jarenie

OK ladies you are all working to hard and my head is spinning.
Here is my answer:
I make the things that I want both as color and learning. In August I decide what items I have made that I am willing to part with.
I photograph them and a brief description(size color style)
Then they are posted to a site by my daughter. I send the address to the site to the first person on my list and let them choose what they want for a Christmas Gift. When they have chosen that item is taken off the site and our of my inventory and their name is put on the gift.
I will now send the address to the next person on my list and let them choose.
This continues until there is no one left on the list.
Each year a different person is number one.
I have been doing this for 6 years now and everyone gets to pick their gift. Good comments only.
By the 1st of December my gifts are in the mail.
Now I can enjoy my holiday
Happy Holidays to all of you.

feline fanatic

Jarenie, that works well unless you want to surprise someone. Then we have to get sneaky about it by observing or asking about favorite colors, likes/dislikes, etc.
Sometimes, for those of us that simply want to bless someone with a gift that is a total surprise, we just have to be observant and take that leap of faith and hope it works out. I have been extremely fortunate so far that to my knowledge by surprise quilt gifts have been extremely well received and are also being used. Sometimes we are blessed right back. Last year, I made this scrap quilt to be gifted to my mom. "East Meets Midwest" an Asian scrappy quilt

She had no idea it was coming and I wasn't sure if she would like it or not but I made it for her guest bedroom so I figured even if she didn't like it she wouldn't mind putting it on the guest bed. She ended up loving it so much she took the quilt on her bed off and replaced it with this one. I was surprised and delighted.

JJBlaine

What a thoughtful group of quilters to take so much into consideration when making a quilt for someone. I am the complete opposite. When I've gone out of my way to consult with someone about their colors, designs, and/or fabrics, I have found that the recipients don't seem to appreciate the time, effort, and expense I put into making them a quilt.

So now, I only make quilts that I want to make. I start every quilt thinking that it is going to be for me. Then, while I am stitching away, my mind will wander to a certain person repeatedly, and that's how I know who it belongs to. Every quilt I have "listened" to has been well-received and well-loved by the recipients.

grammasharon

When someone really seems to like what I am working on and I finish it I usually gift it to that person. And yes, some get more than one gift but always are delighted and appreciative. That gives me great joy in what I do.

Rose_P

Maybe next time there's an occasion for a gift, how about some room darkening shades or drapes? This much sun will cause fading eventually. Also, there is often a situation where people sitting on one side of the table will have all that sun in their eyes. Lots of natural light in a home is good, but only up to a point.

In any case, most people are more likely to eat in the dining room at dinnertime, and then your runner will be in its best light.