I love these kind of commitments! haha

You could say something like, Oh I couldn't take your money but I would love to trade hour for hour, my house always needs cleaning".

Since I mostly make comfort quilts for cancer patients, I say "Oh, do you have cancer?" That shuts up those that want a quilt! Also my daughter had a friend who married this past summer. She sent a message that she wanted me to make a quilt of her wedding dress. I told her it would be $1000.00 to buy additional fabric and pay for the quilting. She didn't bite on that as she wanted it for nothing.

I second this. I don't get into explaining how over booked I am. I tell them Target, etc. have some really nice quilts that are a good price.

I say "Sorry, I don't take requests". Then I sometimes add that it takes a lot of time and effort and supplies to make a quilt and I make lots of donation quilts. Or, I say
"only if you paint a room in my house and it will be lots cheaper for you and you will be finished first." Yikes! That is only for people who barely know me and have no boundaries. I have been asked to make a "custom" cover for fishing poles etc... !

i had to face this just yesterday from a friend i like very very much, but who wanted to use some of my fabrics and have me make a king sized quilt.

i listed the cost of everything, including the base price to long arm a quilt that size. even dropping any labour charge it was out of range for her (thankfully.)

it's so sticky. i never want to consider these things we make luxuries, but for the most part they really *are* luxuries. i started making them because i couldn't afford to buy them. i should try to keep that in mind :)

aileen

I have a couple of questions; 1) do you make quilts for others, 2) If you do, do you charge for them, 3) If you do, does she know that you do quilts for others. If your answers are "yes" then perhaps that will influence how you respond. Sometimes I will have to admit to family or friend that I am just not comfortable doing something. It is the truth and they will normally accept that response. Good luck. I know how difficult these types of situations can be. I agree with Jan in VA, to try and keep your response sweet and sincere. Hopefully, we have helped you through this situation. Yolanda

I always say, "Oh sure I'd be happy to <b>teach you</b> how to do it!" Acting like I've completely misunderstood what they meant. My philosophy is that I will make the time to teach them how, but I won't spend my time doing it for them unless they plan on sitting and keeping me company. The one exception being my Mother-in-Law or my Aunt, they do a lot to help us out in different ways, so I don't mind (too much) doing it for them.

I smile sweetly and say that I don't make "request" quilts. I continue by saying that I don't make quilts for sale. "The first quilt I sell will be the last quilt I make, because then it becomes work and not something I do for pleasure." You would be surprised how many replies I have gotten that "Oh just one time won't hurt." I then explain that I am retired. If I have to make a quilt that is a pattern that someone else wants, fabrics/colors of their choice, and have a time frame it would become a job. I say that there would be nothing in that quilt that I want. I keep smiling the entire time. I do make quilts that I give to family and friends and even friend's dogs! When I make quilts, they are part of me, and selling them or making them specifically for someone for money would be like selling part of me.

My husband told an acquaintance of his....not someone I know....that yes his wife would make a quilt for her new grandchild....and yes if she wanted it could be a photograph quilt. He confessed he did this and I just said "no". He had to go back and tell her that I don't do quilts on consignment....it's a hobby and I'm busy with other things. And yes, he now knows not to ever do that again or he will be embarrassed yet again. Can you imagine the nerve!