I avoid telling people I "sew" and even that I'm a quilter. Over the years I've fended off many requests from people who found out I "sew" and asked me to do alterations and get offended when I say "no." The same with those who find out I'm a quilter. All of a sudden they want me to make them a quilt, and offer to pay me a pittance for my "time." The sad part is that the tailoring and quilting skills I have don't seem to be worth much to most people. I'd like to say that it's because it's traditionally " women's work", however, my father-in-law is a wood turner and he gets the same attitude about what he does.