raptureready

I made a jar quilt for DD for her 10th birthday present. It's very different from most jar quilts, I didn't have a pattern, was new to quilting and didn't know what I was doing.
http://www.threadsoftimefab.com click on projects, scroll down to Alfreda Hopper and click on the pix to enlarge it.
There's a blank space on the top shelf--the jar of frogs fell off and broke, and now little frogs are everywhere. Okay. DH said, "Don't give it to her until she's old enough to take good care of it." I said no that I wanted her to wallow, roll, drag, whatever she wanted to do with her quilt as long as she loved it. I gave him over a year ago for his 60th birthday and he hasn't spent a night without it since. LOL Both are still looking good.

Lori S

I know exactly what you mean. It makes me crazy that all the time, expense, and loving thoughts while making it ... and it just sits in a closest.
Everyone tells me that it is because they do not want it to get ruined, or they say its because it is too precious for use!
I try to explain that I intended for it to be "consumed" in my lifetime, and not left for someone who may never have known me or the person I made it ..to "consume" it possibly in the bottom of a dog bed or covering something in the garage. Once I explain it that way .. I see more of them being used.

fsmcm

Which begs the question . . . what are they saving it for? A special occasion? Everyday is a special occasion. When I'm dead and gone, no one will want the stuff that is saved and never used, it's the stuff they are familiar with that has meaning, be it a teacup, a scarf, a quilt, whatever.

When I make a quilt for a child, I give it to the child, not the parent, and tell the child that it is to be used and abused. It will mean more to them than hanging on a wall. Besides, if a quilt wears out, then I can make another.

mlaceruby

My mother is like that too!
but not just about quilts she puts everything away that we give her!
Then after a few months or years she gives it away!

littlehud

Mine have all been used except the one I made for DD boyfriend. He loved it but has it stored in his closet. He told her if someone makes a quilt for you it's a family heirloom and needs to be protected and not uses. She can't convince him different. I made quilts for his DD and his new wife and DM and her new husband for Christmas this year and they both use them and love them. Oh well.

Grammy o'5

It may be that she thinks it is too special to use it for everyday. A friend of mine paid for the fabric & batting for a quilt for his girlfriend using Betty Boop prints (she loves Betty Boop). It was the biggest quilt I ever made, queen size to the floor on each side. She keeps it in the box because she doesn't want it to get ruined, dirty or "worn out". But she does love it!!

quiltlady37

I think this says it all.

A friend of mine opened his wife's underwear drawer and picked up a silk paper wrapped package:

'This, - he said - isn't any ordinary package.'

He unwrapped the box and stared at both the silk paper and the box.

'She got this the first time we went to New York , 8 or 9 years ago. She has never put it on and was saving it for a special occasion.

Well, this is it.

He got near the bed and placed the gift box next to the other clothing he was taking to the funeral home, his wife had just died.

He turned to me and said:

'Never save something for a special occasion.

Every day in your life is a special occasion'.

I still think those words changed my life.

Now I read more and clean less.

I sit on the porch without worrying about anything.

I spend more time with my family, and less at work.

I understand now that life should be a source of experience to be lived up to, not survived through.

I no longer keep anything.

I use crystal glasses every day...

I'll wear new clothes to go to the supermarket if I feel like it.

I don't save my special perfume for special occasions, I use it whenever I want to.

The words 'Someday' and 'One Day'...are fading away from my dictionary.
;
If it's worth seeing, listening or doing, I want to see, listen or do it now....

I don't know what my friend's wife would have done if she knew she wouldn't be there the next morning, this nobody can tell.

I think she might have called her relatives and closest friends.
She might call old friends to make peace over past quarrels.

I'd like to think she would go out for Chinese, her favorite food.

It's these small things that I would regret not doing, if I knew my time had come..

Each day, each hour, each minute, is special.

Live for today, for tomorrow is not promised to anyone..

Grammy o'5

Very unusual quilt and very pretty!!!!

sueisallaboutquilts

Yes, that's a good question. Back in my Mom's day it seems a lot of people saved things for "good" which to me means never LOL
When things get put away they may stay there. I agree with you- EVERYDAY is a special occasion!!!!!!! :thumbup:
My Mom is pretty open-minded on a lot of things but when it comes to her "Great Depression" mentality I just accept that "that's Mom". She does use other quilts I've made her though so I can't complain about the anniversary quilt :D

ruthieg

I have many quilts my DM made for me before she passed on. She taught me many of my quilting skills. I have quilts that I use and quilts that I use on display because they are smaller. But the quilts my DD makes I use all of the time. We are like sisters and enjoy quilting together even if it is on the phone. She is a fourth generation quilter.