I have a son that wants me to make him a quilt but asked me to walk with him through the bedding department of several department stores so he could show me what he likes and what he doesn't like. In his own words, "Maybe we'll find one I really love and you can copy it." Well, that way I would definitely know he would use it. Actually that's a pretty practical suggestion I think. And those aren't all made in China. Some stores have some made by hand in the US and of course the price is many, many, many hundreds of dollars.

I buy quilts at thrift stores, garage sales, estate sales, and auctions and then give them the love they were meant to have. At an auction once I bought what was displayed as a bag of rags -- inside it was a hand sewn quilt that had rarely been used. It was made from 30's flour sack fabric - I cherish that one. If they are well-worn I turn them into teddy bears or something. I used one as the background in a shoadowbox for a friend's mother's jewelry and knick knacks that we made together to honor her mother. My friend loves it. We're not all museum or Hollywood quality, and neither are handmade items such as quilts. Just as I want to be loved as I grow old (and I wasn't too pretty either), I want to give homemade quilts the love they deserve.

These echo my feelings, too. No one has ever gifted me with a quilt. I've gotten a couple when someone passed and their "stuff" was divided up ... but that's not the same. I'm sure I'd cry if someone made and gave me a quilt, no matter what it looked like. It would be beautiful in my eyes.

And mlsa (David) - I loved your reply, also!

Before I would do all of that work, I ask about their colors and I try to pay attention when I visit their home. No one wants their quilt put in a closet, never to be used, plus it is so expensive to make a quilt, you might as well do what they like, instead of what you like.

First,This type of reaction really bothers me and is why I wont post photos. Second, I can't imagine anyone taking the time to make me a quilt so if they did I would be totally speechless. This christmas I recieved a box of candy,a pair of slippers and a peacock feather hair clip that I would NEVER wear. The point is the peacock feather came from my son who knows how much I love feathers so you see ,he put thought into that gift and that means so much to me. I told him I loved it and I do for the thought that went into it. I currently have it hanging from the rearview mirror of my car and told him since I can't wear those type of things to work I will get to see it everytime I am driving.
It amazes me how materalistic people have become. Who cares if it matches, I would be grateful for the thought that went into it. I know the thought that goes into things I make. One year I made my mom some stuffed rabbits with clothes on them, well she then got into making them and hers were soooooo much better than mine. I told mom that it was ok if she fixed mine up or just got rid of them beacuse hers were so pretty. Moms response was "I would never do that I know how busy you are working ,farming and taking care of the boys and what time was sacrificed to make me the rabbits,I could never get rid of them" well that was about 20 or so years ago and at christmas I noticed those pitiful little rabbits still there on their little bench in my moms spotless home.......giving AND recieving should be from the heart......

[QUOTE=mlsa;4818605]I will always remember something my daddy taught us boys: "If somebody thought enough of you to give you a gift and it's nothing but a safety pin and that's all they could afford then you treat that safety pin like it's the grandest safety pin in the world."

I would be absolutely thrilled if somebody gave me a handmade quilt no matter the colors or pattern. Just to know they thought enough of me to give me anything would be joy enough. I would cherish it; use it; and show it off.

David[/QUOTE

beautiful advice and some words of wisdom to pass on.....thank you

Charity-crafter: I think you should submit one of your uncle's quilts to Ami Simms' "worst quilt contest". Not to make fun of him, but sometimes laughter is the best way to cope. If you haven't looked (and laughed at) her contest entries, the website is: http://amisimms.com/worquilworco.html

dayle

There are many items in my home that I don't like, it would fit right in. I would take it, thank them and use it. The chance of the giver seeing it versus the chances of Better Homes and Gardens seeing it.....humm....no photo shoot on my calender anytime soon.

It may only be unique to my experience, however it is not general practice to give quilts around here. It is mostly because they cost so much to make that it would be a very expensive present. The last quilt I made cost me $350 in materials and thread so there is no way that I would give it away. I did win a quilt in a raffle one time. I gave it to some old ladies who needed to raise money for their charity and they raffled it.

I tried. I sent her photos and a long explaination. She shared the fun but said entries for the worst quilt contest had to be submitted by the person who made it.