#1piecemaker

My problem is just the opposite. Everybody wants one!!!!! I can't give to one without the other wanting them. I've got a large family and it will take forever. I think I'll start an assembly line of lap quilts. heehehehehe!! I do sympathise with yor problem though. The true spirit of Christmas has been lost!!

shirley35

My teenage grandson loves to fish so I made a fish quilt, as a surprise I put it in our guilt show. I didn't see it being used, asked my daughter if he didn't like his quilt. She told me he only takes it out to show his friends, he's afraid something will happen to it. His younger brother uses his quilt all the time. People do react differently to gifts.

moreland

I have been blessed with family who love the quilts and other handcrafts--one way I know that is that I see my quilts in their homes when I visit--it is like finding an old friend. Often I have forgotten even making "it" but it brings me good feelings to see it being used. Besides my own 6 children and 9 grands, I have a large extended family and so many of my nieces and nephews have also gotten quilts. I often use throw size quilts as hostess gifts. I seldom start a quilt knowing who will get it, but as I work on it, the recipient's name comes to me. I've made a "gillion" quilts but probably only 3 were created for a specific person.

Debbie B

I think most of the time that you have to give and then you find out that the person doesn't like handmade gifts. If I know ahead of time that a person doesn't like handmade then I certainly will not waste my time or money. And will not give a handmade gift again if their reaction tells me that they didn't like it. It hurts your feelings, but I don't hold a grudge...I just buy them store bought.

nycbgirl

I made a quilt for 1 sister in law and she said thank you but I have never seen it since. I made quillows and matching pillowcases for her children and they all loved them. My other SIL and BIL have two quillows each cuz they love and use them! Everyone reacts differently. My best friend taught me to quilt and for 1 of my anniversaries she made a quilt for me and 1 for my husband. I was so excited! They were matched to us perfectly. His has frogs and mine was green! They make me happy. I only make quilts for those I love and I make sure that I tell them that when I give it to them.

natalieg

I have learned who in my family gets the homemade gifts and who deosn't. Also learned who gets the ones that took a long time to make, like a quilt, and who gets the ones that are simple two hour table toppers. I worked my heart and sould into two lap quilts for my step-mom and dad (woodcrafters for over 30 years) thinking if anyone would appreciate it, they would. The reaction was-nice blankets....I was floored! Now that they have visited with me (second time in 28 years) I can see that they are mildly interested, but not a lot. No worries, I just won't spend a lot of time in a quilt for them. They built a log cabin home in the hills and small one-room guest house too. I was kind of looking forward to making quilts for the beds, but no worries.

Shelbie

I think that sometimes people do change their reactions and appreciation for handcrafted items over time. When my son was about 18 and his quilt was getting well worn, he told me that he didn't want another quilt as they weren't worth the time or money. I said, "No problem" and promply hunted out all the old wool scratchy camp blankets that we owned and they went on his bed that winter (we live in Canada, winters are cold!). A couple of months later my son said `Hey Mom, when do I get my new quilt`. It turned out that he just couldn`t stand the feel of that scratchy wool next to his skin and it was either apologize to mom and beg for a new one or start wearing pj`s to bed and no 18 year old guy wants to do that. He`s now 23 and wants a new quilt for his new place.

mhansen6

Because the one person I want to enjoy my quilts is my daughter and she just doesn't care about them. I only have one daughter to give my quilts to and she is just not into them. But I am going to stop trying with her. I am going to make some quilts for me and my husband. I have always given them away. I do appreciate how much time goes into these quilts, so I will give them to myself.

plainpat

Each of my family that likes quilts has one from me & the DDs both have 2-3.Color choices change,so time to make the girls & Grdaughter new quilts.Will wait till the teen age Grsons are older for new quilts.They both prefer gift cards.

My only Sis doesn't like quilts or anything else that is hand made.One less I have to make.We all like diff colors, diff styles.....so not a problem.

Parrothead

I agree with Feline Fanatic. I think of the person I am making for while I create. It keeps me closer to family members we don't see often.