Originally Posted by
jaspersu
I have only given quilts to my mom! :lol: and one small one was meant (by me) to be used in her bedroom but she had it on a chair in the living room when I visited. I have to laugh at myself for being slightly miffed. I had another one with me that I made for her bed. It isn't a masterpiece by any means, and the back is about as interesting as the front. I can't be offended if she doesn't end up using it like I pictured.
I'm a relatively new quiltmaker and so far I have given only one "quilt" away--a Labyrinth tabletopper in patriotic colors to a friend whose husband is retired Navy. I gave it to her because when she learned I had begun quilting and knew why it was important to me, she, several times, sent me quilting magazines. When she called enthusiastically thanking me for the tabletopper I told her she could pass it on if she liked and she said "no one's getting this out of my hands!" What she will actually do with it, I have no idea and will probably never know since she lives in another state. The truth is, her friendship and encouragement is why I gave it and why she so graciously accepted it. The quilt itself is less important (though I did love the little thing when I finished it and I think she meant it when she said she loved it, too). Also: if I don't already know someone's taste, I usually just feel them out about whether or not they would like a quilt (or any handmade gift). Many don't, plain and simple. And that's their perogative.
A few years ago I gave my DS and DIL a beautiful (it was the pattern and colors that made it so) crocheted afghan, which they had expressed a great desire to have when they saw me working on it. They loved it when they got it but they are careless with possessions and there's no telling where that afghan is today. But I knew that when I gave it and I gave it anyway. I'm currently handquilting a large throw size quilt for their son (also somewhat careless) and I can't predict it's ultimate fate either. Do I regret the care--or lack thereof--of the things I made with love and by my own hands? Yes. Can I do anything about it? No. Unless quilters want to keep every quilt they make (I don't, nor do I have room) then these are the chances they take. By that same token, I keep certain things I've made simply because I won't take that chance; I recently made a small attic windows quilt that I will keep "just because". But for the ones I give, I take pictures, hope for the best, and try not to judge. And what I hold to is the joy and appreciation I saw when I gave them.
Last Christmas I made my youngest grandson a Minesweeper "doll" (he calls it a figure) and more recently a Steve "doll" (from the same online video game). I found a kind of pattern for one, the other I had to make up, as they say, out of whole cloth....in this case fleece.
His genuine delight in these gifts made my day and if they are now forgotten under the bed or out in the backyard (which I don't believe) I still remember how thrilled he was to get them and that makes it worth it.
This post prompted a LOT of responses. I doubt any of us would feel quite the same about gifts we
bought as about the things we create with our mind, heart and hands!