I made a small 4 ring double ring quilt for my grandparents 70th anniversary this year. Small yes but do-able for me. Well my SIL finds a quilt she likes and my brothers asks me if I could make it. I looked over the picture. Drafted a lap quilt on graph paper. Then went to the computer and found the exact fabric and figured out how much it would cost. When I informed my bro that it would cost $50 (fabric was on sale at the time) plus I didn't have the money to do it for him. He said he did not need it at this time. You tell me. Was I just about used?? Glad I did have the money. They need to understand it is not cheap.K

Looks like you were about to be left holding and empty bag, (money bag)that is. Don't think he really had intentions of paying you for the work and finished product you were about to do. He wanted to give a free gift to grandparents.

YA I know how that works I've repair a couple of quilts an didn't even get a thank you out of it so I don't think i'm up to do that again.lesson learned.

Years ago before I began quilting I made all my nieces raggedy ann dolls and little aprons with pockets filled with dressed clothespin dolls. One sister in law thought I made them from leftover bits, scraps and junk. Had the last laugh a few years ago when her daughter told me my hand made gifts inspried her to enter the field of art and crafting as a career. She doesn't sew but gilds items, creates unigue items, writes How to articles, knits, arranges photo shoots, etc.
May in Jersey

Isn't this amazing how everyone has a story of an unappreciated quilt!!
Here are a few of mine - made one for MIL's 50th anniv., she gave it to her daughter a few years later. Fortunately SIL LOVES quilts and cherishes them. FIL used to call them "rugs" as in, Are you still making the rugs? -- but he was a dear.
OK, fast forward 25 years - made a DWR quilt for stepson and DIL for wedding. Sent to house after wedding, had to call to make sure they got it.
Almost a YEAR later, here comes a preprinted "thank you" note, not even signed, no mention of the quilt, just a "thank you for the gift" sentiment. I believe the word "token" was used. Kind of like the queen acknowledging a present from a peasant.
Been to their house since, no sign of quilt.
FOrtunately other kids have been more appreciative of theirs, at least we got real thank you notes.

i made christmas gifts for off and on for my inlaws usually something for house for couples and as the neices got older usually a wall hanging or something crafty well we always got the "polite" thanks from the one sis in law so was never really sure if they all liked the gifts or not when my father in law passed and my mil went in the nursing home we kinda lost touch with each other at holidays and when my oldest neice moved back into the state after she lost her husband she came to visit with me we had not seen each other in a few years she told me the thing she always misses most about christmas is aunt angies (moi) homemade gifts apparently she always looked forward to my gifts the most. this made me feel so wonderful and kinda makes up for the unappreciative folks and now this neice has found a nice young man to marry and was so surprised when told her i would help her with her wedding. got 2 years to plan this one unlike the last 3 which i planned in 3 weeks! this should be a breeze!

So glad your niece told you how important your gifts were to her, and, yes, it does make up for all the others who didn't appreciate your effort.

Have fun planning her wedding, May in Jersey

should be fun she has picked navy and teal i think these will be stunning with gold i hope she does a fall or winter wedding

It's just heartbreaking when you think that the quilt you poured money, time and love into could end up in the dog basket or cupboard under the unused stuff. Up to now, every one of my quilts has been used and loved as I'd hoped, although one was in the questionable catagory for a while.

My nephew asked for a quilt with wolves on it. Absolutely delighted, I agreed and searched for months for wolve fabric in the UK. Couldn't find any so ended up spending a fortune because of Customs to send for it from the States.
Because it was for him, I didn't really mind. Well, I gave it to him and he loved it, and I know it was on his bed for months.
Then he had a bedroom redecoration and his quilt vanished. I thought it had been put away, but when I dropped in on them for a suprise visit the morning he went on the school trip to France, it was already on top of his case and he was taking it with him.

I also discovered as we waved my nephew off and the coach, that his friends and familys love his quilt too, as he takes it with him to sleep-overs and on camping trips and holidays.

I didn't realise until that morning, and no one told me, that his quilt, "Call Of The Wild", (although not on his bed at home) has been all over Britian and Europe. And I am very content that his quilt is as loved now as when I gave it to him.

Years ago (25) when my DS's were small DH nieces and nephews were the same ages I made them flannel quilts for Christmas. Parents acted like I was being cheap. The kids would not let anyone else in the house touch them! They carried them around with them everywhere they went. On one trip they happened upon a car accident, There were children involved and it was very cold and snowing. They gave the quilts to the kids to comfort them. They were afraid when they told me that I would be angry that they had given them away. I promptly replaced them with new ones. Kids got "it" parents never did and they never got anything I made.