Originally Posted by Mimiqwerty (Post 6265388)

Perhaps people think a woman quilter is just "sewing" but a male quilter is an "artist."

Originally Posted by tessagin (Post 6266147)

The woman opened her mouth and said very rudely to my MIL "Well it's not like you're a professional and what does your DIL know?" MIL stated that "Evidently, no longer than I've known her, she values me more than you and we've been friends (I thought) for many years." She went ahead and gave the afghans for the wedding presents but nothing more. The weddings have since past and she got a "Thank you card saying "Thanks for the afghans but since they're not our style we will donate them to the local shelter.

Originally Posted by tessagin (Post 6266147)

My MIL has made many afghans for many members of her family. When I saw her earlier this summer she was working on a couple and was almost finished. She said they were shower gifts and then she would have to get a wedding gift. My jaw nearly dropped. I told her I thought the afghans were plenty "nuff" to cover for the shower and the wedding. I wish I had taken a photo. One was a beautiful white background with floral and the other was a light green background with floral for queen-sized beds. I did not realize that the mother of both of these recipients was sitting right in the same room. Open mouth insert foot all the way to the hip was my next move. She told me how much yarn she had used and how many hours she put into it. I told her then how much I thought her gift was a minimum. $650.00 for each afghan. She had done some applique. The woman opened her mouth and said very rudely to my MIL "Well it's not like you're a professional and what does your DIL know?" MIL stated that "Evidently, no longer than I've known her, she values me more than you and we've been friends (I thought) for many years." She went ahead and gave the afghans for the wedding presents but nothing more. The weddings have since past and she got a "Thank you card saying "Thanks for the afghans but since they're not our style we will donate them to the local shelter. She sent them a reply asking for them back (both). She said she would get them a gift certificate to a store of their choice to replace. If she gets them back they are going to her daughters who appreciate everything she does for them. DH wanted one but she was already working on one for us. I am excited but am still hoping she gets the other 2 back. Her girls don't know they may be the recipients. Itold her it would be our secret. That way no one would be disappointed. I think I've brought a bit of a dragon rise out of my MIL. My SILs have said they don't know what happened but after my visit, she changed. She now tells her kids she did this or that because she's worth it. She absolutely is. She gave birth to my husband which is her lifetime gift to me.

Originally Posted by tessagin (Post 6266147)

My MIL has made many afghans for many members of her family. When I saw her earlier this summer she was working on a couple and was almost finished. She said they were shower gifts and then she would have to get a wedding gift. My jaw nearly dropped. I told her I thought the afghans were plenty "nuff" to cover for the shower and the wedding. I wish I had taken a photo. One was a beautiful white background with floral and the other was a light green background with floral for queen-sized beds. I did not realize that the mother of both of these recipients was sitting right in the same room. Open mouth insert foot all the way to the hip was my next move. She told me how much yarn she had used and how many hours she put into it. I told her then how much I thought her gift was a minimum. $650.00 for each afghan. She had done some applique. The woman opened her mouth and said very rudely to my MIL "Well it's not like you're a professional and what does your DIL know?" MIL stated that "Evidently, no longer than I've known her, she values me more than you and we've been friends (I thought) for many years." She went ahead and gave the afghans for the wedding presents but nothing more. The weddings have since past and she got a "Thank you card saying "Thanks for the afghans but since they're not our style we will donate them to the local shelter. She sent them a reply asking for them back (both). She said she would get them a gift certificate to a store of their choice to replace. If she gets them back they are going to her daughters who appreciate everything she does for them. DH wanted one but she was already working on one for us. I am excited but am still hoping she gets the other 2 back. Her girls don't know they may be the recipients. Itold her it would be our secret. That way no one would be disappointed. I think I've brought a bit of a dragon rise out of my MIL. My SILs have said they don't know what happened but after my visit, she changed. She now tells her kids she did this or that because she's worth it. She absolutely is. She gave birth to my husband which is her lifetime gift to me.

Originally Posted by moonrise (Post 6263556)

I'm doing my first craft fair in October, and am already bracing myself for the folks who think my prices are "too high". My lap quilts range from $40-$60, which is a STEAL, but I'm sure I'll hear plenty of the "but I can get one at Walmart for $25" remarks. I figure, let 'em go ahead and buy one at Walmart. The ones I've seen are poorly made, and constructed of thin fabrics. When it falls apart after 3 washings, they better not come crying to me! :D :rolleyes: (And they SURE better not ask me to repair it! :shock: LOL!)

Originally Posted by Silver Needle (Post 6264059)

I value my time and I would not give it away. Your quote was low. We get $.015 per square inch just for quilting in this area and $.30 per linear inch for binding (finished by hand) that doesn't include thread, batting or fabric, nor your time to make it.