bearisgray

Just wondering -

If someone ASKS for help in improving his/her skills -

I think it's a kindness to tell/show the person where alternate (better) techniques can be used.

It is a disservice to tell someone that something is wonderful when it isn't.

It is good to be accentuate the positive - but how can a person improve/change - if one has no idea of what is wrong or how the condition can be changed/improved?

It isn't so much "what is said" - as "how it's said"

If the person is fishing for compliments - find one and give it -

If the person truly wants to improve his/her work - then give suggestions IF ASKED FOR.

MissJMac

I was trained that in situations like this, you ALWAYS find something nice to say - then move on. No matter how horrible the project, search until you find something "nice".
"Oh Mary, I love those little bears (pause, looking over the quilt...) beautiful job, beautiful".
You don't know the circumstances of the quilt, it may be her first, it may mean something really special to her, or it be there's nothing that bad about it - it's just not to your liking.
Bottom line, everyone may not be as perfect as you are LOL