For Xmas, I made 3 sets of placements - 1 to my mom, 1 to my dad's gf, and 1 to my MIL.
For my MIL, they use the placemats and have a few food stains. It didn't bother me - I'm glad they use them. For my mom, she barely takes them out (just special occasions with non-messy food), they're like new. Doesn't bother me - great, she's keeping them clean.
I was up in CA and my dad's gf showed me what she did with her placemats (which were made to match her new kitchen cabinetry)... she put them UNDER THE TELEVISION in her daughter's room to protect the furniture.
I really am one of those I-release-my-quilt-to-the-new-owner-and-won't-get-upset-with-what-they-do-with-it people, but I was a little irked when I first saw it. She was proud to show me, so she wasn't doing it to be mean or anything, but, yeesh, putting a television on top of? Some people don't get it, heh. Nothing to do but laugh. :lol: