Originally Posted by littlehud
I always give my quilts with a note to please use them and most people do. My soon to be son in law has has packed his away because he feels it is a heirloom because it is hand made. I would rather he used it but it was given as a gift and he can do as he wants with it. SIGH
You know, in the 18 years I've been quilting I have never received a thank you card. :( I hadn't realized that until it was brought up. How sad! |
There have been many times when I got annoyed when I felt that what I had made was not appreciated. Funny thing, though, it has never happened with quilts.
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Originally Posted by Tiffany
Charisma is right, many people do not understand the time, effort, and money that goes into a quilt. I became very frustrated by this many years ago and found a great solution. It involves a bit of effort on my part but it was amazing how suddenly my quilted gifts were no longer being dragged out to use as a picnic or beach blanket. I bought a timer from WalMart, one of those that you push the button and it acts like a stopwatch in keeping time. It cost about $5. Any time I work on a particular quilt I will keep track of the time spent on the quilt. Once it is done I will add the hours to the label. Many people are shocked when they see the hundreds of hours that go into a good sized quilt and suddenly it is no longer just something to throw around & treat recklessly.
Nothing spins me faster then walking thru the park and seeing a beautiful quilt thrown on the ground, usually in the dirt, with kids running back and forth over it with their dirty shoes. I've sworn to DH I'm going to "rescue" them, at which point he hurries me past because I'm usually saying something naughty just a bit too loudly. It usually goes like this... "I cannot believe they would treat something that took hundreds of hours to make like it was a cheap WalMart blanket. How thoughtless..." I'd spout off about how quilting fabric is $8-$15 a yard and what a waste on people who can't appreciate what they have, but usually hubby has drug me past by then. I know I shouldn't, but it just really bugs me to see something like that treated so poorly. Oh no........... I plan on making a picnic quilt for myself this winter. I want it a 9 patch with calico, so if you see me on a picnic one day please don't be rude I made it as a picnic quilt on purpose. Also I bought vintage picnic baskets with painted lids, I hope to one day make matching picnic quilts to go with them and give them to my children. |
I tried selecting the recipents of the quilts....but that is not always possible to do. For example... I have two sister in laws that treasure the quilts I made and have taught their children to also treat them with respect. However I have a third that does not value anything and hence neither does her children. For those that I "should" make a quilt to avoid hard feelings...I limit not only what I will spend on the material but also what kind of time I will invest. Quickie weekend quilts have been something I felt I could give to those that dont have the appreciation for the work involved....that way everyone ends up with their quilt and my feelings are less hurt.
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Originally Posted by trupeach
Oh no........... I plan on making a picnic quilt for myself this winter. I want it a 9 patch with calico, so if you see me on a picnic one day please don't be rude I made it as a picnic quilt on purpose. Also I bought vintage picnic baskets with painted lids, I hope to one day make matching picnic quilts to go with them and give them to my children.
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I agree with Ellen 1, once you give it away, it's no longer your baby.
I have 4 children and all of them would recieve a different type of quilt from me... one would have no regard for the quilt, couldn't care less how it is used, abused.., 2 others would appriciate it, but not cherish it, and the last... use it, cherish it, and know that he will have them forever. He does not hesitate to give me "ideas" for different quilt patters.. by the way.. 3 sons, 1 daughter... the daughter could care less. amazing.. |
Originally Posted by KBunn
I tried selecting the recipents of the quilts....but . For those that I "should" make a quilt to avoid hard feelings...I limit not only what I will spend on the material but also what kind of time I will invest. Quickie weekend quilts have been something I felt I could give to those that dont have the appreciation for the work involved....that way everyone ends up with their quilt and my feelings are less hurt.
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I've been making "camping quilts" just for the purpose of perhaps getting dirty, throwing down for a nap in the park, etc. Mostly denim, suiting weight, some flannel. All of my kids have requested their own. A couple of them keep in in their vehicle. My husband and I have one in our Explorer that we use for those spur-of-the-moment picnics or naps. tee-hee.
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I read an article in a quilt magazine where the featured quilter sent a quilt to her mother in Poland. The mother cried because she thought her daughter was so poor that she had to cut up scraps tp make a blanket. That puts a whole new spin on how quilts may be received.
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Does anyone remember the scene near the end of "How to Make an American Quilt" where the Winona Ryder character drags her new quilt in the dirt? I remember watching that for the first time and getting upset. "I can't believe she just dragged that quilt they put so much time in through the dirt. Look at that! How could the director have her do that?" :-D I guess it was a little silly for me to carry on like that, it was a movie, after all. But still.
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