I have made quilts for years,and all were gifts. Some I know are used and some are stored. I gave them as a gift, their choice as to how they use them.
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Originally Posted by quiltmom04
It's so hard to tell from people's posts, but I get the gist that there are some quilters who want to give a handmade gift becasue they love to quilt, and others who make a quilt becasue they want every person at the shower to gush over it. If you (and I don't mean everyone here!) want to give a handmade quilt, then GIVE it, and know that you have done what you WANTED to do. If you want to give a handmade gift just to RECIEVE the amount of appreciation and accolates you think are due you, then give a gift card.
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My nephew is a Univ of Michigan fan. I made him a quilt when he was young. I was down visiting a couple of years later and it was shoved in the back of his closet. He was too you to understand. I hope that now he is older he appreciates it.
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I don't know a lot about how the people use my quilts I give to them but my little granddaughter, just last week, had her Christmas quilt spread over the carpet in her bedroom playing with her toys. I think she likes it!!
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Think I might be a little weird.. I've been making quilts for select people.. and I don't need to get anything out of it.. I just see a need that they might have.. Okay.. So what am I talking about? I made a quilt for a 5yo daughter of an employee of mine.. The child is a beautiful child.. The mother on the other hand has major ADHD issues, and is extremely self centered. The child knows her mom has a problem.. Both were in love with the quilt, and I know it will be respected, and cherished..
I just started five quilts for myself, and staff.. I'm using my scraps,, and making the same quilt for all.. Planning on making the label with the name of the quilts " The sisterhood of the quilt". I'm planning on having a party, where they will have to write on the labels something nice about the recipient of the quilt.. It's going to be a bonding party.. Is it needed.. Yup.. Do I expect to get anything out of it? I don't care.. I don't need it.. Barri |
And then on the humerous side.....while my Dad was in the hospital recovering from major heart surgery, I asked him if he would like for me to make him a quilt. His reply:
"No, quilts are for old people"! Since he is "only" 84 I guess I will have to wait for awhile to make him a quilt when he gets "old". |
I have a sister in law who most would consider to be the rudest, most in grateful person on the planet. She never EVER thanks anyone for gifts, we never know if she liked something and would throw out gifts given to her kids if she didn't like them. Out of respect for my brother I would never ignore her birthday or Christmas. Over the years I have come to know that if I give her a gift that I am proud to give someone then I am okay with the universal karma and she can take a flying leap.
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I to have been let down at gift opening time, but later on I find out different. I made a rail quilt out of scraps and gave it to one of my dear friends. I knew at the time I gave it that he liked the gift but I just didn't get the feeling that he was over Moyer. However, he came camping with us and guess what blanket he brought to sleep in the trailer. My quilt! It made me happy to think that he thought enough of the gift to be using it.
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Originally Posted by chuckbere15
I to have been let down at gift opening time, but later on I find out different. I made a rail quilt out of scraps and gave it to one of my dear friends. I knew at the time I gave it that he liked the gift but I just didn't get the feeling that he was over Moyer. However, he came camping with us and guess what blanket he brought to sleep in the trailer. My quilt! It made me happy to think that he thought enough of the gift to be using it.
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I too have given gifts and wondered if the hand work was appreciated only later to receive a very touching handwritten thank you note. You just never know.
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A friend of mine and myself made a quilt for a mutual friend. It was a TOTAL surprise to her. It is a big queen size. My friend did all the terrific quilting on her Janome 6500. Great job and she was ecstatic! It looks great on her bed.
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Originally Posted by tdvxh
I made a wall hanging for my step-daughter and her husband about 5 years ago. I have never seen it since. I had their names on it so they can't gift it to someone else. I often wonder where it is but don't want to ask. Needless to say, they won't get another one.
I had also made them a large casserole dish carrier complete with an insert for a large spoon. I figured they would use it since they attend a lot of pot lucks at their church. Last week I was at DD's mil's with the kids and others for a dinner. DD mil mentioned she couldn't find her casserole dish carrier. DD asked if it was blue, because she had a blue one at her house and didn't know where it came from! EXCUSE ME?????? Needless to say when my son in law tells me they don't have a quilt from me yet (and he has a couple of times) I just tell him that they haven't given me their colors yet. And so far they haven't given me their colors, nor pattern. |
[quote=plainpat]When DH's Grmother died, we found stacks of Christmas gifts, including a red half slip she'd said she'd always wanted.All were in boxes....what a sad thing. After that,I got over any "too good to use" thoughts I'd ever had.
My GM was the same....every gift was up in her attic in the original box, saved for another day. |
Originally Posted by hazeljane
When I make a quilt for a wedding or a baby quilt for folks I don't know well, i always send a note that says, in part:
" I make my quilts to be used. If this quilt is not to your taste, please feel free to pass it along to someone who might enjoy and use it. " I would rather have them passed along than crammed in a closet for 20 years. |
Originally Posted by sixfootroad
Amen to seeing your gift used ~ no matter what it is. It speaks more than words can say ~ until you see your "gift" being used to cover the dirty motorcycle that is strapped into the back of the pickup truck! There were plenty of words said for that, but fortunately nobody else heard them!
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I made a Jeff Gordan quilt for my grandson for his birthday.
With the left-over fabric I made matching curtains for him. The quilt was all folded up on the kitched table and my daughter told him he needed to get it and put it on his bed. He said, Oh no! Grandma made that. It's one of those keep sake things, that you put up and don't use, ever! It's special! I thought it was so precious of him to think that much of it. I assured him that it was "safe" to use it. So, it's now on his bed. |
Originally Posted by CircleSquare
I only read the first page of comments to this thread, but here are my thoughts:
First, yes, it's nice to know your labor of love is appreciated. But I don't do all that work just to get a thank you. The time spent working on a quilt is time loving the recipient. That love is unconditional. It doesn't depend on their thanks. And no matter what their reaction to the gift, I still had the incredible joy of making it. That's my reward. |
Originally Posted by sailsablazin
Originally Posted by aliaslaceygreen
Originally Posted by Glassquilt
I don't give as much credence to gushy thank you-s spoken at showers as to the facial expressions & body language. I very much prefer to see the item used.
If the poor girl had carried on over gifts more than she did (a reasonable excitement over the THIRD bottle brush) we'd STILL be there!! I did attend a bridal shower where they set up an assembly line (literally) with bridesmaids opening the gift, handed gift to bride, bride said, "How nice", then next bridesmaid shoved card back into bag and stacked them. The bride never opened a box or showed anything off. I was never so disappointed. It was like they were trying to get out of there with the loot as fast as they could. |
Originally Posted by hazeljane
My thought is that not everyone likes quilts. And more so, not everyone likes every quilt. I love love love to look at the photos here, but I do not love all the quilts- some are just not my style.
When I make a quilt for a wedding or a baby quilt for folks I don't know well, i always send a note that says, in part: " I make my quilts to be used. If this quilt is not to your taste, please feel free to pass it along to someone who might enjoy and use it. " I would rather have them passed along than crammed in a closet for 20 years. |
When I make a quilt for a gift I first ask " If I were to make you a quilt, which three colors would you like to see in it? Is there any color you hate?" I tell them they don't get to select the fabrics, pattern or size of quilt although some offer their opinion any way, lol. That way I know that my gift will be something they like and will most likely use.
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A friend of my daughters asked me to make a quilt for her boyfriend, it was a scrappy, I spy quilt, where she wrote some of their favorite sayings in some of the blocks. I embroidered the "M" for UofM. This was made with all conversation prints, that she picked out, they were 5x10 inches so like a brick quilt. Well he wrote me a wonderful thank you letter, on how wonderful the quilt was, how could I part with such a great quilt, and also let me know how it would be used and loved. He had in the letter that he was covered up in it as he wrote the letter. I cried when I read his letter.
Now the saddest part, a few years they were traveling nurses, and went to California, she came home one day and he was dead (heart problem) in his late twenties. I could not get off work for the funeral and my daughter say "Mom be glad you didn't go" They had his quilt at the funeral home and talked about how much he loved it... Then his family took it home after the service which hurt his girlfriend who had paid me to make it, after a few months my daughter told that his family gave it back to her. |
I never expect to get high praise for one of my quilts when given in a large crowd. I'm make them for special people in my life. If they get one, they know they are special because I tell them this was made with love in honor of them. I also include the start and ending date. And if they think about it, they'll know I was blessing them for seveal weeks prior to the gifting.
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I always strive to make quilts that I think will reflect the taste of the people I am making for. Sometimes I don't know them well.
My brother Patrick is getting married to a woman I really like, but have only met twice. I was at their apartment briefly two years ago. Hmmm. So, I started making a turning twenty quilt I have been thinking about for a while. Somehow, it didn't seem right. I sent a photo of the quilt laid out, and then called. Patrick will love anything I make, but I really wanted Emily's opinion. It took me 20 minutes to get her to look at my quilts and give me some feedback. She finally confessed that she really loved my 1930's quilt, and loves the ones with white sashing. She felt so badly, and I corrected her- the other quilt will go to someone, or be raffled for a fund-raiser, but what I really want is to give them a quilt that THEY want. So I am having a ball making a 1930's quilt with white sashing that they can treasure and use. I also have to say again, I put my prayers and hopes for the recipient into the quilt. I also always tell them it is okay to pass it along if it is not to their taste. There is nothing wasted in my labor and intention- they are still there, and I want the quilt to be USED UP. Loved until it is in tatters. I don't make heirloom quilts. I make quilts to keep folks warm, body and soul. |
I didn't get a thank you for one baby quilt I made until the baby was in her twenties. Then she mentioned how "she had loved it to pieces!" I can't wait until she has a baby so I can make another one.
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