Good thought to keep in mind.

For me, it's like trying to pick out a piece of art for someone else! I try hard to make quilts for people I think would appreciate them, and in colors and patterns I think they would like. Sometimes this works out, and sometimes it doesn't!

All the responses that I got from the board after this recently happened to me were wonderful and really put things in perspective. Not only did I see many sides of this ongoing issue, but I felt the love from many of you. Thank you! :-D

Nice reminder to assume that the reactions we read are partial and influenced by many factors of which we may not be aware. Best to assume , as you have that they appreciate our handmade gifts.

This is a great post. I see so many who are hurt when their gift isn't received the way they would like. I hope they see this. And when my turn comes, I'll try to keep this in mind.

That's what happened with the Christmas table runner I made for one of the DIL's. Guess she didn't care for it on their dining table but every Holiday season she has it on the coffee table in the living room.

Great post!!
I don't make quilts for anyone but my family b/c I know they will appreciate them. If someone close to me remarks on one I've made I will gladly make them one.
It's not that I get my feelings hurt- for me it's all the time and work involved. I want to know it will be used and enjoyed.
Now that one of my boys is married I make sure my DDIL likes the colors before I make something. It's like art, as someone else said- subjective.

I had an incident with my step-son when he got re-married. I spent months working on a quilt for them and using quality fabric so the cost wasn't "cheap".

They loved it when they opened it, put it on their bed right away....excited to have a hand-made quilt.... all the usual thank you's! It made me happy they liked it.

That winter, at a family funeral (of all things), my step-son asked me if I used Wal-mart batting in their quilt because it wasn't warm.

Not knowing how to respond (partially due to the grieving of my brother-in-law), I just said "you need a little more fat on your bodies and NO NOT Walmart batting". I was so upset and hurt.

Just because we live on a tight Soc.Sec. budget, I wanted to give them a nice wedding gift. Then to hear that, it crushed me.

Bottomline..... no more handcrafted items from me.

My husband's grandmother is an expert quilter. Her work is amazing. A few years ago, I made everyone table runners for Christmas and I was antsy about giving her one since I'm no pro! But she appreciated it. Now, everytime we go visit, no matter what time of year, her poinsetta table runner is on the table and she points it out to everyone and tells them I made it for her! So even if some people don't appreciate my work, that always makes me feel good because I know she could outquilt me any day!

It's so hard to tell from people's posts, but I get the gist that there are some quilters who want to give a handmade gift becasue they love to quilt, and others who make a quilt becasue they want every person at the shower to gush over it. If you (and I don't mean everyone here!) want to give a handmade quilt, then GIVE it, and know that you have done what you WANTED to do. If you want to give a handmade gift just to RECIEVE the amount of appreciation and accolates you think are due you, then give a gift card.