I know exactly how you feel. I once made a KING_SIZED quilt for a dear friend of mine for her and her husband. It was actually large enough to use as a bedspread on their Califonia King(larger than a regular king) and although it was machine pieced, it was all hand quilted. I was just sick when I went over one day and saw they were using it as a couch cover in the room where the little kids played and romped around.

It was very hard for me to accept that it was hers, no longer mine, and if that was how she valued something so lovingly hand made, it was still hers to toss aside if that's what she wanted to do with it. It really hurt my feelings that she thought so little of it and the time/effort factor; I felt like she thought so little of me that she didn't care how I felt.

It took me a few years to realize that she, and many people, who have had things handed to them or been able to purchase anything they wanted and had not been graced with heirloom treasures, just don't realize what they have when they have things like this given to them. She was a bit self-centered but mostly just lived her life with rose-colored glasses on and never thought much about the feelings of others.

So, any future gift for her or her family was purchased, not hand made.

You never know about the younger generation (throw away mentality) My worst nightmare would be if they would do what your daughter in law did - put my quilts on a garage sale. I haven't given them very much - mostly table runners and pillows - I'm waiting until they mature and can appreciate the time involved in making a quilt. When I was 16 years old - 47 years ago - my grandma gave me a set of rhinestone jewelry. When I was young - in my 20's - I foolishly sold it on a garage sale. Now - I wish I had it- when a person is in their teens and 20's they do not have an appreciation for heirlooms - maybe some do - but most of them are only concerned with the here and now. Judy

Not everyone appreciates the many hours that are put into quilting. My wonderful sister-in-law put a beautiful quilt down and let her dog deliver puppies on it. Another sister-in-law put a beautiful quilt down in a greasy uhaul and put all of their "prized posessions" on it! ugh, the nerve. Both of these quilts were hand quilted by my mother. It has to be something special for me to even let my hand quilted quilts lay on a bed made by my mother! Glad you saved it!

As I was growing up my mother made all of the quilts on the beds,I didn't know you could buy them in the store.Now I make them and I understand the labor and time she invested in them and how she never let anything go to waste,she cut the buttons off old shirts and cut the fabric up for quilts or rag rugs,I appreciate her efforts more than ever.I tell any one I give a quilt to you must use it,not save it ,if not I keep the quilt I don't make heirlooms I make quilts to be used everyday, I tell my kids my collection of ginghers is their inheritince.

I guess there is only one that I don't let just lay on any bed. It has a beautiful temple quilted on it and it is made out of tricot, I think. If you jump on the bed with the quilt on it, it snaps the stitches and all the quilting comes undone. The other ones I have on beds to display proudly, but have rules that go with them...........no greasy husbands laying on beds, and no children eating chocolate on them, etc. Sorry for the misleading statement. My mind goes 100 different directions with 4 children 5 years and younger!

I am so glad this beautiful, meaningful quilt has found it's home!

wow... what non quilters will do with our quilts....

Beautiful! Love Bowtie pattern!

For Crying Out Loud Anyway!! This is beautiful! I would like to come over there and slap the silly right out of them. People just don't get it. We have a similar story in our family about heirlooms being sold at a garage sale too. I was fortunate enough to get to the sale the night before and grab a ton of stuff that was my mother's (yup-had to pay my sister for it) before someone else got the beautiful afghans and intricately crocheted doilies and tablecloths. I ended up giving items to another sister and my brother. My sister was totally clueless as to what she was doing by selling items that should have been offered to family first. I hope your DIL (and your son) learns the value of family heirlooms as the marriage matures. Handing over your most treasured gift-your grandchild-and then leaving with the quilt surely should have given her a clue. Thank goodness that beautiful quilt is where it will be treasured.

Oh boy, I know how you feel. Sometimes when I give quilts I worry that their now thought of in the same way. People don't realize all of the hard work and love that goes into making them. I made my brother and SIL a king-size quilt and my SIL had the nerve to say, "I don't care for quilts". how rude!!! Give it back then.....