GrammaO

This is slightly off-topic, but I think people just don't say Thank You anymore. Over the past 3 years or so i can count on one hand the number of thank you's (verbal or cards) that I have received from weddings, showers, graduations, etc. I took photographs for a friends wedding, developed them, made an album, etc. I spent a bunch of money and time on them, didn't charge anything and didn't get a thank you. I don't think it is so much of a reflection of lack of appreciation as it as a lack of ettiquette. I am lucky, I guess. I have made quilts for most of the grandkids and their purpose was to be drug around and loved on. Didn't expect thank yous. I have made quilts for 2 of the adult daughters and both of them do appreciate the quilts. My mom loved hers and raves about it constantly. However, I have only made two for outside the family and, you guessed it, no thank you email, phone call, card, carrier pigeon, smoke signal. Sigh. I feel your pain, but don't give up. You love making them and someday the light will go on and they will realize what a treasure you gave them. (((Hugs))))

Bucket

Reading the responses makes me think of the book The Five Love Languages. Some people speak love through giving gifts. For others, recieving them isn't a big thing. I know I fall into the latter catergory. To me, as a quilter, the gift I would notice and love would be the time put into the quilt, not the quilt itself. But I am a quilter, and I know how much work goes into one. I guess some people just don't appreciate recieving or sending gifts, and that is really ok. Unless the person specifically asked for one, I wouldn't be hurt by a lack of reception. Just know you sent it from your heart, and you really may never know just how appreciated it is.

GailG

It's like someone else said -- "They just don't get it." We can't begrudge them for that. I certainly don't do it for the "thanks" but it really makes my heart sing when someone does appreciate it. My favorite thanks was when our SIL told my DD that he just couldnt believe that I had done something like that just for him. I had made a t-shirt quilt using all of their company logo shirts from years past and present.

Another special thanks is when the grandkids come to spend the night carrying their much loved/worn quilts that Mimi made (or when I see their quilt tossed on the floor next to a pillow -- I know they've been taking a nap with it.).

sue in NH

I take a piece of plain fabric like muslin, iron it to freezer paper, write using a fine point permanent marker like Sharpie ultra fine. I include the name of the recipient, date, occasion, my name as the quilter. Sometimes I just put the name of the pattern, date completed (month and year at least) and my name. My first machine quilted quilt with feathers has a label that reads "First Feathers" the date & my name. Years from now I have a record of when I started doing feathers and I'll see my progress. I set this label in a corner on the backside of the quilt before I complete the binding. Tear off the freezer paper, Turn under two edges and applique then finish the binding over the other two edges. I wish I had done this from the start. I have quilts I made probably 20 or so years ago but I don't know for sure because I didn't label them.
Hope this helps explain it.

zz-pd

That is beautiful. God bless. Penny

smagruder

My friend made a baby quilt several years ago and when she went to see the baby..... it was being used as a doggie blanket..... she is an excellent quilter and was really hurt. I agree, most people do not realize the time and cost of making a quilt....that is also true of any hand made gift.... sad but true

grammypatty7

I can usually tell how the recipient feels about my quilt because I make sure to give it to them in person. I do try to make sure they see me hand quilting on it and some will be told at some point but others won't have a clue until the day I present it to them and regardless of the time they first see the quilt, the faces light up and I mean light up. The eyes open wide in amazement and get a happy sparkle to them and the smiles just light up the room. When they get it, every single person has sat down right then with the quilt to look it over very carefully, touching and gently stroking the quilt. You truly can see the awe on their faces and that my quilt definitely touched their hearts. It's a heart warming experience and that quite often is the only thanks I'll get because although they can get questions out asking about the quilt, the words "thank you" are NOT always stated but I will hear "it's so beautiful, you do a wonderful job of quilting, I can see why you enjoy your quilting so much, it's perfect, you've made me feel so special," etc, etc, etc. With many you really can see they are choked up and emotional about the gift of a quilt as most have never had such a gift before. I make the quilt with love and gift it to them. Sometimes I will hear a few years later, from the recipient or someone close to them, how very much my quilt is treasured and how touched the recipient was so I feel the quilt is very worth the effort and love of making and presenting it. Being a hand quilter, my quilts to give are well spaced due to the time of making them so they are usually very loved and appreciated. I do know some who've gotten frustrated and disgusted with Mothers and grandmothers who are very prolific machine quilters and give them more quilts than they can use and store. I feel badly for all them but it appears the reality here is the quilts ARE LOVED but they don't want too many of them. As a hand quilter spreading my quilts among 14 immediate family members, each one has to wait their turn and are very eager for when that time comes.

Most of the ladies I know who are machine quilters and have overwhelmed their families with too many quilts now only give them quilts for very special occasions and the rest are now being made for charity use which allows them to be as prolific as they wish with the knowledge that their quilts are loved, used, and cherished. Yes, they do feel hurt and disappointment when their family members say "no more quilts as you've made me enough already."

grammypatty7

I feel the same way plus I offer to repair if it's ever needed and so far, only 4 or 5 have needed mending.

grammypatty7

I agree and most of them just plain don't appreciate or want anything that is hand crafted. In their minds, store bought is better. They truly would prefer a quilt purchased from Cracker Barrel or some other store than one hand crafted and it's truly their loss. The decor of their homes totally show this too as they tend to be homes without warmth and missing really personal items. Just my opinion.

grammypatty7

But those words indicate she had been eagerly waiting for you to complete her quilt and being 8, that was her thank you.