The strangely funny reaction I got from one recipient was, "Oh you would have done this while you were watching TV anyway..."and the nice and surprising one was from my nephew, who has hung it on the wall at the head of his bed on a hanger he proceeded to make upon receiving it.
As you say, we do it because we want to, so my satisfaction is in the giving as well.

I have to say that I'm thrilled when someone loves the quilt I made for them, and am disappointed if they're not. But, seriously, unless someone specifically asks for it, I try not to act like it's a personal attack if they don't like or want it. I remember too many knitted things from old great aunts that I received as a kid that I'm SURE took lots of time and effort, but I sure didn't want.That being said, you'd hope that someone would have the good manners to at least appear appreciative. (I remember writing the thank you notes for those knitted things - wonder if they saw through me??)

What a wonderful surprise!
My 4 year old DGD opened hers this year, said thanks, but no real reaction. Then a couple of hours later, after presents were over, she was on the couch under it, and said "This is the most beautiful blanket I've ever seen. I am going to sleep with it every night FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE!". And then went on to ask if I had enough fabric left to make one to match for her "baby". Made my day....

[quote=she opened it up looked at it and proceeded to look at me and say finally . you finally got around to making me a quilt she then shoved it back into the box and set it down on the floor and walked away [/quote]

I know it was hard to see this reaction (and it was very rude) .. but it sounds like she was maybe hurting beforehand because the other 2 got theirs earlier and she didn't? So the reaction maybe wasn't to the quilt itself but the situation. I would talk with her about it....after a while....or maybe with her parents at least. Not sure she realizes why it took so long.

I love your Avatar ... I'm assuming it's one of your hand made treasures. It makes me feel good everytime I see it ... I am compelled to sit and admire it.

I have a 7 yo, then have a 7yo niece, and 2 8yo nieces. Grandma made them all quilts for Christmas this year. They squealed, screamed, and jumped around with excitement. Those girls were more interested in those quilts then with any of the toys they had just gotten. I had to wash(sensitive to moms detergent) my daughters right away because she wanted to cuddle with it. She carried that quilt around for 2 days then finally decided it was replacing the one I made on her bed. She was also given a homemade doll cradle and bedding for the cradle and a mini quilt to match here's for her baby. She was happier with all the homemade items then with the bought toys.

I made 2 large quilts for my nephew and his fiancee and sent them to the kids at their grad school in Indiana in the fall. My nephew had requested a quilt as his college graduation present, and wanted it in his school colors. Well, a month went by and I called his mother, my sister, to see if they had received the quilts. Several days later I got a phone call from the nephew saying thank you and that they loved the quilts. I was a bit hurt at the delay because I spend many hours and quite a bit of money (both backed with yards and yards of red Minkee!)and the fact that I never heard from the fiancee.

Well, here's the end of the story...the kids travelled to Pittsburg just before Christmas to see the fiancee's family, and they took both quilts to show her mother and grandmother. I was so surprised! Apparently the family raved about how beautiful the quilts are. The next thing I know, I received a framed photo of the kids on the sofa with their quilts. I was SO HAPPY to know that they liked their quilts. Sometimes we just don't know how much it means to someone when we give a gift like that.

Well this was not a gift but it was a reaction to my quilts. We went to have our christmas celebration with my family which I only see this once a year as we live far away. So I brought 2 of my quilts to show my sister and brother. One was my horse quilt I have worked so hard on since May. Actually is not quilted but the top is pieced. Anyway, when I showed them the reaction from my brother was like....what is it....and he had nothing to say. Just shrugged his shoulders. I was planning to make him a quilt this next year to give him as a gift next year and in fact have already bought some embroidery designs I was going to use on it but now am really wondering if I should go to the trouble. I did make him a pillow this year. I machine embroidered Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus on it with the words Holy Night and my brother could not tear his self away from the derned football game to even look at what I made them. Hurt my feelings although my sister really liked her pillow.

Loved your honesty...you really never do know what the reaction will be--but it is good to hear from another quilter. When I give mine, I have to feel good about the giving. I'll have to admit though, the reaction tends to determine if there will be another quilt coming.

I made a large "I Spy" quilt for my 2 1/2 yr old great-nephew. I knew when I made it that it wasn't going to be a present that would get him excited when he opened it. BUT his parents had a jumping fit!!! They were both so excited and thanked me a million times. I think it bothered them that he showed so little reaction. I said to them, "Don't worry...some day it may be meaningful to him but for now, just teach him to play the game." I don't think we should expect "kids" to be excited over quilts. I look at it that I'm making something that someday may be special and remind them of me. It was a joy to make it for him.

This picture says it all. My cousin sent this picture Christmas morning after her kids opened their new quilts.

[quote=KarenR]... gave my mom one about 40 years ago and she put it in the closet - she did not want the kids to get it dirty and now it's the grandkids. I told her what good is it in the closet - USE IT! [quote]


Exactly - use it! If it's only going to sit on a shelf, out of sight, then it might as well have remained on the shelf at the fabric shop & saved me a ton of $$ and time! Even if you don't care for the fabrics/design/colors, please at least use it as a 'blanket' underneath the bed top covering.

My 23 year son, who graduated from Georgia Tech, and now works with computers doing something I can't even explain, just bought his own house earlier this year. It is sparsely furnished because he is frugal and will only purchase what he really needs or something he truly desires. I learned long ago to not give him frivolous things. He does have one twin size quilt that I made and seems to enjoy it, but I was surprised when we had finished opening gifts and he said to me, "I was hoping I might get a quilt". Needless to say, I will be making a large bedside quilt for him very soon.

My 29 yr. old son is the same, computer geek, bought a house, only furnished the family room and bedroom because those are the only rooms he spends time in. I made him a fleece/flannel blanket for Christmas to keep him warm while he's watching TV. He's visiting us for Christmas and hasn't let that blanket out of his sight! I made him a queen size quilt for his bed years ago, it never leaves his bed, I'm surprised it's still in one piece!

I too did quilts for all my immediate family and was surprised by the reaction seems I didnt know my brother had said to my mother just before opening his that he was going to go shopping the next day to go buy a new quilt for his bed. He lives 520 miles away so it was nice to know I was right on target with his gift.

LOL now how's that for a lucky coincidence?

Uh no do not make him a quilt. Get him a fleece blanky now from Christmas clearance sales and give it next Christmas.

Thank you so much for the web sites. I saved them all to my favorites....you have a wonderful vacation in FL...hope it is warmer there than here in Central VA...HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

This reminds me that a couple of years ago, I made my grandson some boxer shorts for Christmas. I didn't expect him to be excited because they were sort of personal. He was about 7. Later in the week he came up to me and said, "Grandma, I really like those flannel ones you made. They are nice and warm." So I know he liked them.

I made my 29 year old son a pair of boxer shorts with skulls and flames on them. He had bought me a Singer 501 for my birthday and that was the first thing I made on it. He actually wears them!

Now that brought tears to my eyes! What a "WONDERFUL" reaction to your gift!!!

(My great neice is 16 and visited us just before Christmas. She wants to learn to sew but lives several hours from me. I showed her my quilt pile and she said she really liked the black and white one. I gave it to her, not knowing if she was just being polite or if she really liked it. Her mother called me the next day to tell me her daughter hugged and petted that quilt all the way home. She put it right on her bed and is planning to spend some time with me next summer to learn to make her own. That is the best kind of reaction for me!)

That brought tears to my eyes...What a "WONDERFUL" reaction to your gift!!!

Thank you for this topic. It has been very enlightening to say the least.

We will see what 2011 brings. Before reading all of these posts I had already determined that this would be the year to make quilts for each of my grandchildren (11), for their birthdays. The first will be for my oldest grandson who will be 16 in February. The second one will be for my 13 year old in spring. He's the one who curls his lip in disapproval, easily. But, I love him to pieces!


It's ok if they don't like them at first. I am banking on them appreciating them more with age and maturity. I like making memories for my grandchildren.

:-D

I learned long ago to give gifts without being attached to a specific reaction. My kids taught me that when they were younger ("It's nice. (Pause) Did it come in a different color, Mom?")

This Christmas I stayed up unreasonable hours, determined to finish quilts for gifts. I had so many losses (friends dying) this year that I wanted to give something that would be a legacy gift since we never know... In any case, I made twin size quilts for my 2 year old grandson (he loved it!) & for my brother who sleeps in a hospital bed (he thought it was store-bought when his caregiver asked where I had bought it). I made a Q sized one for my daughter and son-in-law (who had been JEALOUS when I gave their 8 year old daughter her quilt for her birthday in Nov. My daughter said, "Thank you for listening and making one for me!"), and a Q for my older daughter (who loves hers). I had wanted to make lap robes for my brother and his wife but that's to come... I think I did well and I LOVED EACH OF THE QUILTS! I think I'll make one for my ex-husband as part of my practice in forgiveness. We'll see...

I believe sometimes the recepients don't know how to react. Especially teenagers have to maintain their "cool" and not let others know they really do love what Grandma makes for them. Sometimes guys just don't want to let their emotions out in front of others. Having said that, there are people I won't make anything for again.

MIL EXPECTS to get something of whatever you make,(I've done other crafts) but I've never felt she really wanted it. Her quilt is out folded on a chair, but she has never used it. At least it is out. SIL is the same way. I don't care for her because she was never nice to my mother. She got a table topper because she hinted loudly(it was on my table) that it would REALLY go with her decor. Twin nieces (13)got lap quilts this summer for Bday. Ok reaction. Younger sister was all excited, "Did you make these?" She likes crafts and I offered to teach her to quilt this summer. Her mother said no. I'm very selective about who gets a quilt and I don't care who's nose is out of joint. I put too much work into them.

i made 7 quilts this year for Christmas presents ranging from lap to king size. i'd have to say most enjoyed their gift. my little sister and brothers have been getting quilts since they were in college so it wasn't their first. spoiled huh. my little neice and nephew are young, 8&1 so i wasn't expecting much. but their parents, my brother could have shown more appreciation but i guess they are use to getting quilts from me since the kids have been born. my older brother did say he loved his, he is the one i posted the redskins quilt for. the relative that appreciated the quilts the most was my grandmother who didn't get a quilt from me this year. i sent her a quilt 10 yrs ago when i had first started making quilts. she was in awe and loved all the hard work put into the quilts given. so that was thank you enough! i enjoy making quilts and no the recipiant doesn't know the time, effort or the money put into the quilt when they can just go to target/walmart and buy a blanket for $20. i'm blessed with a husband that knows the hard work, appreciates the time and supports the money i put into the quilts for others and that pleases me. he's my biggest fan and the sad thing is that i have yet to make him a quilt. i'll always love making quilts and especially for those who love to have a quilt. but i know i'll encounter someone who doesn't and that's ok with me.

My husband's niece got married this summer. We gave her money. Later my MIL said something like, "I suppose everyone that gets married will get quilts now." I can only imagine this has been a topic of conversation. I told her, "I've never given any niece/nephew a quilt for a wedding gift." If one asked for one as a wedding gift I would, but they would have to ask me. I do give the grand nieces/nephews a baby quilt as a christening gift. I don't make complicated ones, because I'm never sure how well it will be received. One niece immediately facebooked me after receiving her son's quilt and I see pics on facebook all the time of him laying on it. Another niece uses her son's at the beach because, "Sand doesn't stick to it." It's ok, she's using it. Others no clue.

I had been worried that my granddaughter in WA) might not get her quilt, but she finally got it yesterday (after we paid a fortune to mail it so she would receive it by last Thurs. sent by USPS) It was a quilt of dachshounds and she loved it. She said that she cried, she was so in love with it. It was in memory of her dog Oscar that had to finally be put to sleep. I'm so glad she liked it. It meant a lot to me to make it for her. She is 24.

Though I agree that jumping up and down would be nice from everyone, please keep in mind that people react differently to gifts. I absolutely SUCK at receiving gifts. Meaning though I am excited and appreciative, I come off as more of an "ehh, thanks" when I really don't mean it. So whenever I get a gift, I exert extra effort to be all excited and happy, when I really don't feel it (again, not because I don't like the gifts, but just because I'm strange). So keep in mind that it's possible some of them are like me and really do appreciate it, and just aren't great at showing it.

Sounds like dear supportive hubby is next in line for a quilt??

Ok I had posted about my brother truly loving his quilt he got and it came just in time for he was going out the next day to buy a new "quilt" for his bed has emailed me each day and called me each day since Christmas to tell me how much he loves his quilt and also how this is the best gift he has gotten in years. So his Birthday is Feb 6 and I have decided ok back to the machine I go and it is time to make him a lap throw for his recliner so he doesnt wear out his main one back and forth. I feel truly blessed to have a person that enjoys a gift so very much.

Shelrox, you are blessed. And, so is your brother to have such a wonderful sister! :-D

thank you very much I feel blessed to have such wonderful people in my life and to have wonderful friends on this board as well. My brother is older then me and has always been there for me and with his MS getting worse anything I can do to make his life more comfortable is worth the pain and anguish I go through to give him joy. Doctor told me today looks like shoulder surgery for me. now to get the next quilt done before I become a real cut up myself. LOL

I made my MIL and FIL a quilt for their 50th wedding anniversary.When next we visited them she took me to her bedroom so that I could see how it looked on their bed. When they received it she said,"What a lovely gift!" She knew the work in it cause she made silk crazy quilts. Then I made one for a co-worker who took university classes while working. When she graduated after 7 years I gave her the quilt. It was really funny cause I quilted it at work and she had seen it many times and made comments about it. At her grad party I presented her with this big box and she got this puzzled look on her face. I said when you see what it is you are going to laugh. When she opened the end of the box she knew what it was because of the colors. She yanked it out of the box and as soon as everyone was done looking she took it and put it on her bed. That was the first and second quilts I gave as gifts. My husbands grandmother didn't like me very much but she loved quilts. I made her two pillows with quilted tops that she used till the day she died. When I gave them to her she just said they were very nice.

I'm afraid that this sounds like me. My youngest daughter always thought that when she had something good to tell me that I should get all excited and almost jump up and down. I have had to train myself to put a little excitement into my voice just for her. She always said that I was negitive aabout everything. I wasn't!. but that is how she perceived me.

She doesn't live in Renton, does she? We had an Oscar weiner dog who lived down the street. He was a black and tan and I haven't seen him for a while.

I made my 7year old grandson a guilt that had trucks and cars on it (he's nuts about cars). He has it on his bed and he loves it. While I was making his father's quilt I said that I hoped that his father would like it my GS sure he would. When I asked him how he knew that his dad would like it he said, "Because you are an awsome quilt maker." (I am not but someday I will be) I really just started quilting so that meant a lot to me. His sister who is 9 said she can't wait for her quilt. Sometimes people don't quite know what to say when they receive something out of the norm. I am sure that your relatives will look at the quilts someday and remember you fondly. :) :D :D

Well, I made double wedding rings for my MIL and my mom and dad. My MIL got hers 5 years ago because they were the first ones to come visit. So I felt the rush to get it done for them. They loved it and it is in their living room. It is not a full sized quilt and it is bigger than a lap quilt. Well, I pieced the two at the same time, but since my M & D never made it out together, (my dad passed in 2009) I just got overwhelmed by life and never got it quilted for them. So when my mom opened it this Christmas, she just started crying. I did too, to the point it was hard to explain the whole story. It wouldn't have fit on the label, so I just left the story off. I know she loves it. I am a little worried, though. She leaves for Alabama tomorrow and she packed it in her suitcase. I hope no one steals it out of her suitcase. She might have to wait another five years for a replacement!

It took me a while, but I finally came to the realization, after years of giving gifts to my DH's family, that once you give something to someone, you must let it go. They may or may not do what you think they should or should not do with it, but it's theirs now and you simply must let it go.

I have much more peace of mind as a result. And it makes me "think" before I "give". Not a bad thing, really!