Originally Posted by chamby
Originally Posted by jfowles
So, I love quilting, dah!! it doesn't matter if I have someone to give it to, if I need it or even like it very much I just love quilting. My daughter who is my best friend and a wonderful friend at that, told me the other day, (at least this is what I heard) that it was all kind of a waste, I don't have anymore people to give them to and what is she going to do with them when I am gone. I have too many to display and they aren't good enough to give as works of art (my thoughts). So now I am working on a child's quilt with no one to give it to. I bought the expensive fabric that was made for the pattern (American Jane) and I just feel stupid working on something just to be quilting. I have no idea what to do with it but it has been so so expensive to make that I want it to go to someone who will appreciate it. I told her I can donate them but she seemed to think there is an over abundance of quilts and no one really wants them. I make her sound like an ogre and she really isn't, she just doesn't get it, Anyway now I feel bad about all the money and time I have spent just to appease my addiction when no one has any use for my work. I may not finish the child's quilt and just move on to something I intend to use as a gift, I think the intended recipient will appreciate it but now I am rethinking the whole idea of quilting as just plan selfish and self serving. So I've rambled on a long time with this, I just feel bad and I need some moral support to justify my need to continue what I love.
I do not agree with your daughter either. First of all does she love what you have done for her? If she does then she should be proud of you. As far as no one wanting them if you donate them. There are plenty of hospitals and childrens homes that would just love a quilt. What about the homeless shelters, I am sure they would love to have some quilts. There is always someone and somewhere to donate a quilt of love. If you have the money to put into your love then I say keep quilting. Maybe you should try and teach her about quilting. Who knows she might just catch the bug herself.
This exact thing happened to me! My mother is an avid quilter (age 94 next week) and she would drag me around to JoAnn's, Hancock, different quilt shops, Mill End to look for 1/4 yd of this and a 1/2 yd of that and a ruler for this or some rotary blades (BHF) (before Harbor Freight!!!!) and I could think of a million things I would rather be doing than feeling fabric and "see if you can find me a 45mm blade."! Twelve years ago, and I honestly do not remember how it came to be, I decided to make a quilt after her urging and pushing and I tried it. I loved it. I am so totally hooked on it that I can't get enough of it. Granted I may not have a stash as big as some of you, but I'm a'gettin' there! And darned proud of it too. I thank God for my mother so gently pushing me into quilting (yah, right, like a bulldozer!!!!) Mom is not going to be with us forever, but she is leaving me a legacy - quilting - and giving - and "creating" (only God can create (making something out of nothing)) and sharing and something I can pass on to my grandchildren (we only had one child - a son - and I can bet you dollars to donuts that trying to teach him to quilt would be like pulling teeth. He is too busy repairing the tractor on their little farm). So, if not him, we have two granddaughters I can work on! Their mother is a quilter also. So I am the frosting in a sandwich cookie - one older and one younger than me, sharing the traditional ideas with the newer techniques and ideas. Work on your daughter. Don't stop, don't even think about it. I am a mother. I would never let my son and his family think about stifling me in what I love to do any more than I would try to stifle my mother. Good luck to you. We have earned this and we are entitled to our hobby, our sanity keeper! Edie