So many of us tisk-tisk someone who doesn't value the time and energy that goes into a homemade quilt. I really hate to see that. Ya know, I don't like sardines either, but I don't think I deserve to be treated differently because of it.

We really should be grateful because it allows us opportunity to pick up great finds and adopt quilts that have been unloved.

I think it's just as bad for us to judge someone as it is for them to discard something we hold so dear.

Just know your gift recipients and don't make one of your precious quilts for someone who is not really interested - because it will eventually be discarded. (And one of us will be out there thrilled to snatch it up).

Unfortunately there are lots of people out there that done appreciate quilts. My mother is chief among them. She told me at least 4 times that I don't need to make her one. Oh Well, her loss, not mine... Made one for my dad and he uses it when he's sitting his chair and he's cold.

This is Countrygirl1's hubby. Up until 2 years ago my Miss Penny and I slept under a hand tied quilt my grandfather and step-grandmother made for me in 1970. Had to retire it to display only due to wear and tear. We routinely look for quilt tops at "estate sales" wherein uncaring "family" throw in a beautiful top that a relative didn't get to finish. Often, hand-stitched tops sell for $30 or less. SHAME ON YOU folks. Miss Penny lovingly finishes them, quilts them on her frame and we frequently look at it and remember the lady (or man) we did not get to know!!! Don

It is ok to not like something as M.I.Late said. We all dislike something.
My DH would never want to walk into a craftmall, where crafts are for sale. He thinks we have enough "junk". That would insult alot of crafters to hear him call their wares junk. but to him that is what it is--nothing for him to use.
Some people do not see the need for more than one "thing" that covers the bed to make themselves warm, and they see no difference other than different fabrics or colors. It isn't their forte' so to speak.
That is their right.
We just need to find a way for others who do appreciate quilts to not be so rude. I don't have an answer.

My hubby calls baskets "kindling" but he is entitled to his opinion especially since he supports my need to make things. It is pretty funny since I just ignore it anyway.

My DH thinks fat quarter are pretty rags to use as dishcloths. I found out he believed that by leaving stack of them on the kitchen counter.

This is so true. Many people just don't understand why quilting is an enjoyable hobbie. My dh is one of them, why take perfectly good fabric, cut it into small pieces and sew it back to together? and it's way more expensive then buying one from the store.

I only give quilts to people who understand and actually like them.

OMG! that's too funny. Buy him his very own microfiber rags for christmas :D

thank you for posting this.

its a good reminder that people should give gifts that the person would like to receive not what we would like to give them.

just because we like to quilt doesn't mean everyone we know should get a quilt (or other home made crafts) just so we can buy more fabric and make more quilts.

i have never given anyone a quilt as a gift except my DH and he only has one.

if the people in my life want a quilt they can buy one just like my other customers.

i don't go to there place of business and ask for a gift or free stuff and they don't expect me to do that for them.

My quilts go to my family and I am so thankful that God gave me the children and grandchildren who appreciates hand done things. Great-grands are too young so far to know what they are going to like and dislike. Two of my grands have already told me what kind of quilt they want this year. They already have one each and they are really loved so guess it's time for another.LOL Grandma has to get busy.

(I don't like sardines either, or brussel sprouts!) Wouldn't life be boring if we all liked the same thing?

Very true :)

Ain't that some good advice. Even at that, people's tastes change and a quilt that made someone happy when first given may not suit the purpose in a new desing.

I try really hard to let go when I give a quilt. Of course I love to hear that it is still being loved years later, but I'm as OK with the situation when I don't hear that.

That is funny. :lol: :lol: :lol:

Those are the kind of people I would not want to know.

Sometimes, as quilters, we must develop a thick skin. Also we must remember THAT ONLY A QUILTER knows how much time, work, planning and $$$ goes into making a quilt! I once made a beautiful quilt with applique Scottie dogs on it because the recipient had a Scottie dog....she thought the quilt was for the dog and gave it to the dog. I was crushed, but I loved her, love her still and let it go....
Michelle

I agree that it's ok not to like something. There are lots of things that other people love and I can't figure out the attraction. But I am very careful who I gift with one of my quilts. I know who will appreciate them & who won't so I don't set myself up for disappointment.

For us, it's one of the most heartfelt gifts we can give - but the recipient may just not feel the same as us. It's like any other gift to them except they can't exchange it at the store for something they've been wanting.

Sometimes we also feel insulted if they put it away and don't use it. Because it's in a chest doesn't mean it's not still a treasure to them.

Just remember that as the Holidays are coming around - try not to set yourself up for disappointment.

Oh, that is funny! Sad, but funny! :)

It's true some people don't appreciate home made gifts even tho most are better and made with a lot of thought and love put into them but we all can't like everything. Give to those who enjoy. Sue

After my MIL died, I inherited a beautiful, handquilted, double wedding ring with scalloped edges that some local quilters had made for her. It sat in a chair for close to 20 years and was filthy. I had to wash it three times just to get the dirt out. It is now on my bed. I never bothered to make her a quilt because I could see that she didn't appreciate them. She was a wonderful person in so many ways and raised a wonderful son that I dearly love, but for her, a quilt was just another blanket...everybody is different!

Great thread and well said. It's a good thing to keep in mind at any time of the year but especially at Christmas when we get stressed trying to get everyone gifts. I think a lot put so much of their hearts into their work(and there are a lot of really big hearts on this board). This is why I put my quilts away. When I'm gone, if my family wants them, they'll have a piece of me to "hug" them, if not I'll never know and won't be hurt if they use them to change the oil from their cars. I know we need to vent but we also need to realize that to some, our quilts are blankets and if they already have 25 blankets why would they want 1 more. So, as has been said, if you give a quilt to someone, know before hand that they will appreciate it or be ready to have them not value it the same as you do.

Quilts are art IMHO. Taste in art is individual. I wouldn't give someone a painting, a sculpture, a music CD or ticket to a concert without being very sure it is wanted/liked. It's not a good idea to give a Picasso to someone who loves Thomas Kinkade or hip-hop music to a Bach buff.

The quilts I have made for family members have never been surprises but only after consulting about pattern & color. We all have wildly different opinions of how a quilt should look. If I do happen to give one not suited to taste or decor, I hope the recipient has sense enough to use it as a quilt was originally meant--for warmth, under a bedspread. Charity quilters understand this--warmth and durability are the purpose, beauty is a bonus.

I don't have a solution to the hurt caused by unappreciated quilt gifts. I do believe many of the finished quilts and unfinished tops come on the market because of death--and the deceased is the last of a family--just like the sad (to me) boxes and albums of photographs at flea markets and antique shops. I cannot imagine discarding family photos, can you?

Yes, my friend made a baby quilt for a friend and later, while visiting, saw it in the dogs bed. Really hurt her feelings.

Years ago before I knew anything about quilting my mother's aunt passed away. While cleaning out her home family members came across a hope chest full of quilts she had made and I can remember one of my aunts asking my mother which of Mary's quilts she would like to have. Mother replied "Can I throw them in the washing machine? If not I don't want anything to do with them." My aunt replied "I don't think so".
Well, I would have loved to have had one of them but I was only about 13 at the time and no one asked me if I would like to have one. I have made mother small wall hangings but nothing she can't throw in the washing machine. Ann in TN

:thumbup:

Mine too. That's what he says about quilting. He doesn't understand cross stitching, he says why do you do it if it makes you crazy? which it does occassionally. He does appreciate handwork and crafts since he is handy. But I agree, I only bless recipients that I KNOW will appreciate my efforts. Not enough time anyway.

I'm laughing about this one!

I don't know where my love of quilting and homemade items comes from. As I seem to come from a long line of "buy it at the mall" relatives.

two years ago I make quilts for my 3 granddaugters
and I have seen them on the floor since than
That sure gets me---I have said ,if they don't want them, they can give them back

I agree with everything that fabric fancy had to say I once worked myself out in a quilt even made in their wedding colors and queen size and I've always wondered what happened to it no comment met at all when they opened it not even a thabk you and to think I could of easily sold it for 700.00 dollars from now on I just buy a blender or soming from WalMart

I am actually pleased at the number of people I have seen talk about the quilts they have made for dogs (and cats). I make nice soft beds for mine and for the pets of friends of mine. Yesterday, on my happy happy joy joy shopping adventure, I found two beautiful quilt pillow shams at S.A., and bought them for the dogs.

And, since we get to be on our soap boxes....these tops are beautiful. I looked them over quite carefully. I was admiring the embroidered flowers on them, and wishing I could do the really nice quilting job. The fabric is good quality, nice and heavy. Now is where you get to throw something at me. They are made in China, bought at Pennys. Sorry girls, but the poor little slave labor girls that did these knew what they were doing, and the FMQ on them is just gorgeous. Just because they worked for nothing doesn't mean they didn't know what they were doing. I think it is time that people stop looking down on those who do what they have to to survive. I am sure if they had a choice, they would rather make higher wages and have better working conditions, too. Yes, the material is a pattern, but hey....we use panels too. Okay, off the soapbox.

Thanks for the spanking M.I. Late.

You know, I have found that even though a lot of people could care less about quilts, they often DO appreciate the time that goes into them, but just don't really want them for themselves. I appreciate antique cars, but I don't have the need, want, or place to own one.

I also figure some day I'm gonna croak and leave my kids with A LOT of quilts and quilting paraphanelia. I'll feel blessed if one of my three daughters takes up the art themselves, but they are going to have their own families and houses full of their own stuff. I'm sure they'll keep some of my quilts, but it's not likely that they will keep ALL of them, especially the unfinished ones. So I don't find it all that unreasonable for them to give some away or sell some, and that may very well be a lot of what we see when we see quilts for sale. Not that they were necessarily unloved, but maybe there were LOTS to love and those were the ones they were willing to part with so they could make room for and treasure the others.

Now what makes me mad...is when I see a quilt that has been cut into a hundred pieces to clean a car engine with! LOL* THAT I will raise my voice at! LOL* :)

Great outlook! I applaud your gracious nature.

My DH doesn't understand my passion for making quilts, but I am working on a quilt for his brother using USMC fabric. He has gotten into the "auditioning" part 100% and it is so much fun to see him enjoying the design. I'm using the Churn Dash block and he has come up with some terrific ideas using different colors to highlight the focus fabric.

It is okay to not like something, what a sad world if we all liked the same things. However, it is not okay to belittle someone because of the joy they find in making quilts.

When I make a quilt for someone it is because I want to show that person how much I love them. I don't understand folks that love auto racing, but if they get pleasure from it then that's what counts.

Very true ... I remember seeing a baby quilt I'd made for a good friend/neighbor in her GARAGE SALE ... it wasn't even 2 yrs, and she'd already decided to "redo" her daughters room (at 2 years old !) Crazy. I asked her why she was selling it, she said it didn't "go with her new room". Heaven forbid she use it for naps or travel !! I was hurt AND mad but I asked her what she wanted for it - $10 ! So I bought it BACK from her ! it was like new, hardly used. I donated it to our Linus project :roll: :roll:

A case in point. A friend went to her local dump and found over 40 antique quilts that had been thrown away. Some were in bad shape (can always make pillows out of those good parts, right?!) and some were in beautiful condition. She donated them to a local quilt museum and now we all get to enjoy what someone didn't treasure.

When I found out my great niece was going to have a baby, I told her I would make a quilt for the baby. I had a chance to see her recently and asked her to pick out a pattern and she got tears in her eyes and said the pattern didn't matter, she was so thankful that someone would be willing to make something for her. Hopefully she will keep it.

Glad there was a rescue ! seems like any dummy would give the GOOD quilts to someone or Goodwill, or sell to an antique dealer ! Twice I've rescued quilts from roadside trash, I asked the owner, he didn't care, said sure take it ! The other time, no one was home, so we just took it. Cut one down and made a nice throw sz from the good part. The second just needed washing and a little repair, a pretty scrap quilt on my rack today :)