I've experienced degrees of gratitude. Anywhere from, "oh.... thanks," as it gets shoved back in the box, to "OMGosh! That's beautiful!" accompanied by kisses and hugs.

And I have certainly experienced the "have no concept of time, effort and money that went into the quilt", too. The ones willing to pay for the work, know about the work. Others must think you have a magic wand and can conjure one up in a day.

It's very discouraging. But if you think about the people, you can almost know who's going to appreciate it and who won't. For example, my brother would much rather buy a "bed in a bag" every 2 years than have a quilt that would last years and years. My sister on the other hand, would rather have the home made quilt. But she knits, so she has a clue.

My daughter made a baby quilt for her husband's aunt when she had one of her children. I thought my daughter did a nice job with it, but the aunt did nothing but complain about it. Not about the workmanship on it, but because it was home made. She told her flat out that she would never use it. I thought that was so rude of her. She said that she was afraid it would come apart and her child would get hurt with it. Needless to say, my daughter never made another thing for her. The aunt is one of those people that if it isn't store bought, it must be trashy.

My son, on the other hand, loves what I make for him. I made him a quilt close to ten years ago and sent it out to be quilted. Well, the quilting stitches have started to come out of it. Since then I got my own longarm and this past Xmas I made him another one. I asked him about the first one I made him and told him that I will fix the quilting in it. I had hoped that he wouldn't have already thrown it away. When I mentioned that, he told me that he would never throw it away no matter how bad it got. So I know that anything I make for him he will keep.

Barb

Im sorry to say I won't give any more of mine to my mother. She has 2 of them, one is a show quilt that I hand quilted. She used huge nails, lots of them to hang them on her walls. I was beyond speechless when I saw this. What made me so angry is that she makes quilts too, or at least the tops. Now, those 2 quilts have huge holes and rust rings all over them. Irrepairable damage. Lots of people at work, one lady in particular keep asking me how much I'd charge to make a quilt. I quote the cost of fabric plus 250.00. She wants to pay 50.00 and I buy the fabs, no way! well, she'll get her chance at one of mine but for a good cause next Christmas. I'm making a donation quilt out of Pepsi driver shirts that we will raffle off to make money for our adopt-a-family we do each Christmas. She can buy 50.00 worth of raffle tickets and take her chances.

People don't see it as the investment it is.

It's a shame that we've become such a fast-paced society and few recognize the value of these items.

Wow, some of you have had some real rude reactions to your hard work. I had no idea the work that goes in to a quilt, so I know that no one else does either.

The friends I made a baby quilt for recently did not acknowledge the gift. I had to get my brother to give it to them as I couldn't visit on the day they invited us. I had to email and ask if they opened it, only then did I get a thank you. Feel so deflated that all that hard work I put into it and I didn't even get a phone call to say thanks.

I think Kara and Mary are right - you should pick and choose who gets a quilt! But despite all this, the actual making of a quilt is so enjoyable and rewarding and we should all be proud of ourselves, even if others are not so impressed (I'd like to see them try it!!!)

I do not give quilts for wedding gifts anymore the first one the couple got ab annulment within 6 months and the second I never did get a thank you for and just to much work to give to people that does not care now I put them in a shop for sale and just sold another last week at least I know they are wanted and cared for just my oppinion

Well I think that if you have given someone something they should at least say thankyou, if they don´t then they would not get another. I gave my Son´s last girlfriend of 5 years a set of really nice white gold jewellery and I never got a thank you. Bet she wondered what happened this year because she got nothing!!!!

Elle

A girlfriend said to me once to never give quilts as a gift b/c it's nott on the registry is for.

Another one is begging me to make one for her daughter. I guess you'll just have to pick and choose who to give it to.

I go wandering thru craft shows, etc., and am awed by the prices. On my budget, I can't afford most earrings, much less a quilt. And for so long I thought they just charged outrageous prices because it was "hand crafted" and they could. Then I learned to quilt. Even with cheap fabric and tying a quilt, there is a LOT of money in it...so a good quilt, quilted by hand or machine, is worth big bucks. I have made several tied quilts out of good fabric. I have only given two away...one to my son, who doesn't use it "because he's afraid he'll ruin it" so it lays over in a corner folded up. I don't know what the grandson did with his. I am told he uses it and really likes it. And he did thank me as if he liked it (at only 13 years old). His was painstakingly done to replace a little blanket he carried around as a kid until it was in rags...and probably still has. John Deere. Beautiful quilt. But I truly have no one to give one to who would appreciate it. I did, however, sell one to a friend. Actually, my quilt teacher/friend sold it to her...I could not have charged her for it and would not have known what to charge. It was a simple but beautiful quilt as you go string quilt with a beautiful back (two sided, actually). She paid $300 for it and she cherishes it...won't even let her hubby get romantic till she takes it off the bed! I cherish my quilts. Unfortunately, I don't know anyone else who would.

I made a quilt for my niece's birthday. Yes, it took a long time and it was late, but I really put a lot of effort into this quilt. It now sits, for about 2 months now, on the quilt rack in my sewing room waiting to be picked up. I'm seriously wishing I had the nerve to email her mother (my snotty sister) that it has been abandoned and reverts back to me. I won't call her as she feels she needs to lecture me every time I speak with her.