GammaLou

There is absolutely no reason to give people a gift 'from the heart' if they won't appreciate it. I know people who think it is cheap if it's hand made. Keep them for yourself and be sure and make a will so only people who appreciate all the work you put into items will get them. :thumbup:

QuiltQtrs

Have made many quilts for family members, who subsequently gave them
to others as "their gift" ... or if a relationship detiorated, they probably ended
in a dumpster. I only make quilts now to sell or give to my appreciative
fellow quilters.

mjsylvstr

this is what Fred got for Christmas.early .and he seems to like it..

Parrothead

Some things for me and many for my family who all love quilts and other homemade items. Probably because they grew up with them. I have never had anyone return anything!

mjsylvstr

this is the quilt in all.......he like cards to say the least.....and my angel sent me this fabric which was perfect for a quilt for him..the center is a play on words...remember "see Dick run"

well Fred's quilt's name is......"C FRED PLAY"

his name is C. FRederic..no name there, just the initial, so I thought it was a good center for his quilt.

thepolyparrot

LOL! How funny! I love this! :lol:

And, if she *doesn't* use it on her bed, it's a waste because who will ever see it?

Cinderella

Most of what I have made to date have been for myself...the main reason is moving from a warm tropical climate to the cooler mountain weather. Palm trees don't fit where the deer and bear play! I have made a bed quilt for my teenage granddaughter and smaller hand quilted ones for the little grand daughters to have until they are old enough to select their pattern and material as the first one did. Then my intention was to make a "real" quilt for each of them...this was my main reason for getting into quilting. I wanted to give them something from Grandma they could have always. Like you Sunnycat I am quilting to decorate my new home.

The Creative Seamstress

Pardon the rant, but...

I couldn't agree with you more. My family was like You and I... we can do for ourselves, and not everything has to be bought. I have no problem making what I need. Food, clothes, etc. And I can totally relate to the fact that some people don't like or actively rather than passively tell you they don't appreciate homemade gifts of any kind.

And here's why that really grinds my gears:

I have spent many, many XMAS's past giving gift cards, cash and something they really really wanted off their wishlist since I got my very first job at 15. That's a lot of "great present" credit, LOL. This year we've had a lot going on and money is very tight. So guess what? I made 90% of what those on my gifting list will be getting - and some pretty nice things at that, which are coming from me and made with much love covering the spectrums of sewing, quilting, crocheting and knitting. People are too materialistic nowadays... they may open their handmade presents from me and balk about them today... but if I died tommorrow in a car crash suddenly it would become a treasured possession. Doesn't anyone else see the bigger picture? Kindness and generosity in whatsoever expression comes from the heart and expresses as love... and I for one - am so tired of seeing everyone else put a price tag on the holidays.

At the end of the day - it is the thought that counts, and my gifts are both unique and representative of each recipient as an individual. I value and love each of them so much that I gave of my time, effort and labor to make something for them, that they could both use and cherish. If they can't remain open hearted to that ideal and sentiment, than that is their problem and I won't apologize - even to the ones that will probably cringe that I either didn't buy it in a store, or that it is something that can't be "returned" and/or didn't come with a gift receipt.

Bottomline is, Christmas is now wayyyyy over-commercialized. Whether an individual walks in in faith or not... (My Husband and I personally do); Christmas at heart it used to be about bringing families together, sharing and making good food and spending quality time together. It was ultimately about the memories that the time spent doing those things - in and of itself brings. And still today, to me, it is what is the most important. People just haven't learned that we aren't promised tommorrow - and the present you get today that you always wanted can't be taken with you. People have forgotten what is WORTH more. What can be taken with you isn't your Wii, the latest and greatest Barbie, a new car or a set of golf clubs - but rather the memories you make at times like these in your life, and it is those solid investments which will truly stand the tests of time and truly last a lifetime.

Merry Christmas everyone, and this holiday season, don't forget to share a little love from your heart, and needle.

Explosive blessings, abundance and inspiration to you all!
- The Creative Seamstress

weezie

I didn't copy all your "rant" here, but I gotta say that I find totally appalling the apparent "commercialism - buy ... buy ... buy". This has always been my feeling and we've always had fairly inexpensive hassle-free Christmases in the nearly half-century that I've been married. We are a small family and, for the last several years, gather here for Christmas dinner and to spend the day; for us, it is perfect; no gifts to worry about buying or returning.

The above is a prelude to a little story. A few years ago, I got a free pattern for a fleece poncho. Knowing that my 2 daughters who share a small brick house get cold indoors in winter weather, I made them (for t.v. watching & reading) each a reversible, ankle-length hooded poncho of the heaviest fleece I could buy. The fleece was a monster to work with, especially back-to-back layers of it AND, to add to my woes, one side of each poncho had a directional pattern. To condense this story, I thought the end results were a bit weird (not to mention hugely bulky) and as I handed their gifts to them on Christmas morning, I apologized. However, when they opened the gifts, it was love at first sight. They still rave about their ponchos that keep them warm every winter.

There's nothing worse than having your gifting unappreciated or scorned and nothing better than having something you've made (or even a bought, but well chosen gift) appreciated. I hope the recipients are thrilled with the gifts you are giviing them.

LivelyLady

Christmas has/is too commercialized! I'm glad my family realizes the time that goes into homemade gifts to say nothing about the cost of the material. I think it's time the world got back to a little bit of the basics.