to answer the original question, my solution has been to keep the item for a reasonable amount of time, then get rid of it. If the giver asks, have a person in mind that they don't know (maybe someone from the other side of the family tree?) and say , "Oh, (person) saw that and loved it so much, I gave it to her!" no way for them to check.

I have to say, during the time when "ceramics" were popular (remember them?) I lived in fear that someone would give me one as a gift . I thought they were horrible. My MIL had a few that she made but thank goodness she stopped making them long before she met me.

Hi Marge,

In my family to use a quilt in the family Christmas photo would be a way of honouring it. I am sure your nephew thought you would be pleased to see that he chose to feature the quilt he won at the reunion in his photo.

In my house when watching TV in the colder months, I will often have a quilt over me a cat or two on the quilt and my dog beside me, partly on the quilt. I would never conceive of the idea that the maker would be disappointed by the way I was using the quilt.

When my sister passed her family asked if it would be okay that she be buried with the quilt I made her. I felt honored

I agree with bearisgray and tothill that your nephew thought he was honoring you by showing the quilt in his Christmas picture.