What I figured out last Christmas...
08-11-2010, 06:13 AM
#51
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Roseburg, Oregon
Posts: 2,278
Originally Posted by sueisallaboutquilts
Originally Posted by hobo2000
You are so right. A very dear friend of mine was in the hospital so I took her one of my prettiest lap quilts. She seemed pleased and thanked me. Later when I visited her at home she was wrapped up in a rather dingy cheap blanket. I asked why she wasn't using the quilt and she said. That thing was too heavy for me to carry out of the hospital so I gave it to one of the nurses who helped me.
I have never made another thing for her. She is still my dear friend but she just didn't get it. She later asked me where I had purchased it,(it had my label on it). I told her I had made it from scratch. She asked if I would make one for her to give to her husbands nurse. I explained they take me 6-8 weeks to make and I generally get $300.00 for that size. WHAAAT? Yes mam. She thought I had just picked it up somewhere on the way to the hospital because "it didn't look homemade"....Oh well, live and learn!
I have never made another thing for her. She is still my dear friend but she just didn't get it. She later asked me where I had purchased it,(it had my label on it). I told her I had made it from scratch. She asked if I would make one for her to give to her husbands nurse. I explained they take me 6-8 weeks to make and I generally get $300.00 for that size. WHAAAT? Yes mam. She thought I had just picked it up somewhere on the way to the hospital because "it didn't look homemade"....Oh well, live and learn!
08-11-2010, 06:26 AM
#52
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Eidson, TN
Posts: 559
Originally Posted by lynnie
w2ow, great idea, why didn't i think of that b4 wasting al my time and money to see people not appriciate the things i make for them. i just assume everyone will like the things i make, and they don;t know what goes into it. Some people have even sait to me, wow, you made me something, it probably didn't cost much, if they only knew. My dmil loves all things i make and i look forward to making her things.
I guess I'm lucky, as far as I know anyone I have ever gifted with a quilt of mine has loved it. I made quilts for 3 friends who all had babies last fall, and all 3 adore the quilts & use them every (or nearly) every day! One mommy actually cried when I asked for the quilt back for a couple days so I could 'finish' it with her daughter's initials & birthdate.
08-11-2010, 06:34 AM
#53
Super Member
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: central NC
Posts: 1,095
Yes,the nurse was probably really happy. I had an experience where I did not put a label on my quilt and if my hubby hadn't been around to say: 'Charlie made this', all my work would have gone unnoticed. I lrearned that you have to "Toot your own horn" sometimes. Even if as you give the quilt or whatever it is, you say: I just knew you loved cats so I found some fabric at 10 different stores, I hope you like how they look together. Or something like that to let them know you cared enough to spend time on THEM. Just some random thoughts.
08-11-2010, 06:53 AM
#54
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Independence VA
Posts: 555
I agree with you whole heartedly.... I made my GD a quilt, no reaction at all, I made my girlfriends daughter a quilt and you would have thought I gave her a puppy. Your right , think and go with your gut feeling about the appreciation factor.
08-11-2010, 07:04 AM
#55
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: A million dollar view!
Posts: 8,830
Just wanted to let you know I totally understand. My DS #2 does not quilt or sew but makes Fleece -tied blankets all the time for the Children's hospital. One year I was visiting and we went shopping at JA's for fabric for our other DS #1. We chose the fleece and thought we did well. That Christmas, I received the blanket she made for DS #1. I was exstatic! I loved it. I have made probably 30-40 of these myself and given them away. Never for myself. I cherish her blanket and think of her arms wrapping me in love everytime I use it which is almost daily even in warm weather. Our other DS uses hers when grading school papers. Sorry to ramble and I didn't mean to hi-jack. I just want you to know I understand.
Blessings.
Blessings.
08-11-2010, 07:14 AM
#57
Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Pacific NW
Posts: 120
I was determined to make quilts for all of my loved ones so when I was quilting in the here after they would have something made with love to remember me by. I appliqued a king size water bed quilt and gave it for Christmas a few years ago. I then found out that within months their dog and cat had chewed hundreds of holes in it. I have since decided that I get the joy of making the quilt and once its given away I have no control over what happens to it and do not become hurt if it is destroyed.
08-11-2010, 07:43 AM
#58
Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 64
Originally Posted by Mimi Baby Yow
I have to agree..before I spend days, weeks, (most likely months) on a quilt...I would be heartbroken if the recepient did not appear truly excited...So my family members are getting kitchen "wear" this year (aprons, table runners, pot holders, etc as a test to see who is worthy.
Before I read this post - I had already decided to make quilted Potholders and see how they went over. I have an aunt who collects santas - i am aching to make a santa quilt for her but want to be sure it will not end up in the dogs bed!
08-11-2010, 07:53 AM
#59
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Newberg, OR
Posts: 1,911
I completely get what you're saying, and if someone doesn't appreciate a quilt, definitely don't go to the trouble of making one.
But I always thought a gift was for the recipient. If the recipient dearly wants a necktie, they'll be disappointed with a quilt. In all cases, I think it's best to check in with people about what they are wishing for. It saves money and disappointment all around.
But I always thought a gift was for the recipient. If the recipient dearly wants a necktie, they'll be disappointed with a quilt. In all cases, I think it's best to check in with people about what they are wishing for. It saves money and disappointment all around.
08-11-2010, 08:02 AM
#60
Super Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Florida
Posts: 1,162
Originally Posted by hobo2000
You are so right. A very dear friend of mine was in the hospital so I took her one of my prettiest lap quilts. She seemed pleased and thanked me. Later when I visited her at home she was wrapped up in a rather dingy cheap blanket. I asked why she wasn't using the quilt and she said. That thing was too heavy for me to carry out of the hospital so I gave it to one of the nurses who helped me.
I have never made another thing for her. She is still my dear friend but she just didn't get it. She later asked me where I had purchased it,(it had my label on it). I told her I had made it from scratch. She asked if I would make one for her to give to her husbands nurse. I explained they take me 6-8 weeks to make and I generally get $300.00 for that size. WHAAAT? Yes mam. She thought I had just picked it up somewhere on the way to the hospital because "it didn't look homemade"....Oh well, live and learn!
I have never made another thing for her. She is still my dear friend but she just didn't get it. She later asked me where I had purchased it,(it had my label on it). I told her I had made it from scratch. She asked if I would make one for her to give to her husbands nurse. I explained they take me 6-8 weeks to make and I generally get $300.00 for that size. WHAAAT? Yes mam. She thought I had just picked it up somewhere on the way to the hospital because "it didn't look homemade"....Oh well, live and learn!
Once I made a beautiful fabric bowel for a neighbor and friend across the street. Just for fun, I put a few of the roses from my rose garden in the bowel (I had the roses set in a small bowl of water of course). She shrieked to the other guests at her birthday party, "Look at what Bev gave me!! A bunch of roses from her yard!!" as though it was a big joke. I was so embarrassed until one of the other guests spoke up and said very sweetly, "Is that bowl handmade? It's so lovely."
Needless to say, that friend/neighbor never got another handmade gift from me. She just didn't understand at all, about the value of a handmade gift.
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