quilts always look different when they are (completed) you will get a (bigger) response when it is all finished---when it is just a top Non-quilters seldom see what you see.
don't dispair---
and remember it is in the giving-that is the importance- if you are doing it for a response you will always be disappointed. if that should happen again prehaps just take a picture of the top- and put it in a card saying---not quite done yet- will be coming soon---they may be a little more (enthused) in their response=== non=quilters have no idea what really goes into making one- and seeing an unfinished top seldom impresses.
finish the quilt and give it as planned-