I got a Gammill a little over a year ago and have done almost 30 quilts for a group. I have 23 or 24 done and the rest are on the calendar to be done by 12/31!!! Once these 30 are done, there won't be any more for 2012 - I want to work on some of my own quilts. I have been happy to do them, they give me tops and bottoms and pay for the batting and I get the practice!
I will not do as many next year --- I will commit to doing one a month for them for free and if they want more done, then they will need to pay a little for it. I don't do longarm quilting as a business (yet) but I do feel my time is worth something.
I sew with some ladies at our local quilt shop and they are always doing quilts for charity and there have been a few times when I have felt a little guilty about not helping them, but I never say yes unless I really want to do a project. Maybe if I do less for the other group next year, I can do a couple for the group closer to home.
I personally try to make 3 or 4 quilts a year for a charity - it just makes me feel good - and there are so many quilts and so few family to give them to that charity is a good option for me. I just finished a baby quilt top today (it cost me $2 for the kit at a yard sale - the kit was from Connecting Threads) and it will go to charity when it is finished because I don't know anyone having a baby anytime soon.
My kids got me an AccuQuilt Go for my birthday this week and I see a lot of my stash being cut up - more quilts - where shall they go - more charity quilts for 2013! I can hardly wait - already have one cut out and half way finished.
But ... whoever signed up you for a charity quilt without your knowledge should be ashamed of themselves! I agree, send it back with a note.