What a terrible experience. It's bad enough that a non-quilter doesn't realize what actually goes into a quilt, but for a "friend" who does - or did - quilt??

As she's indicated to you that she's not going to pay and that you should keep/sell it, I'd say you have every right to do so.

I do kind of like the donating it to a charity idea. Something good comes out of the whole mess. If you itemize your taxes, you could also list it on that as a donation & recoup a bit that way.

It's awful to see what the pieces donated by others have sold for. Yikes!! You might look into donating it to a charity that would not be selling it. For example, a shelter, a hospice, a Ronald McDonald House, etc. Depending on the quilt, and what the style is, you could request that it be given to a child, abused woman, homeless person, etc.

Look at it this way: You've learned a lot about doing business from this "transaction," and have the opportunity to make a sour project have a sweet ending.

And there ya have it......

I always have the person asking me to make a quilt for them meet me at the nearest quilt shop. I tell them how much yardage is needed for the pattern they want and then let them start selecting the fabrics. I then say we need batting, piecing thread and quilting thread. My cost to make the quilt will be 3 1/2 times the cost of supplies that you will buy today and you will get the finished quilt when your check clears or I have cash in my hand. This way if they don't pay me for my labor, I have a very nice quilt to keep

What a sad mess. It's really unfortunate that this happened to you. I would not continue to work on it and would probably just tuck it away for a 'time out' until I cooled down about the whole situation. I would probably just send it back to her or give it to a charity, chalk it up to experience and then try to forget it.

With more information, I have changed my mind. You have a right to do anything you want. As for postage, forget it! I wouldn't give it to her. She can learn her lesson, as well as you have learned yours. Call it storage fees.

It really sounds to me like she sent you the quilt and probably expected you to say "Oh, you're a friend, I won't charge you" or probably charge much less- again, because you were friends.

I think all the advice on here when dealing with "customers" is very good advice. A hard lesson learned, but maybe it will save some of us heartbreak on down the road.

Exactly. There were big gaps in the original information posted.

I think it was all on how it was interpreted, no big gaps at all.

as i understand it, the 'ballpark' price of 250 was agreed upon before the work began, so the price shouldn't have been a surprise. it sounds like if she liked it enough she would have completed it herself. she obviously didn't like it enough to pay for it's completion, even though she agreed to the price. this is a woman who didn't value the work, the quilt or the friendship. poo on her.

AGREED!!!!
POO POO