It keeps me out of the bar and off the streets. Any my friends are impressed that I could do that.

It's an enjoyable activity for me. Quite frankly, I am never thinking about gifting when I make any quilt as the average cost of making my quilts is around $300, which in my opinion is too expensive to gift. I regard them as one would regard a painting.

I started making my gifts when I was a child. I can still remember my Grandmother and my Aunts being so proud of the aprons I made them when I was 9 years old. I also remember going to my Grandmothers for a sleepover and on the bed were the pillowcases I made her. And my grandsons were so thrilled to take their quilts to college with them. I believe gifts should come from the heart; not the mall. Anyone can shop, it takes a special person, or artist, to make a gift with her (or his) own hands. I think mine stems from the fact that my parents couldn't afford nice gifts for us. My dad made me the most wonderful curio shelf for my bedroom, and I always got a flannel nightie from my mom. And now that the Gkids are growing up, and DD and DDILs don't need any more table runners, I am making quilts for charities and giving them in the name of my family members. All but one appreciated the thought.

I love your attitude! Keep it up!

I enjoy quilting & sewing. I do it for enjoyment & relaxing. I make quilts for people that appreciate them & also donate some.

Reading all the posts took away all my guilt. I, too, don't like housework, gardening, or cooking. To know that I'm not alone makes me feel better. I call my quilting my "therapy" and it fulfills my need to create something. I can't paint, and quilts are like giant paintings. My next project (for next summer) is making a barn quilt or two. I have a couple of places on my house to put a couple of small ones and I do have a barn. Perfect, and planning is half the fun!!
Sue

I started quilting to get rid of fabric left over from making lots of clothes over the years. Ha, Ha! The pile has been accumulating astronomically. At first I was making only charity quilts. I have eight children, 3 step children and 21 grandchildren. I didn't even think about making quilts for all of them. But one year I made 7 full size quilts. That's when I realized, "I can do this!" My "pile of quilts" is getting bigger, and soon I will have a quilt party and everyone can pick out the one they want. (My pile of fabric just gets bigger, also. LOL)

I like giving handmade gifts too, but thru the years you find that person who really does not appreciate the gift, so they are the cookies kind of people, everyone appreciates food LOL. I used to do cross stitch and needlepoint. I buy them at thrift stores and yard sales becauser I know the work people put into them. Some day I want to make a quilt using cross stitch pieces I have bought to honor the ladies, and maybe gentlemen, who made these pieces that ended up for sale way below price that the time and materials took to make the piece. I probably have enough pieces to make a couple quilts by now.

Too funny and hits very close to home, except I like gardening......AND I live in the middle of an IL soybean field, : )

I "make and bake and do" for several reasons. At least I thought so. After considering it, I realized I do it because it makes me feel good to give and receive love. It seems the more of "me" I give away, the more of "them" that comes back to me. I also like things and kindnesses that remind of those people and their love. I figure others feel the same way I do and that keeps me at it too.

My dear, dear friend is very ill. After a valiant fight she is up and moving around again. We went out to eat and a gentleman at the restaurant saw the two of us negotiating the parking lot and then the curb and he left his table to open the door for us. I will remember him in my prayers forever. One simple, thoughtful kindness that was so deeply felt by both my friend and me.

Guess my vote is on the "make and bake and do" column.

P