Thank you everyone! I joined this board a while back and I've asked lots of questions, wouldn't have been able to finish without your help.
So this was the scoop. I decided to make a quilt for Christmas for my niece who lives in Missouri. I've never made a quilt before.
I've been working my tail off on it, and here it is!
I made a matching pillow sham for her- the quilt is a twin, the sham is a standard pillow size (20x26). The first picture shows them both.
We just celebrated Christmas down in IA with my DH's family, the second picture is her daddy holding the quilt up, right after opening.
Third picture is Nasaria (niece) sitting in the box, way more excited about the box than the quilt. Sigh... she's only 1 1/2, what else to expect huh?!
I was hoping for, as I'm sure many do, a grand thank you, tears, etc... none of which I got, which was okay I guess... I just sat there looking at all the blood, sweat and tears that went into it and my heart sank a little bit. lol!
But I'm okay with it, had to let it go, had to accept that it's a gift, and they can do with it what they please. Another sigh... :)
So here it is!!! Let me know what you think- it was definitely not perfect, but I was so in love with it anyway.
Thanks again, everyone, for all the help and suggestions on it. I literally couldn't have finished without everyone's help.

It turned out great! You can't really expect too much in the line of thank you. Most people don't understand how hard it is to get a quilt done.

Awww, isn't she precious! You did a WONDERFUL job!!

Look at that third picture......

THAT'S why we quilt

What a cute quilt and a darling niece!!!

Her father looks very Happy .. and at 1 1/2 sadly they like the boxes and paper more . Someday she will Thank You for the quilt it looks perfect to me :lol:

Yes, he liked it. I should have specified- I knew Baby wouldn't be thrilled with it because what does she care?! lol. Mom was the one who was like, oh, thanks... and moved on to the next gift.
Egh.. I know that it's the thought that counts. :)

Well WE all appreciate seeing it. My family had no clue what went into quilting (and how much they can sell for!!!!) until I started quilting. Now they really appreciate it. I think you did a BEYOND amazing job for your first quilt. I am truly impressed. It is beautiful and we know and you know all of the love that is in that quilt. I am sure the lil babe will love it as well!

Only quilters really understand all the love, time and thought that goes into making a quilt!! So, unless they live with you and know what you go thru, they will never understand!!

Your quilts if WONDERFUL!!!!! If it came here, I'd be jumping out of my seat!! You did fabulous my dear! Keep it up.

Don't let Mom get you down. In a few years when all the toys are broke and gone , the quilt will still be there :thumbup:

You did a great job on your first quilt. That little girl will like it I'm sure and remember who made it for her. The other gifts will be forgotten in a short while, your gift will be remembered.

What a beautiful quilt.. you did an amazing job, and the wee one is so precious... by the way she is gripping that I think it's safe to say it will be a favorite for many years.

Beautiful quilt! You have created a treasure :-) Keep your spirits up and continue to create new quilts. Thanks, so much, for sharing your thoughts and pictures......

Like everyone has said, someone that doesn't quilt doesn't have a clue the time, effort, blood, sweat and tears that can go into making a quilt. Let alone the cost we can tie up in them :? However your cute little niece has her hand on it and a look on her face that says "keep your mitts off this is mine!" Just remember keep moms reaction/response in mind if she ever has the nerve to ask you to make her one.
You did a beautiful job, be proud of it and yourself :thumbup:

Deedles,
The quilt is lovely. Hopefully, daddy will teach darling neice (and wife) the significance of this handmade gift.
I understand the hurt. I did a pencil drawing of my granddaughter and made copies of it for the great grandmothers. I signed my work and MIL asked "who did it". My mother criticized the work...
I've concluded that true artistry is not appreciated unless the person does the same skill or simular.
Know you did your best and don't look back.

By her expression, in her picture, I think she liked it!! :thumbup:
It turned out very nicely. You did GOOD!! :thumbup:
:D :D :D :D

Super Job!

Look at them big beautiful eyes! :shock:

IT IS BEAUTIFUL!!!

Like others said the quilt will be there. My mom and dad made us quilts when we were young children.My sister still has hers and it is going on 25 years later. Quilts last a lifetime. Everything else will be gone, broken, or grown out of. :)

You did a wonderful job on your first quilt.
The colors look perfect together. and everyone is right about your quilt still being there long after all the toys are broken.
I made one for my niece when she was born. She's 30 now & still has it. And it's been well loved!

That was an ambitious project for a first run and you did a beautiful job on it. Your niece is gorgeous and while she might not have been thrilled with more than the box right then once its her blankie she will spend many a night curled up with it, cry on it, roll all over it, not be able to sleep without it.. it will be HER blanket and then... you get the thank you that we often wish the 'others' (those who don't quilt) are unable to give. I think the best thanks is the feeling I get inside when I gift something special that I have made. Making it makes me feel good (already a win situation) and giving it feels even better (a double win). Thats why we go on and make more and more.. creating something beautiful is a sharing a little piece of who we are. I love the reward of seeing my finished projects.. and immediately put them out of my mind.. so many more to start.

What an awesome quilt :-D :thumbup:

wonderful job.

You did a beautiful job on the quilt! Don't let the first reaction discourage you. The more she uses it, and the more she grows, the more she will love it. I made a quilt for a baby - and he had no reaction at all! LOL. But, years later, he is still dragging it around, and won't sleep without it. The parents probably have no idea of the time and expense that went into it, as well as the blood, sweat and tears. But, I am sure it touched their hearts that you made something so wonderful for their little girl (who by the way, is a real cutie!). You did a great job, pat yourself on the back, and enjoy the love you put into it.

Just wait until she snuggles down with it. The quilt is beatiful and you should be very proud of yourself.

May this be the first of many :thumbup:

That turned out so awesome Deeds!!!! I am so proud of you and can't wait to start our next ones!!!! I love the colors, and you were so creative with all the design and thought you put into it!! LOVE YOU SIS!!!

Very nice. Good job. :thumbup:

The quilt is great, and it is a wonderful gift, but the really neat thing is hearing the joy that you discovered in making the quilt. All of us quilters know exactly what you are feeling in completing this quilt, and it is a feeling I would wish for everyone to experience.

Your quilt is just beautiful and I love the colours you have used. Make sure you keep a photo of it while it is fresh and new because baby looks as if she won't be letting it go. You will always get satisfaction looking at the photo and remembering what a great job you did on your first quilt.

That is beautifal. You did a wonderful job. Great fabrics too.

WOW!!! You did an awesome job on it!!! No one would ever know it is your first quilt :D:D:D
Daddy is smiling pretty big...I think he liked it!!!
The little one would like the box no matter what came in it... I wrapped extra boxes for mine when they were little as the unwrapping and playing with the boxes was the most fun part to them :roll: She will grow and come to love the quilt her Auntie made for her :D:D:D

What a beautiful quilt...as many have said not everyone knows how much work goes into making a quilt..but you know just knowing that it will be covering that sweet little one will make up for the disappointment in the adults reactions...she will find it cuddly and warm.

What a beautiful quilt! You did a wonderful job!

The quilt looks wonderful ... good colors, good size, puffy, cuddly and perfect for that lovely little girl. Some people have an underdeveloped sense of gratitude. That's their loss! You have the satisfaction of knowing the real worth of the gift and I think that's the best any of us can hope for. When I give what I think is the "perfect" gift, I'm satisfied. I refuse to take any responsibility whatsoever for someone else's lack of manners or gratitude. You done good!

These are my sentiments exactly!

Amazing job for your first quilt.

Ahh!!! Next time I need a little boost, I know for SURE to come back here! You guys are all so kind! I'm misting up here... Thank you. Sincerely.
I WAS ambitious for my first quilt, but do you fault me for that little face? Isn't she such a honey?! Every time I got discouraged, I got her picture out, and got back to work. :)
I hope she treasures it as she gets older. It is FAR from perfect, but there's lots of love sewn in, and that's what counts. I learned a lot in the process.
Thanks for the affirmation. I needed it- I am so awed by the work that others show on here, I know this little quilt doesn't match up, but I am so excited to keep going- you guys have gotten me ADDICTED to quilting!!! It's a sickness, and every person on here will admit it too!
THANK YOU!!!

Sickness is right. Ha. Just ask my husband.
Hey we have all been beginners. We all have that first quilt.
You have to start somewhere. I started sewing about 7 years ago. I didn't even know what a bobbin was. Pathetic huh?
Well I worked full time up until about a year ago. I don't work anymore. Up until then I didn't get alot of sewing in. Now I'm sewing more and still consider myself a beginner. I probably always will. I do try and pick some more challenging patterns here and there but everything you do is a learning experience for the next project.
Hope you have fun and hope to see more pictures. Your doing great. Cute pup in your avatar
;-) :thumbup:

Wow, that's a really cute little girl! Oh, and that is one fantastic first quilt! Betcha she's going to love it just a bit more with each day that passes.