It does hurt when there is little response to you. I have two nieces that are that way. They have baby quilts from my and I will not be making anything else for them. (unless they ask) OK I'm a softie.

People don't realize that these are like cloth children that we are giving them to love. I am very careful about giving away a quilt as a gift (other than to charity). I note how they take care of other things and if they discard large ticket items without a second thought. I put a lot of time and money into my quilts and give them to people that will use them and appreciate them.

Last year, I paid full price for two brothers to go on a mission trip to another country. No thank you, picture or how do you do. They had the nerve to call me this year and ask for money. Sorry, I have already donated that money to another cause, which was the truth. I am a generous person, but I do not reward bad behavior. This generation of teenagers (and some grownups) need to realize a thank you note is a valuable tool.

It hurts when someone does not appreciate a quilt you made and give to them, but nonquilters just don't understand sometimes. However when someone really does appreciate the gift, it sure makes you feel so good :)

I have given several to persons who didn't respond in any way although they acted thrilled when they got them. I mostly give my quilts to my children and grandchildren and they seem to really appreciate them. My daughter-in-law (whom I love by the way) does ask for quilts to give to her family members. This irratates me for some reason. I don't know her family for one thing and it seems like if she wants to give them a gift she might offer to at least pay for the fabric.

Hmmm....Well, I have a dear friend who whips out quilts like nobody's business for other people. Some of her color choices and combinations are, ah, quite different. I think to myself, I'm just thankful I'm not receiving one because I would really have to try to love it. That makes me feel like a small person. I know how much work and expense that goes into making a quilt so on that note I would appreciate one a lot more than someone who isn't into quilting and hasn't got a clue. So I always tell my kids and family that anything I make for them is to be used in any way they wish.

Most of my quilts are made for people at work and given on behalf of the entire staff. I rarely receive personal thanks for these, but do get thanks through our chaplain. I have also been given LOTS of fabric by those who receive them. So for me that is enough from them. I do, however, make quilts for family and friends for special occasions. When I receive no reply for them I am disappointed. I don't expect everyone to fall madly in love with the quilts I make, we don't all share the same taste. But an acknowledgment that it was received and brief thank-you would be in order.

I send off my quilts with the request that if the person who gets it does not want to use it, that they pass it along to someone who will. For me, the saddest thing of all, especially in a child's quilt, is to be put on the shelf to "keep for good". I want them used, abused, taken outside, made forts with, and loved. If they can't be by the person getting them, I want them passed along.

I also think, at the risk of sounding like a geezer, that the Gen X generation has not been taught to say thank you. (there certainly are exceptions, and I don't want to condemn a whole generation). My husband's granddaughter is 20 years old. I gave her a vintage and very cute set of dishes, and bedding, etc. She moved out of her house and left it all behind. It never even occurred to her that I would be hurt by that. It's a generation of disposable products, in some way. My daughter is 25 and not like this, but then, she was raised to be aware of the gifts given to her, and the blessings she has had in her life.

It does hurt my feellings and I am getting to the point of not feeling obligated to make gifts for family members that do not appreciate them.
I have made special gifts for baby showers, made sure they were in the mail before the shower, and the last 3 have not even bothered to say thank you.
I at least thought they would let us know the baby came into the world fine and what they named it. IMO these people were just looking for a gift, nothing else :-( , and I refuse to be used again.
I make a lot of charity quilts and we never know what happens to them, and I understand that. When it is a family member it is completely different, just my opinion!!!!!

I never made my mother a quilt, and that is something I do regret now that she is gone. I made her numerous other handmade gifts. I remember one birthday card in particular. All handmade- even the paper. She called me after she received it and asked me if next time I could please just send a card from a store "like normal people". Probably why I never made her a quilt...

I pieced one, a scrappy bears paw, for my GD. She didn't like it (I love it!) Then she picked out a quilt kit that she likes.
It is still in its original package. I just can't get myself to work on a quilt that I don't like.