'Critical' hasn't acquired a negative connotation, but it has a negative connotation as its first meaning. I look at my own work with a very critical eye, and I assume most people do the same with their own work, but pointing out the flaws in someone else's work is another matter. If someone shows me their quilt, I assume they're expecting appreciation for what they accomplished. I would only point out flaws in someone else's work if they specifically asked me to do so, and even then I would tread lightly.