Wow, that quilt is gorgeous. I too would have had a hard time selling it, but this woman sounds like she is a very grounded person & doesn't take life too seriously. I bet she would be a hoot to spend some time with!
As to the perception of wealthy people, I read an interesting article the other day. It said the main difference between us & the super rich (other than the size of the bank balance) is that the super rich live & breathe money 24/7. They constantly check the stock market, etc. Maybe if I had a lot of money I would feel differently, but to me that just doesn't seem like living! I don't want to be so obsessive that I miss the enjoyment of life. Of course this might have been just the opinion of the person who wrote the article too.