These one's that are appreciated take away the pain of the one's that aren't. I have made baby quilts for everyone at my office that has had a baby. I saw one of them 6 years later, and it was so well loved, it was almost in shreds.
On the other hand, I made a Hawaiian style needle turned quilt for my step son when he married his first wife. Took me almost a year to complete (due to the interruption of a full time job). After they divorced, my husband saw the quilt being used in the garage to cover some old dirty tires. I think it hurt my husband more than me.
I have learned that once you give something away, you have to let go.