I have been a quilting addict now for over ten years (as an amateur you understand) so when my children ask me what I want for Christmas, why do they raise their eyebrows and pull faces when I say, a couple of fat quarters or some fancy threads would be nice? They then go away and spend oodles of cash on something that they consider to be what I need. I don't want them to spend loads on me, but I really really would love a few surprise FQs or a a selection of fusibles, or other fancy notion that we quilters can never have enough of. I feel like sending out a "wish List" to each of them, but then they will just add it to whatever they have already decided upon, so doubling the expense. It is so exasperating!!!

I understand completely! I'd love a handful of fancy threads or other quilting stuff for Christmas! I'd love to get things I wouldn't ordinarily splurge on. I keep saying I'd love a gift certificate for the quilt shop, but they like to have something for me to open. It could be hard for a non-quilter to select stuff...but a wish list would help them.

This is exactly why adults in our family no longer exchange gifts. Everyone's tastes are so different. We are scattered all over. It's hard to know what someone has or wants. Christmas is for kids only in our family. It really has taken the stress out of the holiday.

My hubby has asked me what I want, and I listed a few books, tools etc. But told him what I would really want is a gift certificate to my LQS. He kinda scrunched his nose too. Then I explained some projects that I want to do, and that I won't really have the money for them out of my monthly allowance. I said that I really enjoy quilting and even though I won't be keeping what I make, it really makes me happy. I think he understood, I know that he is thinking of a GC now, becuase he said he couldn't find them online. Maybe we just all need to explain why these things thrill us so much. We probably won't convert all our family, but could sway a few!

All I want is my own fabric shop!! Is that asking too much?

I usually send my hubby an email with links to what I want.

Where do I find the link to add your wish to my wish list?

LOL I love it! It isn't fair to crack me up at work!

LMBO marsye :wink: wouldn't that be fun!!!

Is it because nonquilters think of sewing as a chore? We can buy for "their" hobbys and that is ok, but they don't think of quilting as ours?

Maybe you will find them discounted on a after Christmas sale? Or ebay? Half.com? I hope you do not have to wait that long for them Loretta!!!

Now that would make us all happy!!!!!

I'll share if it happens! But don't hold your breath!

Absolutely perfect! Can we all work in it? No salary - just discounts to feed our adictions!

Oh, my goodness... does no one listen!?!? Same thing has happened to me - YEARS ago I wanted a mother's ring - not NOW - my dd spent WAY TOO MUCH money on necklace for me with her/siblings birthstones in it - I will treasure it but would liked to have had the money towards a quilting machine/frame - that coupled with the necklace my dh bought me for Mother's Day this year (I did NOT ask for it) would've paid for half the ensemble!!! EGAD!!! I had the other half saved up!!! Madness, I say, madness!!! I'm asking for nothing this year as they don't listen to me anyways...

This is getting funnier all the time!!!

I, too, like the idea of having my own quilt store, but only if I have plenty of help so I don't actually have to do anything except stroke the fabric and do my own quilting. :lol: Oh, and rake in the profits, of course! http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/s...aughing025.gif

Loretta, have you checked with your local library to see if they have the Elm Creek books on tape? If they don't, perhaps they can get them from another library. Just a thought.

I ask for gift certificates to lqs or Joann's...i get other stuff.....they just don't get it

My mother-in-law saw my stash and asked if I could ever make enough quilts for it all? Is that the point? :shock: She doesn't think I need more! What is wrong with her??? :lol:

do we really want to get started on mother in laws??? :lol:

I asked for fabric from my daughter and she said she wasnt sure what I wanted and was afraid that she would get me something I didnt like. I told her that I can always find a use for the fabric no matter what.

So I left it up to finding some sort of sewing memorabilia that she knows what I like.

As far as Santa I hope I get my Red Ryder BB gun!!! :mrgreen:

Billy

I've tried dropping hints for years--never worked. So this year I ordered EQ6 when it was on sale and gave DH my credit card bill and told him this was what he got me for Christmas. He's happy cause he doesn't have to shop and I'm happy that I don't have to act excited about another PennState sweatshirt or jogging outfit on Christmas morning. I haven't jogged since I was 25!!! So now we're both happy LOL.

Sandy1951 love that laughing smiley face!! marsye that monkey is hilarious!!!

I solved my problem this year two ways. My sister has a friend that works in a quilt shop, and also has a longarm. I happened to come across a picture (it was on facebook) of a quilt she was working on which was a thangles project. I sent her a message about how much I liked it and she replied that she would send the thangles package home with my sister when she came to visit. She sent another message after my sister did visit to say that she would be happy to give me tips when I started it....that was 3 months ago and my sister hasn't handed it over or mentioned a word so I am pretty sure I am getting it for christmas.
My lqs has a gift registry and when anyone asks for a wish list I just send them to the lqs and its easy for them.

One of my daughters knows that I love gift certificates and that is what she always gets for me (plus a couple of Chunky candy bars :mrgreen:...yum yum ).A gift certificate is like getting a present twice....once when you open the present and 2nd is when you get to spend it.

Oh...ya'll are really funny...I'll volunteer to work in that fabric store!!! I get paid in fabric, right????? :lol:

I've solved it....I just tell DH that I'm gonna go shopping...I go on line, load up my cart and then holler at him to come click the button when it says buy now.....he thinks he did it then....we're both happy :lol: :lol: When it comes, I hand him the box, he wraps it and then I get to see it "in person" for the first time when I unwrap...still fun... :lol:

Your very clever.

I have the website for you! Whenever I want a quilting book or a book to read with quilting as a theme and the library doesn't have it I go to www.paperbackswap.com. This is such a great site and you sign up by just listing a hand full of books you would be willing to swap (send to someone in the mail) and they give you credits. Then everytime someone requests one of your books you send it out and get a credit. I use my credits for quilt pattern books and regular books that aren't available at library. If someone has them you get a message right away, if no one has one listed it goes in your wish list and you get an email when it gets posted by someone. I have gotten several books and pattern books over the years on this site.....Love it! :thumbup:

This is me in a nut shell! Every year I am asked, and every year I say the same. Just material or if you don't want to do that , then gift certificates. Last year my daughter gave me a gift certificate to Belks :shock: Said she did this so I couldn't spend it on more material. Everyone thinks I am hard to buy for, but the truth is I am soooooooo easy, I can be bought with just a few FQ LOL. DH did make me up a box of little sewing things, and it was so much fun to open. We, as quilters, have our priorities in order, I think. Don't spend money on me a foot soaker thingy, which I got one year, or on expensive sweaters, which since starting menopause I can't wear, just give me quilty stuff!!

The wonderful owner of my LQS keeps a notebook and we can write down items on a "wish list". My children and my sister love to go there and pick out things for me. I always make quite a long list so that I'm still surprised by what I received!

i asked for fabric to make more scrappies but i think i'm getting nothing. from hubby anyways :thumbdown:

OMG---I am not the only one!!!!! I gave up years ago asking for sewing and quilting stuff. I do have to admit that my husband did buy me a steam press one year (because he thought I could use it) and a starter embroidery machine (only does 4 x 4 sizes) but I had to state that I would return anything else. My son finally got it but that is because he is a quilter too. My daughter still doesn't. But you are right, they want stuff for their hobbies; golf, movies, fishing, video games, etc. So I just let them get whatever and go buy what I want the rest of the year.

Heeeheeehheee...I'm gonna drag my DH to the LQS tomorrow...I've got to buy for the IRR and I'm gonna get some stuff for my Jane...now...he can feel free to just pick up any old thing to add as a stocking stuffer.... :wink: Oh yeah...I'm gonna have a nice Christmas :lol: :lol: :wink:

I kept telling the kids and DH I wanted fabric, scissors, good thread, rulers, and I get houseshoes, robes, and gloves. :? So I buy myself a present(s). I wrap it and put to me from me. Everyone sees how excited I am opening my gift to me and it's about to sink in that I really do want quilting stuff. 8-)

DH says I already have one, but I won't sell anything. :lol:

My children have finally got the message. I don't need or want anything else for the house. Hubby always got me what I wanted as he knew that sewing made me happy. today I asked my DD and SIL for new pizza boxes to keep my BOMs in. They are poor and broke and theyt smiled widely as SIL said sure, I can do that. I don't eat pizza so never go to pizza parlors. Great gift, pizza boxes and just what I need and want.

Sorry, NO! You'll shoot your eye out. lol

I don't celebrate Christmas so presents is never an issue with me.
I "share" my story of fabric obsession and those who craft or quilt "get" me, the others seem amused and I am glad to give them something to chuckle about. If anyone rolls their eyes or gets critical, they get the wrath of MQ. lol

A while ago, I learned a very valuable lesson: If I want something, I need to ask for it. Translate this to the gifts. There is nothing wrong with giving out a "wish list." Kids do it for Santa, why can't Mom and Dad do it for each other?

If any of you need lessons on how to behave when your loved ones do not pick from your list, let me know. That's another lesson. lol

Sorry, NO! You'll shoot your eye out. lol

Same Here. What's so hard about that.

Thanks everybody for making me realize what a great husband I have. He doesn't seem like he's listening to me and then I get great gifts like quilting magazine subscriptions, scissors, quilting books, storage stuff - he really was listening. About 10 years ago when I decided I was tired of sewing on the old basic Kenmore I bought when I was in college, I told him I wanted a new machine for Christmas. He didn't go out and buy one. What he did was, unbeknownst to me, he visited a couple of dealers and came home with several brochures and DVDs of different machines. They were all high-end embroidery machines and when I protested that I just wanted a nice, basic machine that made decent buttonholes (my old one didn't make good ones) here's what he said: " When a man wants to cut down some trees in the backyard, he goes out and buys a chainsaw. He doesn't buy a cheap chainsaw; he buys the best darn chainsaw he can find even if he only plans to use it once. You sew all the time so why not but the best machine you can? Why do women always hate to spend money on themselves?"
So of course, I went out and bought the best darn chainsaw, I mean sewing machine, I could find and I loved it. I have since added 2 more machines and upgraded to the best darn serger I could find. The guy is a real keeper. Oh, and that same year he went online and bought me a large assortment (50 spools) of Isacord embroidery thread for that new machine without me even asking! And he sold his chainsaw because he doesn't use it anymore.

Pam....thats a great story and you really did get a keeper! I love his chain saw story...its sooo true I had to laugh! :lol:

Pam he is my kinda guy, and has his priorities right!!

My wife knows that if I buy something it will be the best I can get at the time, hence our washer and drier we just bought.

When we were married almost 26 years ago on our honeymoon we bought the best Kemnore washer and drier they made. (I know some honeymoon LOL)

Fast forward to this year we go to Sears and I did the same thing I told the lady I wanted the best ones that they had and $4500 later I have them in my laundry room. I told the lady that the last ones we bought lasted 25 years and I wanted to get 25 out of these, she just chuckled. :lol: :roll:

The only thing is now they do not give you a months of washing powders anymore, whats with that?!? I rode the poor sales lady for so long that she went and gave me two $50 gift cards to make up for it and when I asked her where that kept the washing powders she said they didnt sell them anymore. So then I asked her "What good are these cards for then?" :lol: :lol: :lol:

Billy

Good one, Billy! I guess you can go over to the tools area and use the cards!

I don't ask for what I know I want, I get it for myself, and say thank you to others for their wonderful gifts to me, and I know they appreciate getting what they want also! We stopped doing gifts for adults! Christmas is best for the kids, which I don't have.