It's a bit disheartening when the receiver doesn't "get" it---or their enthusiasm is less than underwhelming. I have a friend who offered me $10 for a lap quilt I made---I told her that wouldn't cover my time let alone the fabric! However, many of my family members and friends have received quilts from me and are not only more than appreciative, they vy to see who gets one next!

No, you're not nuts, but people grieve in different ways. I can top that one--when my FIL died, they waited a few extra days to bury him until it was his birthday and then all eleven kids signed a birthday card and put it in the casket to be buried with him. Did I mention also that the children dug the grave by hand and then once pops was in the ground, placed his beloved deceased dog on top of the casket? Yes, they dug the dog up to place it with him and threw a 6 pack of beer in too, before filling in the grave. Then the coolers of beer and the hard liquor hidden behind the next headstone came out and they started drinking! I have never, in my entire life, seen such a scene!
I would take it as a compliment that she was buried with the quilt. She obviously loved it; it gave her great pleasure and comfort. She must have reflected the joy of the quilt to others also, and I would bet that when others saw it in the casket, they recognized it as having great meaning to her.
Sometimes the homemade, personal items give the family pain until they can accept the death, too, so maybe this was their way of not having to deal with the pain of seeing it as they weren't ready.

I think it's a great idea to give someone a nice gift and yet test them out for future quilty gifts. I know that if someone, friend or family, took the time to make me something I would make sure to use it, display it, and treat it like it was the Hope diamond. If your cherish your family and friends, and they give you something from the heart, you should love them and the gift. One day it may be all you have of them to remember them by and how they loved you enough to take the time to do something special. I cherish every hand painted, cross stitched ornament my BFF Anna gave me, and all her other gifts as well no matter how much they cost or how well made they were, she did them with love and now that she is gone way to early from my life I remember her, her love and the good times every time I see them. I have been lucky enough to find another BFF and she quilts, I have made her several things, including a quilt. She has raved over them, showed them to everyone, put them in a small county fair for display and tells me how soft and lovely my quilt is getting. There are those that will appreciate your lovely gift and it's good to know who to give them to, so your thread is wonderful, a gift to us!

I made a quilt for my niece and we were suppose to meet...that didn't work out with the arrangments they 1st made...I still have the quilt here over 1 year later...guess it was not important to them.
I made a quilt for my son and he called crying as he was so happy...he is 42!! And it is on their bed and matches nothing in the bedroom. The baby quilts I made for his kids...I said to use and abuse...they have enjoyed and all well loved.
My other DIL...ugly story so we won't go there...ha ha!!
I quilt to keep me happy but a little respect is not much to expect for my kindness!

Lets just hope that nurse finally felt appreciated. Sometimes they work there legs off and ,unknowingly, you may have made her day. Look at it on the positive side. I do agree that everyone does not appreciate the work and if you have it quilted on a long -arm it certainly isn't cheap. I don't care what it costs if it is for a loving grandchild who is old enough to appreciate it. So far I have only given quilts to my children and grandchildren. I finally made one for ME! My first quilt that I have kept.

When my two adult sons died ( 2 1/2 yrs apart) their wives gave me their shirts. When I finally could cut into those shirts, I made a quilt for each of their children (3 in total) and did a very memorable label for each of them, regarding their dad. The eight year old really seemed to appreciate it at that time, but now I don't think she even knows where it is (she's 21 now) (I have stored it at my house, and she doesn't even know where it is.) The other two (ages 4 & 6) were too small to appreciate, I know. But, I don't think mom has reminded them about them at all.....put up out of sight.....they are now teenagers. My heart still breaks in more ways than one!! I hope I have enough time when I find out I'm about to die, that I can give my quilts away to people who will appreciate them.....some people will NOT get one. LOL

You are so right. A friend of mine is pregnant with her first child and I planned to make a quilt for her. She is very much like a daughter to me. She loves animals and works in animal rescue so I painstakingly looked for bright dog prints (without much luck) and finally found some really cute fabrics with paw prints, bones and the like. Got right to work on it...a rail fence pattern...worked like a dog (yeah, pun intended). Showed it to friends and they loved it. Top is all pieced and I got cute flannel for the backing with dogs on it. I was sooo excited I wanted to show it to her but then I wouldn't have had "the perfect shower gift." Much to my astonishment, when I showed her the pattern she scrunched up her face and told me it was ugly and too busy. She then proceded to show me a panel quilt..no patchwork at all that she "just had to have." Ugh...nothing against panels but without at least a pieced border they just don't seem like real quilts. Thanks for letting me vent.

Good grief!!! These stories just keep getting more and more awful! I hope there are more people out there who like their gift quilts than don't like them. I feel so bad for you. 8-)

Love your "test" -- hard to believe that anyone could not appreciate such a thing of beauty as a "homemade" quilt...

Oh, we all have the stories and isn't that sad. I too have suffered the same ungrateful recipients. Almost feel as if you have to interview people before giving. lol

Some of these stories here just break my heart.

But any of you who want a REALLY GRATEFUL recipient, just send you beautiful works of art directly to me!!!!