she was using a bit of humor there.

lalaland

I've been lucky, I rarely make stuff for people as a gift but the few things I have made have been appreciated. And you never know, the thing I've made so far that was the most appreciated was a huge rag quilt for my SIL's sister's husband. Not only was it huge, it was flannel and a Christmas print (John Deere tractors, but still a Christmas print), and I gave it to him in the dead of summer but he immediately put it on their bed anyway. That was 3 years ago and it still has a prominent place in their bedroom and his wife said he still shows it to everyone the visits. Now that's appreciation.