Table runner
 

A good friend contacted me and asked if I would help her grown daughter obtain her NBA (National Board Accredition) by making her a quilt to trade with someone. What?? She explained that each student was given a paper clip to trade for something else, and that item would be traded again and the various trades would go on for the month of June. Each student had to keep track and have what was traded varified.
I'm thinking really??? A quilt??? I wrote her back saying that a quilt would take too long and was too expensive to make. Later I felt quilty and wrote back that I'd make a table runner. I do have a hard time saying No!! So this is the runner I made...have no idea who will end up with it, but I hope it makes my friend happy.[ATTACH=CONFIG]595818[/ATTACH]

It sounds like the lesson for the student was to teach them bartering, but how will she learn if you or anyone else "gives" her an expensive item she will be bartering with someone else??? Is she buying it from you? Sounds like your making her even this table runner will defeat the whole purpose. I'm surprised your friend even asked this of you. :rolleyes:

It's lovely and very generous of you to do this for your friend. Hope the paper clip she gets in return is made of gold....it should be.

I’d give you a paperclip for it.

First of all, I really like the runner.

However, like the others, I am just not getting it!
Seems more like someone doing another person's homework.
Maybe there is something that we are missing and more to the store that you can share?

BTW what is the National Board Accreditation that this is connected to?

Ive never heard of the qualification but the task will certainly be about bartering, and business deals. For example somebody good at it would be able to swap the paper clip for a pencil, swap the pencil for a fountain pen, swap the pen for an art set etc - so each trade is an ‘upgrade’.

You made a lovely table runner- so pretty!!

Cute runner!

It is generous or you to make this for her! I hope she lets you know what she ends up with.

Your reply made me laugh out loud.

Love your table runner but I think it would have been more rewarding if your friend's daughter was with you to make it and you would just teach her how to make it. Your kindness is overwhelming-good for you.

Since it is a barter, what is she trading you for it? I hope it is something you will enjoy.

That would have been a perfect response to the Mother!$$$ would have been a perfect trade! :)

Chutzpa is what that is! You were more than gracious. Next time, you might consider trying what I find works for me. When folks expect me to make something for them or to repair their clothes (??) simply because I sew, I tell them I'd be happy to teach them how to do it. I really never hear about it again.

P.S. My real friends never go there and regularly get gifts from me just because.

Love the runner. I don't understand how this will teach her daughter anything if her mother is the one asking for something for her. You are a kind soul. BrendaK

Sounds like "friend" doesn't appreciate how much money, time and effort goes into making a quilt!--or even a table runner. Put your tongue against the roof of your mouth and make a sound followed by forming a circle with your lips. Practice until it comes easily! Perhaps "sorry" is a kinder word but you get the idea. You don't have to make such items just because somebody asks it of you. I love the runner you made though. Wonderful choice of colors and the hearts are extra special. If this is for trading, somebody's gonna get a great deal there.

You're a better woman than I am! As someone upboard mentioned, what is the daughter learning if her mother is doing the asking?
Many years ago, back in the 70's, there was a fad of taking assertiveness classes. I took a class (my husband called them my aggressiveness classes) and have used the lessons I learned ever since. Just this week a former coworker for whom I had made a baby quilt when she was pregnant contacted me and asked me to make a quilt for a friend of hers who is pregnant. What? "No" is a complete sentence. You can do it too!
That being said, I love the hearts pattern of the runner and you did a great job with color coordination. She is so lucky to have it for the price of a paper clip.

In education, National Board Accreditation is a long, drawn out process, including lots of assessments (exams, observations, evaluations, etc.) to be nationally certified to teach in all states. I have never heard of anyone having to trade anything as part of NBA.

Lovely table runner. I would trade my paperclip for it but I would hide it and not trade it for anything else. So ends the lesson. I guess I just don't understand this exercise and don't see its application to the process of certification for anything.

I should have explained that my friend and her daughter live in Texas and I'm in Iowa. So no chance of sitting down with the daughter and teaching her. I have no idea if I will end up with anything out of this besides a polite thank-you. Even though this was made from my stash and didn't require me to buy anything, after searching Etsy and Pinterest I wrote them a note saying this would sell for maybe $40 or more. I mailed it off by two day priority mail with a required signature as I would have died if a "Porch Pirate" ended up with it. Ii'm learning how to say "NO"...husband says I never will and that my heart is too generous. Don't tell him, but maybe he's right.

I read all the postings and while I agree with most, your friend was wrong to ask you to make a quilt. You have a good heart, don't ever trade it for anything. Not even a paper clip.

A really lovely table runner. So nice of you to do this for your friend

How nice of you to make this pretty tablerunner for your friend.