I don't think an artist no matter what their chosen field can be stifled. No matter how many jobs I had not in the design [art field] I still sewed, quilted, wrote. You take criticsm as a measure of your work, think about it, don't let it get you down, and keep on with your work. It's part of the learning process you use to move ever upward in your craft. It helps to have people out side your mind who can tell you how the real world sees your work.
Quilting as a business is a lot more complicated than quilting for friends, raffles, and charities. There are even business and legal forms for crafts.
Nobody can live your life but you, freedom of choice is always yours. Good luck and happy quilting