It bothers me when I see remarks like, I make what I love and they should love it too. Do you like everything someone else does, would you want to display something that isn't your taste or that doesn't match the colors in your house? If you are making a quilt for someone else shouldn't you take the time to find out what they like? If you don't do that, then who are you making the quilt for? Not them, yourself maybe? Giving should be about reaching out, coming along side, encouraging someone and loving them where they are. Sorry if I offended anyone but it just had to be said.
For this quilt, it just sounds like they can't see the finished product. They have shown in the past that they appreciate your quilts you just caught them off guard with an unfinished product. Quilters have the vision before the project ever gets started, non-quilters need to see the finished piece. Some have expressed throwing them under the bus, pretty hasty decision in my humble opinion.