Does anyone ever feel guilty like me when you are looking at a quilt that's not your style, or you don't like something about it and you don't just ooh and aah over it as a result? I really seriously do appreciate all the work that goes into it, I honestly do, but sometimes I don't care for the design, or the colors, or it's too busy, or.....the list can be endless.

Quilts are art. You need not to like them to appreciate the work involved. To each his (her) own. The world would be very boring if we all liked the same thing.

Guilt is a wasted emotion - sucks your energy and gives you nothing.
Everyone has different tastes. What appeals to you may not to another.
Thank goodness we are different - otherwise all our quilts would look alike!

To each his own I say...I don't fall in Love with everything but I sure can admire what it took to get them finished.

I agree!

While I don't "feel guilty" I have had the same reaction to some quilts.
They might not be "my" taste but incredible works of art/love/dedication.

Even if I don't like some aspect of a quilt. I try to find one good thing about the quilt that I can take away and try for myself. I have seen some really really really awful(to me) color and pattern combos. But the piecing and quilting were spectacular. all their points met up and their hand quilting was beyond fab. gave me something to aspire to. but at the same time I would have chosen different fabrics. it is all about our own specific tastes. I don't feel guilty about not liking their fabric choices. It was their tastes that brought them to that combo, not mine.

I don't feel guilty, but I do understand what you are talking about. We all have different tastes. I know that color and contrast are the main thing I am drawn to, and it doesn't bother me. When I make a quilt I try to make it in colors that the recipient will like, but sometimes it is difficult when I don't have the same preferences.

I don't feel guilty, but I understand what you mean. I like the traditional quilting and while I respect the talent for the "art" quilts, they are not anything I will ever do or own.

Same sentiments. Just because "I" don't like it, who cares? It's not the total end result, but rather the journey of the finished product that is inspiring.

How many of us have made something we don't like ourselves and so many here on the board have offered to take it home with them?

Attitude and perspective.

Our quilt class teacher is also a judge at the local fairs she always says two things nice, before she says something critical. Like your points match: your colors are soothing but your binding corners need a little practice. I think shes wonderful and offers which classes would benefit 'the receiver' of years of quilting experience.

Wouldn't that be a great adage to take into our 'real' lives? Imagine how well people could get along with this example!

Reading your response just put a picture in my head of logging on to the QB and opening post after post in the picture section and seeing the same quilt over and over.

I am so glad we all have different tastes and ideas. I'm also glad everyone here enjoys sharing their ideas because as I see more quilts, I feel my horizons are broadening. I have looked as certain styles of quilts in the past that did not appeal to me. However, I often will see another quilt of the same style but made with a different color combination, laid out in a different way, etc., and suddenly, I really become more interested in that style. For instance, when I first saw a bargello quilt, it didn't appeal to me because, I thought, I like more traditional patterns. However, I fell in love with the ones made using Barb_mo's tutorial and I have made one top already with another in progress. After thinking about it, I believe it is because I like a more symetrical pattern...but that may change also at some point.

I guess quilts are a lot like people. There are some we just don't care for, but someone in the world loves them.

I don't feel quilty. Quilts are art and there are so many different arts, and I don't like them all. I do apreciate the work and thought that goes into it. Some times that's the actual beauty. I have a friend who painted a picture for me, a unique style. One of a kind. I love the fact that she took so much thought for mine, however the painting itself is not something I would have spent a dime on. It hangs in my sewing room with all the other "made with Love" stuff.

nope.

For example: I think Caryl Bryer Fallert's workmanship and design are truly amazing but I do not like her quilts at all. I wouldn't want to make one or buy one like it. She deserves to win art quilt awards for her quilts and I don't feel guilty for not liking her quilts. I pass on by most art quilts in shows. They all swirl together and look the same. I like pictorial quilts but quilts like the ones designed by Judy Martin gets my ooohhhs and awes.

I cannot associate the word guilt with not liking something.
The only purpose guilt has ever served me is to learn from it and move on. It's a real waste of time and energy to feel that emotion in my opinion.

I also agree with the others. If we all made the same things it would be very boring indeed! :D
Some great works of art are not my taste but I appreciate the art, no matter what it is.

That is why there is so many different variations of everything. You don't feel guilty because you don't like a painting, a shirt or a couch. You like some and not others. The same go for quilts. There are many styles and you like some and not others. You appreciate the work that goes into making them, but that doesn't mean that you have to try to make them. You have your style and that's what you like and feel comfortable with. No need to feel guilty about that.

No guilt-just a learning opportunity. When I first started quilting I did the traditional patterns in traditional calicoes then branched out into more modern patterns and fabrics. Now I find I'm drawn again to the traditional patterns made with modern fabrics. Things I dislike or like are constantly changing. Am I growing as a quilter or just schizophrenic LOL???

[quote=Sadiemae] Exerpt: I know that color and contrast are the main thing I am drawn to,
..........................................
:) That would be Bargello for Sadiemae :thumbup:


Yes, some quilts draw me into them and some do not. Some I admire so much I just don't have the right words to compliment the quilter.

There are some that I truly do not like, and would not use because they simply are not to my personal taste. And I am sure that people think the same of those that I am likely to make. But as a beginning quilter, I look to see the workmanship, and believe me, I have learned from every single one of the quilts or photos that I have seen. That alone is worth the time to look.

I don't feel guilty at all. I don't ooh and ahh over every painting in a museum, but I can appreciate the work that went into them. Just think how boring life would be if everyone liked the same things.

No matter the pattern, fabric, or style, I think every quilt is beautiful :D:D:D

I agree... my tastes have changed and evolved and evolved again LOL
I contribute it to seeing so many of the beautiful quilts here! Seeing a pattern that was pretty, and then done in another color way or style of fabric has got my attention more than once!
I love that my horizons have been broadened :D:D:D

No, it wouldn't do for all of the quilts to be the same.

Guilt should never be involved about liking or disliking something. Guilt is too negative and I simply don't have time for that! I have enjoyed EVERY pic I have seen here. I think about how something could be different to be added to my lifestyle or personal color scheme OR not needing to change a thing. Even my likes and dislikes have changed since seeing some of the FAB quilts! This board is like a big text book on patterns, piecing, color combos and just life. Hope the bell never rings for the classtime to come to an end. :) (although I need a forced recess occasionally!)

Nope. I also don't feel bad about being the only person who likes an "odd" quilt. I do not generally jump on the name-dropping bandwagon and have seen some less than impressive pieces from well-known designers. Doesn't mean I don't appreciate or respect the workmanship that goes into it.

I agree. Quilts are ART. Hand made art objects are highly regarded now and in the past. My cousins who still live in the hills back East tell me of the unbelievable prices some of the quilters get for hand made quilts. And I won't even talk about the lovely ones the Amish make, and sell for a small king's ransom!!
My DH was an artist, and spoke of one of his cousins who was told she won a blue ribbon at a highly regarded art show. She took several family members to see her "modernistic" painting, then started screaming that they had put it upside down!! No one else could prove it one way or the other, because no one could see anything except the wild slashes of color. (I don't care much about that type of ART, but to each his/her own.)

She won first prize and a lovely blue ribbon. But she still was not a happy camper!!

Aren't we all the same? WE see our small failures in our quilts, but no one else can, even when we show others what we consider the bad parts.

Let's try to love ourselves more and appreciate what we can do, not worry about what we can NOT do. And if we can find one thing to like about another's quilt, let's tell them about it. We need to keep alive the joy in quilting, of making an art object that will be loved for a life time and beyond.

Whoops, hit the "Send" button twice.

I second this...

I usually love everyone's quilts and wish I were as good at piecing and quilting as the people on here. I don't comment on everything here because if I do I wouldn't have time to do anything.

I would be surprised at myself if I liked everything. Seeing a few that I don't like, and then a few I do, helps me to understand what I am drawn to in a quilt, and helps me to learn to reproduce those elements in my own projects.

Also, sometimes it makes me more confident about my own (modest) ability when I see a project someone else is proud of and other people say is nice and I think "well- it is not bowling me over that much and furthermore I could do as well myself!"

The only time I ever feel bad about not liking somehting is if someone has gone to a lot of trouble to make it for me. The I would lie and say I love it. Otherwise, I avoid commenting, or try to say something positive which is not a lie- there is usually something I like, even if the overall look does not appeal to me.

I have never felt guilty about what I think of a quilt. The quilt itself is an expression of the quilters world. Art. Don't feel guilty because you don't care for the quilt. You can never please everyone. Enjoy them for what they are.

I agree with the other comments here. I sometimes see quilts that are just not for me personally, but I can sure admire the talent it took to make it. And, yes, thank goodness we don't all like the same things!

My feelings exactly!! The reason I wouldn.t take commissions is having to work in colours I.m not comfortable with! But I appreciate all quilts and the skill of the quilter.

I have too many other things that I can feel guilty about to feel that way over my love or lack of love for someone else's quilt.. I'm just glad that we have quilts of all colors and design and skill levels.. makes me happy to see a quilt that is better than I can do and ones that are not for me one way or the other!!

My sister quilts to help her deal with some nervous, emotional problems. We take her work to craft shows and most people ooh and aah over it, but when they find out the cost they become insulting. (She charges $150 for a full sized quilt) That's when I feel bad for her and sometimes think we need to stop taking them to shows. Back to your question though, I don't think you have to feel guilting that you don't like it. Either don't say anything or praise them for the amount of work and effort that went into the project.

I don't feel guilty if I don't like a quilt because sometimes they are just boring--a 1 patch in 2 or 3 colors--come on.!!
My rule is tho, not to verablize negativity so I don't say anything about them.

HOW TRUE !!!