It sounds like making her a quilt will help you. I think YOU NEED to make her a quilt. If she appreciates it, that's a bonus. If she doesn't, well, you half way expected that she wouldn't anyway. Don't be disappointed.
I would suggest that you make her something more than a lap quilt, though. With her being tall, a lap quilt will look dwarfed.
My BFF was tall as a child and still is. As we were growing up, she hardly ever had anything that was the right size.
Just my opinion..............