Yes, it is a "for real" thing that people just do not understand the cost (and time) involved in making a custom made quilt. Some really good advice has been offered here; my favorite being have her go shopping for fabric with you--and if possible, take along the pattern that you will be using which will show her the yardage, etc. to provide you with. And be sure that she likes the pattern--some folks cannot picture the quilt in their preference of colors (that is, if your pattern is set together in a different color scheme)--I have had this happen to me recently in a custom made quilt order--she gave me full license to make whatever I wanted to in her color scheme. I agonized over that for a month before I could even start to select colors and fabrics. But she got the quilt last week, called me tickled pink with her quilt, and the check is in the mail......