I guess I would have said to him. "Oh, How many quilts have you made? I sure would like to see them."
He's just a grumpy old man... Maybe his wife and mother made them and he was just missing her.
For goodness sake - don't take it personal. We're not living in the dark ages anymore and we like things that look as pretty as the one you made. You really did a beautiful job and he can put his comments where the sun don't shine.
Too bad his mom and wife didn't teach him any manners...JMHO