I love this thread. Non-quilters don't have any idea how much expense or time it takes to make a quilt.

I have been quilting for many years and soon learned that my standard answer was, "Not unless you are part of my family", or simply "NO".

My mom was an expert seamstress. She had a shop attached to our house. She finally whittled down her customers to those who appreciated her work. Her pet peeve was two relatives who, when they came to visit, expected Mother to make them dresses (for free) while they were there. Of course, Mother also had to do all the cooking, cleaning, and entertaining along with the sewing.

I make quilts only for friends and family. I can afford to buy the fabric and give the quilts away. I don't want to take my hobby and turn it into a business.

I had a coworker tell me that she was singing my quilting praises to a friend of hers (I did appreciate that). My coworker then asked if I would make a quilt for her friend. This was my opportunity to do what I felt in my gut and I took into account all of the messages and comments I had read about valuing your work and time. I simply said "Thank you but, no... there are just too many variables involved and I prefer not to do custom work for people other than family". It felt so liberating to say it! Now that I have done it once, I will not have a problem saying it again if asked.

People think because I have one or two sewing machines and possibly more:) and a sewing room that I can sew or mend anything they have and for free. Just last week I was asked to repair a blouse and a former neighbor asked me to repair some items for her and now my dn asked me to hem her chiffon dress. No. I don't have a shingle out saying "Will do mending and repairs"! I sew quilts or whatever because I want to, I don't want to get this started. I wouldn't know where to start with chiffon. I give them the name of a local mending and repair store that does have there shingle out for business.

I had recently made a small baby size for a dear friend's first grandaughter. She was elated with it and showed everyone at work and to her relatives. Her boyfriend's grandson asked if the baby could "share" it with him because he didn't have one of his own(he's three years old);so I made him one with a construction truck panel on one side and the Crosswalk quilt pattern by Jenny Doan(MSQC) on the other side. ANyways,my friend's Aunt said she would like to have one made for HER grandson like the little boy's one. I told my friend I would figure out a price for it and let her know. I did this and it came out to $130 for just the material to make it. I gave her the copy of the materials list to give to the Aunt. I have yet to hear from her;so I am assuming she thought that was too much! No skin off my nose if I don't make one for her, I'm still enjoying my craft. :)

Just recently I posted photos of my winning ribbons at our local quilt show. A mini log cabin came in second. I say mini because the blocks were 3 inches square but the final quilt was @54" wide. It won second in it's category. The best ribbon I have ever won. A friend on facebook said she loved it and wanted it. Not only did it take over a year to make out of scraps, it was paper pieced, which required a lot of mess to pull the 1/4" paper strips off the back. She wanted it as a throw. I told her, I keep all my winners.

I love this thread!
This is what I did with a wedding quilt I made for a nephew who I thought would appreciate the quilt (and I was right--they called me up 2 days after the wedding to say it was the best gift that they got). I had it appraised for them before I gave it to them, and the appraisal was for $1200. A couple of months after the wedding I gave them the appraisal certificate and said they should hold onto it for insurance purposes. This way, they really know the true value of what they got. But, I really have to be confident that someone will appreciate it before I go to the trouble of making a quilt for a gift.

that was so nice of you and smart to have it appraised. Wish you had a photo to show.

I had a similar experience with a friend. He said, since he knew I quilted that I might be able to give him some advice on mending an expensive pair of trousers that he had put a three corner tear into. Of course what he really wanted was for me to mend them. :) I referred him to an alterations place telling him it was where I took all of my hemming, alterations, etc. for my own clothing (and I do!). It was never mentioned again.