"told me the other day, (at least this is what I heard)"

Perhaps you should explore with your daughter if what you heard (and what it sounded like to you) was indeed what she meant. I have found that sometimes phrases people use they mean in a different way then I understand them to mean. I can imagine how that must have hurt to hear.

And if after clarifying her meaning you find she has no interest in having quilts or doesn't want to be bothered with finding a home for them after you are gone; sell them or give them to whoever you would like through the many charities.
A woman at a shelter that had to leave an abusive home would find comfort in a quilt, someone who has lost everything in a fire would treasure a quilt, a child in foster care that may have to move to several homes might feel some consistancy in a quilt they can have and take with them.
I find more people love quilts than people who don't. Someone will treasure your quilts. You just have to go out and find them.

HEAR HEAR!!
Like me for instance, ...........Or anyone else on this board.
And there are waaay more of us than of your daughter! Muuhahahahaha

Don't get us started!
.

Oh, don't give up what you love working on. It is your outlet and a way to express your love.

I understand a bit of what you are going through only in that my daughter's reaction to going into longarm quilting business was. "Good luck with that."

There are so many organizations that can use your quilts. Shelters of all kinds, children. Fire victims. So so many.

You can also make them and sell them on etsy. Or commission them at a quilt shop to sell.

Keep quilting!

{{{Hugs}}}

I have another suggestion. Donate baby quilts to your local hospital. NICU and peds units in particular make great use of donated items such as these.

If quilting makes you happy, then QUILT.... I love quilting. I can't even imagine my life without it! That make sound stupid but , that is what I like to do in my spare time. Keep your machine purring with all the quilting you can do...

I don't think you need to justify your hobby and your passion.Women have been doing handwork for hundreds of years and putting them in a drawer for future generations. I too have given everyone in my family and friends quilts but I wouldn't dream of quitting either. I just put them in a closet and when any of us needs a gift, there is one ready to give. Keep up with what you love doing. Probably when your daughter is older she will change her mind.

(trying not to sound mean at all) but forget those who don't get it. my hubby doesn't get it. he gets mad at me when I bring fabric into the house. But you know what, the quilts that I will be making for people are because I love to quilt and love to spread around the warmth of my love to those who receive them. Now that you are out of people to quilt for and want them to go to people who will appreciate the gift why not find a local women shelter or teen mom home that you can donate them too. you can make them for the mommies to be as well. sometimes they need that little extra telling them that someone not only cares about them but loves them enough to take the time and make them a quilt. when I run out of people to give my quilts to, I plan on "hooking" up with a local teen mommy place that I know of and taking my baby quilts and mommy quilts in to them as they are needed. If they will let me. you can also go to places like children s hospitals also. but I would get their list of requirements as to what can an cannot be used fabric wise just to be on the safe side.

There are many many children out there that would treasure a quilt from you! So many little people are sick and in the hospital. Not all of these precious little ones have a big family of support and love. A simple quilt to snuggle would mean the world to them! I myself have started a mission to make quilts for children in a hospital in Ohio that treats children for neuroblastoma. The mother of the boy who inspired me told me that while there for her son's treatment, she sees so many children that are sitting in thier beds all alone.
Please don't EVER think that making a quilt is a waste of time. Keep making them and just look around a bit and you won't take long to find people or children who would be willing recipients. The added bonus to getting to feed your addiction,is knowing you have brought a smile to someone elses face!!
:)

Way to every one. They are right there are dozens of places to donate your quilts to that would be happy to get them don't worry what your D says, some day she will get it like the rest of us do

There is also Quilts of Valor Foundation and the Wounded Warior Projects.

I can't wait until my quilts are good enough to give to some charity or person in need. There are all kinds of charities that would love to have your quilts. KEEP ON QUILTING!

I am also making a child's quilt with no one to give it to. Yes, I spent some money on it, but to me it is worth it for the opportunity to learn new techniques, and too, just the joy and satisfaction it gives me! I am confident that although I have no-one in mind for the quilt now, in time someone will come into my life for whom it is the perfect quilt!

Sometimes I feel exactly the way you describe. I justify (to myself) my quilting habit by knowing that I need a hobby and I love this one. It keeps me "off the streets and out of the bars". Over many years, I have invested a lot of $$ in equipment & supplies & fabric ... I never have or want more than a medium-sized fabric stash. I don't plan to buy any more fabric or quilting notions for a long time; I have plenty of stuff already and am working on several long-term quilt projects. Last year, my hobby budget was spent on machine embroidery designs (for quilts, mainly) until I now have more than I will ever use; this year, my hobby budget is focussed on machine embroidery thread, enough colors & yards to last me the rest of my life. (I have no plans as yet for my 2011 hobby budget.) None of my children are married or have children of their own. They very much like my quilts &, whenever I kick the bucket, they will have 1st claim on all sewing equipment, supplies, quilts, etc. They understand that what they do not want is to go to the ladies who make quilts for a specific children's home in this state.

I figure I can beat myself up about the expenditure of time & money, but the truths are this: (a) there are people who want & need ALL the quilts we quilters make and (b) I worked hard my whole life, even as a child; for decades, I did without everything but the necessities of life. Now that I do have the resources & time to have a hobby I enjoy, I'm going for it!

I surely hope you can ease your mind about your quilt making!

Looking at from your daughter's point of view...

Maybe she was trying to tell you that she's not getting enough attention and subconscientiously she is thinking that the quilting is getting in the way of her time with you.

Just a thought.

I don't remember if you gave her age, but she sounds like a young adult. When I was younger I didn't think things through of what something meant to another person and can remember saying things to my mom that now (at 60) I can't believe I said. When you are gone and all she has is your quilts she may change her tune rather drastically. I'm sure she really wants you to be happy and if quilting makes you happy, keep on doing it.

Also, maybe including her in some aspect of quilting - even if it is just having her come with you while you give some of your quilts to charity and seeing what joy and pleasure it brings to others to receive a quilt, will give her a different view of quilting.

Please keep the military in mind. My grandson just finished basic training at Ft. Benning, GA and his friends were always wanting to hear what we were doing and what we were getting at yard sales and thrift shops. It surprised me that these young men love quilts.

If you don't mind me saying... it's none of your daughter's damn business. There, I said it.

Unless you are asking her to pay for your materials, or you are paying for materials but she has to pay your mortgage or buy your food, you don't need to justify, or explain, or make excuses, or feel bad. Your life, your choices.

Tell her I said so. :P

Oh no! I agree with all who said she doesn't get it! I enjoy the process from thinking about it, to getting the fabrics, to cutting, sewing, basting quilting and binding. Not all parts are fun every time and not everything comes out the way I envision it, but, it is all part of it. I heard someone once say "If it isn't illegal, unethical or immoral..."

I give them to foster kids identified by the school as "needy" at Christmas. Try to make doll quilts and buy dolls for the girls too. Someone else will have to do the boys.

there are plenty of charities ... project linus being one of them ... of where you can donate your quilts ... I don't believe it's a waste of time or money ... there are elderly folks that would love a wonderful quilt as well ... i'm sure if you look around there are folks you can give them too, or you can even sell a few to buy more material ...

Just my 2 cents worth ;)

I have just registered on the message board so I can respond to your post. I am not new to quilting, in my family it is an inherited gene!! I can not understand how anyone could think that quilting, or any other craft for that matter, could be a waste of time or money. We all need a creative outlet of some kind or we would all implode!!

If one of MY kids said that, I'd know they felt like I was spending money that they were too (fill in whatever word fits) to come right out and ask me for, but feel like I should be giving them...and for no other reason than they want to spend it on something they want but don't have the $$$ for at the moment and they don't want to wait till they have enough saved up to get.

I've been very generous to my kids and they've come to take it for granted, but now I'm retiring and my funds will be more limited and they are just going to have to deal with it! And they do at least partially understand my need to quilt and do other crafts, because I've been doing some sort of craft (not necessarily quilting) all their lives.

Ditto!! Don't stop doing what you love! I wish I had an overload of quilts, I love them so much! God Bless!

Noooooooooooooo! Don't stop! I almost always give my crafts away! I do it because I enjoy it. Give the quilts to veterans homes, firehouses, I just gave smaller ones to the sherrifs dept for when they have to remove children from their home, give them to ppl raising money for medical reasons , newbie units at the hospital ect. There's a lot of ppl who would love and appreciate quilts! Even mine whose have a lot of mistakes! Lol !

good for you I am not leaving much for my kids they p me off most of the time

What a marvelous idea! Especially the doll quilt with a doll.
I wonder how often a child might "fall through the cracks" because they aren't in a certain program but still may have some unmet need.

Please do not stop doing what you love! What is in your heart is most important!
I give my quilts to a place that helps women and children. My sister in law works there, so I know that I can make something with love, and know it will be much appreciated!
There are shelters, veteran homes, etc. that would love to have some of your handmade creations! :)

Do like I do....I made the quilts for my family and friends and really don't have anyone to make them for anymore and I will not give up my quilting by no means. I sell my quilts and other quilted items and my crafts so I can help pay for things we need for our home, taking vacations and what ever else that pops up. I can't work out side the home as I can't stand at an 8 hour a day job due to my arthritis in my knees. May God bless you to be inspired and he will answer.

Yesterday I wrote a lengthy response to your post because I could identify with what you were feeling when you typed and sent it (not the part where feelings were hurt by daughter, but the part where you were wondering if you should continue making quilts). This is a p.s. to my note of yesterday ... something that I think is important to consider. All aspects of quilt making keep the mind active. Very often I have to put on my thinking cap to figure out how to accomplish a particular quilting task to achieve the results that I want. When I come up with a solution that works, I feel very good about myself and deserve at least one "attaboy". I think, since you love & like your daughter very much & vice versa, that you should have a candid talk with her about what she said and what she actually meant. I cannot believe that she meant to hurt your feelings.

there are literally thousands (millions?) of people out there who would not only LOVE one of your quilts but be very very appreciative and grateful! there is nothing selfish about quilting!
local hospitals, fire departments, police, red cross, womens resource center, family court, local charities all love to receive and give quilts to people who need them. the local branch of the cancer society; the library, swim school, YMCA, the list just goes on and on, and all would LOVE what ever you are willing to share. and the recipients? well, they are blown away by the beautiful quilts, and wonder how anyone could possibly part with such a treasure, when for us...it's nothing special...it is for them! contact local churches, or other agencies to give them away. I donate 2 quilts every year to a local pre-school that raffles them off to help pay for extra activities, field trips. i give quilts to the local red cross and the fire department, they are given to families who loose everything in a house fire. I give quilts to the womens' resource center, they are given to kids/families who due to unfortunate circumstances are 'starting-over' with nothing. and not to be mean but...i think your daughter is the selfish one.

I started making wall quilts, and taple toppers. Seasonal themes............and oriental. I put them sometimes on my front door. They are completed at a faster rate, and I can Machine quilt them myself. I think its great you have an interest. I also make the wool mittens from wool sweaters purchased from the thrift stores. They are fun........calla

Was your daughter possibly feeling overwhelmed with the responsibility of using and/or finding a good home for the things she knows you love the most? (When that time comes.) When you know what you want her to do with your quilts, tell her. Maybe that is all she was searching for.
I had that feeling about the afghans I crocheted. My grandson came into this world a few years later. Now he confiscates each one he sees and will not give it up. It becomes his and he is very possessive with them. He might have 4 to 6 of them in his bed at night. He knows each of them and if one goes missing he is very upset until he finds it. He has made my heart glad I didn't quit. I have since moved on to quilting. It may be years before I crochet again but someday I will and it is someone else's problem what they do with them. If they go in a yard sale someone will get them because 'they want them'.
Passion can not be banned with words. Think how many woman's abuse centers there are. How comforting a quilt is to snuggle in and wrap us with when your world is down falling around your ears. Your quilts can bring so much warmth and love to many people.

I do not agree with your daughter either. First of all does she love what you have done for her? If she does then she should be proud of you. As far as no one wanting them if you donate them. There are plenty of hospitals and childrens homes that would just love a quilt. What about the homeless shelters, I am sure they would love to have some quilts. There is always someone and somewhere to donate a quilt of love. If you have the money to put into your love then I say keep quilting. Maybe you should try and teach her about quilting. Who knows she might just catch the bug herself.

I agree with all of the above. If it brings you pleasure, that alone makes it okay. We each have our reasons for quilting... does not matter.. It is your choice of an outlet and your talent will be appreciated by someone(s) more than you can ever know. Start looking around and I am sure you will find someone(s) who would be thrilled to have one of your quilts. Fundraisers, hospitals, daycare centers, new mothers, homeless shelters, military hospitals would all love to have some of your artwork. It is your mental and emotional release.. take care of yourself.... QUILT!

In order to stay healthy in spirit and mind one needs to keep active, positive and open to new ideas. It doesn't matter if it cost a lot of money for your 'habit' - no - one counts the golf clubs as selfish, or how many cartons of cigarettes or beer have been consumed. You will have a lovely legacy for all to admire. Change the quilts around every week if you have to. Surely a gift is never criticised, and if you are not taking bread from someone else in order to quilt it should not be a problem. If you earned the money you can spend it how you like - there is no obligation to save it all up like a miser so that other people get the inheritance - enjoy your life whilst you can...keep on quilting (you don't need to justify).

This exact thing happened to me! My mother is an avid quilter (age 94 next week) and she would drag me around to JoAnn's, Hancock, different quilt shops, Mill End to look for 1/4 yd of this and a 1/2 yd of that and a ruler for this or some rotary blades (BHF) (before Harbor Freight!!!!) and I could think of a million things I would rather be doing than feeling fabric and "see if you can find me a 45mm blade."! Twelve years ago, and I honestly do not remember how it came to be, I decided to make a quilt after her urging and pushing and I tried it. I loved it. I am so totally hooked on it that I can't get enough of it. Granted I may not have a stash as big as some of you, but I'm a'gettin' there! And darned proud of it too. I thank God for my mother so gently pushing me into quilting (yah, right, like a bulldozer!!!!) Mom is not going to be with us forever, but she is leaving me a legacy - quilting - and giving - and "creating" (only God can create (making something out of nothing)) and sharing and something I can pass on to my grandchildren (we only had one child - a son - and I can bet you dollars to donuts that trying to teach him to quilt would be like pulling teeth. He is too busy repairing the tractor on their little farm). So, if not him, we have two granddaughters I can work on! Their mother is a quilter also. So I am the frosting in a sandwich cookie - one older and one younger than me, sharing the traditional ideas with the newer techniques and ideas. Work on your daughter. Don't stop, don't even think about it. I am a mother. I would never let my son and his family think about stifling me in what I love to do any more than I would try to stifle my mother. Good luck to you. We have earned this and we are entitled to our hobby, our sanity keeper! Edie

Have you thought about posting the excess quilts in the for sale part of the Board? There are many out here who would purchase your work. Maybe if your daughter saw that quilts really ARE worth $$ her attitude would change. My kids also gave me some grief about this, so I sold a couple and waved the $$ under their noses. Would you believe, now they encourage me to make "more of their inheritance". Besides my quilting keeps my nose out of their business. grin. Told them if I wasn't quilting, I'd be coming over for lunch. OK just kidding a bit here. As long as your not using the grocery money, don't worry about it. You enjoy it, do it.

You're right, right now she doesn't understand... but one day she will and she will she will treasure every one of them. So keep on quilting, and leave her a note attached to your finished quilts for when you've gone on to the big quilting bee in the sky, asking her to pass your quilts out at your funeral to friends and family who who would like a memento of your love. I believe when she begins thinking about having lost her best friend, she will treasure and want to keep every quilt you made as a source of comfort and later she will want to pass them on to her children, grandchildren etc. I know this because I treasure the couple of quilts I have inherited more than I ever realized I would when my GM was quilting them. Wrapping yourself in a quilt made by someone you loved who has passed away is as comforting as being hugged by them!

I so sorry, that hurts. I belong to a group that donates to the local hospital and let me tell you there is not a over abundance of quilts. There is about 20 of us and we can not keep up the demand for more quilts. The hospital just called asking for more. We also give to the unwed places. So I hope this helps. There are places right where you live I'm sure that would love to have them.

I agree with others here - I can remember a time when I thought everything my mother did was nuts, but as I get older I realize I am my mother - Maybe she will learn to appreciate the artistry - If not there are others out there who do and would love to have your quilts.

I know what you mean. My daughter is the same way. We're just from another generation. When I started quilting with Kaffe Fassett fabrics and other brighter and louder prints, my daughter now loves my quilts and takes them to college with her. I don't know if this will be a fad or these quilts will be "in" 20 years from now. I think that she now has a new appreciation of the more subtle quilts.