I made a hand embroidered, hand stitched quilt for the daughter of one of my dearest friends, Pat. It was given with the instructions it be used. Her daughter was one when I gave it to her, and they moved away, 10 years later when they came to visit Pat introduced me to her daughter again as the woman who made her butterfly quilt. She responded, "The one you keep for only special occasions." I shook my head and Pat said it was because she does day care and didn't want it destroyed. So it was nice to know it did get used from time to time, but wanted her to use it more.
After that most of the quilts I make are machine made so they will be used and washed and used again.