Seems it's a hard thing to get good at saying "no." But it can come in very handy (and probably better for us mentally). I don't feel any of us quilters need to launch into the various reasons why the answer to making something for them is a "no." If we had wanted to make quilts for others, we would hang out a shingle advertising that we do. Then there is no question that they would be expected to pay for the item plus the labor involved.
Changing the subject slightly but I experienced two different customers in the last month who call for a serviceman and expecting them to get their job done in "x" amount of time. (Really???) How is it that someone who isn't a trained tech think they have a clue how long it will take a professional? Jeez! In both cases, these customers were way off in their guess. Imagine that.