Does it make you feel sad when you give someone a quilt that you spent a lot of time (and money) on and they do not appreciate it or realize how much time you put into it. I only give quilts to people who are really important to me since they do take so much time and money. I obviously dont want to say ... do you realize i put x amount of hours and spent X on this for fabric and quilting, but sometimes feel like I should LOL. I know it isnt intentional and I didnt realize how much they cost or how many millions of hours us ladies spend on them before I started either!! Do your friends and family realize what goes in to making a quilt?

My husband does. He often shakes his head.

My family loves their quilts but they think I whip them up at the drop of a hat (and free!).

And some think that if you machine quilt, that is is quick and easy with no talent needed. I like to gently educate them!

Well, in this area, I think I'm blessed. My husband and my daughter see how much I put into each quilt and both are not only my strongest supporters, but my most appreciative recipients! :D The rest of my family and friends treasure their quilts too. But I have to admit, most have asked me at one time or another in general conversation how much time and effort goes into a quilt so it was easy to educate them. Some were surprised at the time and money involved, but all appreciate their quilts and seem to know their value, both sentimental and monetary. :-)

Yes, sad to say, many don't appreciate them. I am very careful who I gift any quilt to, but it's still hard. I want to share with alot more, but I don't, cause I know how alot of people are. I would love for friends & family to visit, & say " I absolutely love this quilt!". Then, knowing how they feel, I would probably say, take it home with you then. But, we seldom have company, so that's not an option either, unfortunately. Most I just keep, unless I find a good home for them elsewhere...

Ditto that here. I have made my Mother in Law two large lap quilts and a half dozen or more runners/hangings/decor and it's still not enough. While I know she doesn't mean to be rude, she is now pressing me for a photo quilt but doesn't realize how much time and expense goes into a quilt like that - I haven't even made a photo quilt for myself yet!

I would just love to make everyone what they want me to make them but I have two kiddos and one on the way...I barely have time to wipe my behind let alone make the long list of quilts everyone wants from me. I should get a tax break or something! LOL* We also live on one income!!!

Then there's my Mom who I have given elaborate paper pieced and hand quilted wallhangings and runners at her request and love her to death but just won't make a bed quilt for because she hasn't done a darn thing with the things I've already made her.

I usually don't gift quilts (or handmade anything) unless specifically requested. I have things I've made around the house and if somone admires them, I'll gift it then and there. I do give quilts to children and expect that they would much rather have a new game for their nintendo. Sometimes I'm pleasantly surprized. My mom always said that the gift is for the recipient, not the giver. So if I get an inkling they would rather have a gift card to Target, that's what they get. In my circle of sewing friends I hear so many stories of people being disappointed in the recipients reactions, from the same people over and over! One woman said that the entire time she was working on the quilt she thought about how happy the person was going to be when she gave it to her, and was disappointed. Don't know. I guess it's just me I think that some folks just set themselves up for disappointment. A quilt is a big investment in time and money for it to be given unrequested. OK you probably all hate me now!

I think all quilters think the same way as you.
Some not all just see a quilt and ignore the amount of detail and work that has been put into it it can be quiet upsetting for the quilt maker but hey i always think well i know i made this i know the amount of work i put into it and it has been a pure joy and as long as i know that that is all that matters,

yes, each year for the pst 5 or 6 I have made a special wallhanging for a local charity thinking it was being raffled off to raise money. I suspect and will find out that they have been used as door prizes at the event.
If this is try, they won't get any more from me.