I received a Bernina 730E sewing machine from my Husband!!

a dodge ram, it got me safely back forth to all the quilt shops in all kinds of inclement weather.

My dad helped us build a garage in 1988, and I asked for a finished room to put my sewing and crafts in.  I has been used for storange and a makeshift greenhouse over the years, but about 5 years ago, I remodeled it and it is now my sewing room again.  I love it!!!.  Dad died in 2000, but I think of him every time I use that room.

the best gift I received is my Bernina Sewing Machine

Quilting in itself has been my best gift. It relaxes after a hard day of office work. it makes my mind work through the many options of making a quilt, it gives me a sense of worth when a project is finished and it gives me great pleasure to see the recipients' faces when they have received a "one of a kind" gift. What more can anyone ask from time well spent?

We lived in New Hampshire for 20 years and would make trips each year to Keepsake Quilting.  Husband would love to walk the lake area while I shopped.  We moved to Colorado 3 years ago.  Last summer he surprized me with a trip to New England during the summer sale at Keepsake and gave me  limitless time and money.  I did behave myself and only spent a couple hundred dollars but spent several hours gleefully enjoying myself.  

A bolt of white bleached muslin.  I just love having the fabric available whenever I need a touch of white fabric.  I also use it for sample blocks with other fabric I don't really like.

the best was a quilting frame someone gave to me. that was before i even knew i wanted to quilt.

the best was a quilting frame someone gave to me. that was before i even knew i wanted to quilt.

my supportive husband is the best gift i've received. he comes to the LQS, Quilt Shows, provides creative advice, built and paid for my quilting studio, and has paid tens of thousands of dollars to supportive my quilting by purchasing my machines, longarm, fabric, and every notion under the sun i've wanted.

My best quilting gift is from our local quilt shop, Quilter's Cupboard.  Each December 1st for 12 days they send an email featuring a special item which you can add to your gift bag.  At the end of the time you send a family member to the shop to pick up what you have put in your bag or one or two items.  Each item in the bag is something you want.  Ofter they are new notions or things that have been at the Quilt Market.

Last year I was so busy that I gorgot what I had ordered so Christmas morning was a surprise.  

The best gift that I have received was a gift certificate from my favorite quilt shop!

My mom gave me a full set of fabric bundles, it was so great, then I got to whatever I wanted with them, so much fun!! :)  Secondly, my husband gave me a gift certificate to a fabric store we visit everytime we travel, what a blast, shopping spree anyone!! :)

The best gift I got from my husband was my sewing room makeover.  He put up cabinets to hold all of my fabric stash, and a formica countertop to hold my machines, along with other cabinets and shelves.  Works great and all of these supplies were donated to my from a friend.  So two gifts in one.  And the best gift I gave was teaching one of my sisters how to put a baby quilt together for her new grandson.

The best quilting gift I received was a cutting mat and rotary cutter from my mother-in-law when I first started quilting. It made cutting my fabric so much easier and when I gave her a quilt for Mother's Day, she was just as appreciative.

I made an American Legion Post 186 signature quilt for a friend that is a Vietnam Vet and wheel chair bound.  His response to that quilt was worth so much. A gift that gave back even more.

the best gift I receive every year from my daughter is a gift certificate to my favorite quilt shop. That way, she is assured of getting something new with what I make with the fabrics. It's a win-win situation. Thanks!!!

The best gift I received was from my husband while I was first setting up my sewing room.  He bought me a Koala sewing cabinet for my machine; it opens up with counter space on both sides of the machine space, has lots of drawers and cubbies for storage, and closes up very neatly when I have to share my room with guests.  It helps keep me organized.  Love it!

My sewing machine.

It would be the gift of time from my family to go on a holiday retreat with quilt buddies to make great progress on holiday gifts. They so tolerate my excursions away that help keep my sanity.

The best sewing gift that I receive for Christmas was a chalk marker with different color inserts.

My husband gave me a Janome 7700 and with it I was able to finish off the Sylvia's Bridal Sampler that I did in two parts so that I could give one part to each of my aunts who have helped my dad after my mom died.

The best gift I receive from my quilt gifts is to see the joy in the receiver's face.  It's a full circle of love from the beginning of making the quilt to when it is received.  And that's what this season is all about!

I would have to say when the husband either offers to cook or forgoes dinner so I can sew!!!

My very first rotary cutter and mat!  It was a long time ago (the mat was kinda small and has been retired), but I still have them.  

My best-ever quilting gift was a bright yellow and red quilted wall hanging from my sister for my new home.  When we were in the process of building a new home, my young son in all his boyhood wisdom told me that the new house should have no quilts on the walls.  After all "quilts are for beds", he said.  How could I not hang this gift, handmade by his Aunt Mary?  Receiving the wall hanging as a gift was the first step toward filling the new house (yes, even the walls), with beautiful new quilts (and a few old favorites).  

The best gift I will ever receive has been my Bernina 830LE and the accompanying VIP Retreat I got to attend.  This sewing computer should be it for me for the rest of my days.  Thanks to my husband!

For Christmas this year I made a Thomas the Train quilt for my 2 1/2 year old grandson.  I gave it to him when the family was visiting so I wouldn't have to mail it.  He's into Thomas the Train and we spent an hour on the floor talking about all the characters.  He then told me this was his new blanket and wanted it put in his crib.  This made my day - love that little guy.

I made a set of Christmas tree wallhangings for myself and my sister, and used buttons that used to be my Grandmother's as the ornaments.

A really good assortment of cutting tools from excellent scissors, cutting board with ruler and rotary cutter. Now I am ready for an electric fabric cutting machine!

the best quilting gifts I've given are the crib quilts when my grandchildren were born.  Their mamas still love and comment on them whenever they visit my sewing room and their kids are in their 20's.

I grew up in Houston, but as an adult, I had been away for many years. Often, my sister had told me of the International Quilt Festival held there and how absolutely WONDERFUL it was! I longed to go! One year, my husband accrued a Southwest Airlines frequent flier reward. He selflessly gave it to me - to go to IQF!!! It just so happened that the day I planned to go, my sister was committed to a baby shower for the daughter of a long-time friend. She was worried that I would not be comfortable going alone, and tried to 'hook me up' with the sister of another friend. When that didn't work out, I begged her not to worry! I would be fine to go by myself. When I got to the George R. Brown Convention Center, I paid for my admission and walked through the doors (for those of you who have been there and can picture the sight) near the exhibition of quilts from all over the world. I cried. Not only was I overjoyed to have gotten the opportunity to see the International Quilt Festival; but also, I was mesmerized and overwhelmed by the beauty that hung before me! When I remember that moment, I still get goosebumps! And what a fantastic good day it was - from the beginning to the end - from the endless rows of vendors, to lunch with strangers who made me feel like a friend, to the countless entries in the competitions that were exceptional beyond belief... I have since made that trip to Houston EVERY year, the second year with my best friend, the next included my daughter, as well; the next, my daughter and my best friend's mother, too! And so, with that one gift, my husband created memories that will last a lifetime, and a tradition that (this year, for the first time) included my sweet sister, who was finally able to attend with me!!! And that, in itself, was a precious moment!

The best quilting gifts I have ever received have all come from my parents as Christmas gifts - one year I received a new steam iron, another year I received a beautiful pair of Gingher shears, and last year they bought me a new sewing machine.  Best of all, my dad and I got to work together on building a custom sewing table for my new machine, which was really special.

My longarm - i thought I would have to wait a lot longer - but my husband so go for it!!!

Advise given freely from my dearest quilting buddies.  Never any thing but great comments good, bad or downright funny.

The best recieved was my Janome MC6600, from my DH.  The best given was a minature quilt that was framed & matted that I gave to my Mom, who started me quilting.  She was sooo surprised!

My husbands unconditional support and understanding I could not quilt the many many hours as I do now and when I'm homesick he gently guides me to the sewing room where he knows I will come out knowing a better day is near.

My best gift is a dear husband that is the best enabler in the world.  He has bought me numerous sewing machines, fabrics, notions, and retreats.  He takes me to quilt shops everywhere we go and always asks "Are you sure that is all you want".  He lets me quilt hours on end without getting upset that the "chores" haven't been done.  He is even looking at Koala cabinets and the Bernina 830 to see if it can be fit into the budget.  He loves every quilt I make  and has asked me to make quilts for him to give his friends.  I couldn't ask for more.

I have received so many wonderful gifts, but my best quilting gift was my long-arm quilt machine.  It is something that I have used more than even I realized I would.

I've just completed an Advent wallhanging and it is the best gift I've given (so far).  It was such fun to stitch the pockets for the 25 days leading up to Christmas.

I recieved my first sewing machine, a gift from my mother, the first Christmas I was married.  I have made many quilts and other items on it, and I still have it 15 years later.

My best gift is from my husband.  He gave me a new Bernina, sewing furniture, and let me redecorate our master bedroom to make a sewing room.  We moved into the smaller bedroom so I could do it.

Fabric, fabric, fabric.

My best gift is the friendship, love and support I receive from my three dear quilting friends. Especially in the three years (today) since my husband died.  Just being with them on the occassions we get together gave me refuge from the grief and stress of early widowhood.  Thanks Cheryl, Michelle and Nancy.  You guys rock!

Each year I can look forward to a gift certificate from my sister-in-law to the store where I bought my quality sewing machine and subsequent serger.  She knows I can spend hours trying to decide which specialty foor I can't live without or which thread is to die for!

I gave my friends a lone star queen size quilt as a gift...they were thrilled

I taught two women friends to quilt.  One is going like gangbusters and it is so good to see her enthusiasm.  The other still wants/needs to be walked through projects, which is fun too since we can get together for girl talk and fellowship.

The best quilting gift I ever received was a beautiful handmade baby quilt for my daughter, Heather.  I have it to this day.  I even asked my fried, Beth Olander who made the quilt, to make a larger one for my daughter when she out grew the first one.

The best gift I have recieved is my Bernina QE 440.Since I don't want anything for birthdays or Christmas, my husband decided that I deserved something very special. I have been quilting eversince.

My best gift was my Janome Horizon, 7700... what a jem!

The best quilting gift I ever recieved was a handmade baby quilt for my daughter Heather.  It was so beautiful that when Heather outgrew it I asked my friend Beth Olander to make a second, larger quilt for Heather.  She did and it was just as beautiful as the first.n Beth gave both Heather and I some beautiful memories.

I think my very best quilting gift was the very young friend who had her husband make me a quilting frame and then she sat down and taught me to hand quilt. She created a love of quilting in me that is now unstoppable. I retired from teaching school in 1993 and since them, I am absolutely obsessed with quilting. I consider my quilted products as the best gifts I ever gave. They are given to family and friends and they love them. It pleases me so much to know I have made them happy.

The best gift I ever recieved was my rolling storage containers. I recieved two of them and I keep all of my quilting tools and what nots in them. Just love them

The best quilting gift I ever gave was one I also received: I gave myself the time to take a beginning quilting class while I lived in Singapore as an expat. I learned and laughed along with my terrific teacher, Ira Joseph, from Quilts n Calicoes. Quilting has become one of the joys of my life.

The best gift I have received is definitely my Bernina 350 PE my husband gave me last year.  The best gift I have given is actually one I will be giving this year--a "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" quilt to my parents!

The best gift is giving sewing projects and quilts to my grandchildren. Their faces are just priceless and that is the biggest and the best gift of all. I love to make them happy and they appreciate it so much.

A friend of mine discovered she had breast cancer & had to undergo a total radical mastectomy. I didn't have time to make her a quilt myself, but the Komen Breast Cancer Quilt auction was underway on ebay, so I went there & bought her a quilt (bought one for myself too). I was able to send Lyndee a beautiful quilt and donate to the cause at the same time. She called me when she got it and told me that she had opened it & was so stunned that she just cried. It is one of her most treasured possesions and her treatment was sucessful too. She recently had reconstructive surgery & is doing great.

While I've never received any material, quilting notice or sewing machines, I've given quilts as Christmas gifts. The one that stands out as the best is when in 2003 I made 2 quilts, one of which went to my niece, then 15 years old. She absolutely loved it. It was done in a butterfly motif with butterfly appliques. To this day she still uses it and when she comes to stay at her mom's house for whatever reason that is the only blanket she uses and brings with her. That was the best gift ever for me!

As a newbie to quilting, I was really struggling with finishing the binding strip once it was sewn to the quilt. My daughter (who knows nothing about sewing) gave me a little sewing box of pins, etc. she put together at Joanne's. She bought a Fons and Porter binding tool- not knowing anything about how it was used, but as she said, "You're always crying that you can't figure out how to finish the binding."  When I used it, I could suddenly do binding! I was actually becoming a quilter! I told her that was the best money she ever spent on a gift for me!

That would be this year, an early Christmas gift, A room just for me, sewing, painting etc. It came with a Horn sewing table for my Bernina 200 and a fabulous chair to sit and quilt in. Plus a big sheet of cardboard, covered with white fleece to use as a design board.  Lovin' it

When I went home to MN for my dad's funeral, I spent time (as I always do when I go home) with my best friend of 40+ years and we got to talking about quilt shops, quilts, sewing machines, thread, etc. Her sewing machine was her mom's and quite old so, when I got back home to ID, I ordered her a new sewing machine and the thread I know she loves.  She called me crying on the day she received it.  That would be the best gift I have ever given :)  My best friend, yes the same one, and my mother-in-law have given me quilt kits.  Those are the best quilting gifts anyone could give me!  I have so much trouble picking out fabric and the kits have it all done for me :)  

I would love to win, thanks for the opportunity!!  Good luck to everyone :)

The best gift that I received was a gift card for JOANN fabric from my daughter in law. The best gift I given  is a quilt for my oldest sister. the pattern is a komono that I made with Victorian SANTA and LITTLE GIRL ANGELS. The other fabrics were also Victorian Christmas theme. My sister loves all things Victorian and antique. It had been an especially hard year for Liz, and the look on her face seemed to melt her troubles away when she saw the quilt.

the best gift I recieve was a box fillt with fabric of all kind.

I never can stop quilting

RE: best quilting gift I ever received;  The best quilting gift I ever received was when I married my wonderfull husband, not only did I get my own room to sew in--I got a husband willing and able to help me rearrange it however I wanted it.  I don't know what I love the most- the room or the man!  Of course it's the man , but the room is a close second!!

I'm a new quilter, just finished my first quilt and gathered fabrics for my next two. I'm very excited about exploring this beautiful and interesting art form, so I put several quilt-related items on my Christmas list and HOPE to receive my first ever quilting gift very soon!

I found in family treasurers, the pattern from the Detroit Free Press of the lone star quilt pattern (circa 1930's or 1940's) with my mother's scribbles of notes, changes of color for the diamonds, alignment of diamonds to build that same quilt .  That quilt was given to me as a young teenager, which I loved and use.  It was soft pastels of violet, peach, and white.  I am now 61 years old and have my childhood quilt and my mother's pattern.  Oophs forget too,  I did inherit the family velvet crazy patch guest quilt with lovely lovely hand embroidery.  It came from Grandma , so must be well over a 130 years old.  Very great shape, because it was a guest quilt not often used.  My mother would have been 100 in year 2012.  Truly two great treasurers.

Probably the best quilting gift I've given is the Butterfly Mystery quilt I made.  My best friend's daughter was getting married around the time I was finishing a mystery quilt top I'd made.  The color's were a rich midnight blue, with pinks and sage (and, of course, had butterflies in one of the fabrics).  I kept feeling prompted by God to give this quilt as a gift to the soon-to-be-wed couple, but they had listed a specific bed spread/comforter on their wedding list.  I gave them the quilt anyway (which was partly machine quilted & partly hand quilted).  They were shocked & ecstatic to receive the gorgeous quilt and actually told me they were glad they had not rec'd the one they requested; my gift was exactly what their house needed and they appreciated all the love that went into the home made gift.

They still have the quilt on their bed and, despite the 7-8 years that have passed, it looks as good as new.

My best gift is my daughters & granddaughters home to help with ideas and finish some projects.

The best quilting Christmas present I've received was a gift card to my favorite quilt shop that I was given by my soon-to-be stepdaughter and her husband.   I was so thrilled that they cared enough for me to give me a gift for my passion of quilting!

Last year I gave the ladies in my small group hand turned (on a lathe) seam rippers. The woods were beautiful and the handles large and easy to grip. Plus they were made by a local artisan so I was supporting someone in my community.

My extra large cutting mat was a wonderful gift and it has seen me through many, many quilts, purses and garments.

The best quilting gift I ever received?  The sewing machines, the cabinets, the cutting table, storage units, yards and yards of fabric, cutting tools, thread, quilt books and magazines, and even the room to put it all in were from my wonderful husband, Steve.  He takes me to quilt shows and quilt shops; he offers advice and a different viewpoint when I need it.  HE LISTENS!  Yes, he is the best quilting gift; he is the best, period.

Eight years ago my husband bought me a very nice sewing machine for Christmas.  I was totally surprised.  Months earlier, he had mentioned that a friend bought his daughter a costly machine.  I told him that if he ever wanted to buy me one that it should be the one in the magazine I showed him.  I did not need a new machine.  He got me that machine and I still love it!  I am so fortunate to have that man of mine!

surprise quilty packages from my cousin, the quilt daddy!

I have been sewing since I was in junior high school. When my husband and I started dating, I made his 2 young twin boys Halloween costumes. One day he showed up with a new sewing machine for me! I knew it was love and we have been together ever since! I have sewed our young men costumes, clothes and tons of quilts over the years. I love the way these 2 young men appreciate what I make for them.

My new house.  It has lots of room for sewing.

Encouragement, persuasion, and lessons from a friend who turned me on to quilting.

I received the last quilt my mother made before she died.  She had the top completed before having to leave her home.  I sandwiches the quilt together so she could hand quilt it.  When it was finished she gave it to me.  What a memory and Gift!!

The last quilt my mother made.  Although she had the top completed before having to leave her home, she completed while living in an assistive living facility.  I had sandwiched it together so she could hand quilt it.  When it was finished she gave it to me.  What a memory & gift!!

My Matron of honor at my wedding gave me a quilt that she ha made special for me.  She is also the other person who has gotten me into quilting.  She started me on a "Depression" quilt.

My grandmother made me a "Sunbonnet Sue" quilt as a wedding present back in the late 1970's.  Sadly, both she and the quilt are gone, but the memories associated with it and the work she put into it, they will last a lifetime!!

When my friend's mother passed away, I made a rosary quilt for him. It has 4 panels of the Blessed Mother. While vacationing in Cancun a couple of years ago, I found rosaries made from embroidery thread. I stitched the rosary in the shape of a heart on the quilt so that he could pray the mysteries while under the quilt. He keeps in in a place of honor in his living room.

The very first thing I quilted for myself and to give to my mother was a Christmas tree skirt.  I still use the same skirt every year and made 2 more for our kids after they were married.

My mother always planned to start quilting but never did prior to her death.  The gift she left me was the many quilting books she had acquired with her plans to start quilting.

The only gift I ever bought myself was a Bernina sewing machine.  I did this when I earned my master degree in special education.  I figured without going to school and working full time I would have time to sew and a good machine makes sewing so much more fun.  So this was a gift I gave to myself and a gift I received from myself.  I never regretted that decision and use my machine all the time.

$100 cash from my husband to spend in my favorite quilt shop!

The best gift I ever got was the love of quilting that my parents gave me.  When my Dad passed away I no longer had someone to quilt my tops for me so my husband gave me the next best thing I ever received my own long arm machine.  Now I can finish my own quilts from start to finish.

I just found out that one of my best friends is trying to create a hand-dyed fabric stash and I will be giving her 10 1-yard cuts of my personal hand dyes for Christmas this year!I'm hoping she will love them as much as I do!

My husband built a large workshop and on one end put in two rooms (well-insulated from the workshop noise) and a half-bath. One room is my sewing studio and the other room I use to layer quilts and store quilts that are waiting to be machine quilted. Before my sewing studio, I was using various rooms in the house, i.e., my sewing machine was in the living room, my cutting table was in the dining room, and my fabric was stored in boxes and plastic drawer units in two other rooms. It is heaven to have everything in one place. There is also a refrigerator and a phone in my sewing studio so I don't have to go to the house for anything!

My husband gives me the best gifts every year for Christmas--gift certificates for the fabric stores!!!

I gave my daughter a hand quilted baby quilt for my first grandchild before he was born.  She was thrilled and said it was so beautiful that she was going to put it up and not use it much.  I told her then I was going to take it back.  I made it for the baby to use.  Trevor took his blankey to daycare with him every day for four years.  The quilt was his tie to home and grandma.  It has been very well used and still is in good shape.

Finding flannel that had bears in it in primary colors - using this as inspiration I suggested that  appliquing bears on the quilt and the people could write wishes on the bears for $5.00 a bear was my idea for the baby shower quilt since it was short notice and since the parents already had plenty of "baby items". I suggestested this to my cousin who was holding the shower, when the words " Great idea; so you will make it?" came from her mouth. I was astounded as I had never made a quilt before however I have been looking at them at the yearly craft shows. She finally convinced me that no one else had "the vision" so I agreed. My Mom and I made it together with plenty of love so it turned out. That was my introduction to quilting.  

My first Bernina 10 years ago, which led to the purchase of the 830E last month!

My favorite is the sewing machine wheeled carrying case that enables me to go to classes  equipped with lots of stuff.  

It is hard to pick a favorite...but my newest favorite is Membership to SAQA from my daughter for my birthday.

The best quilting gift I have made was lap quilts for both of my children for college.  I made it was a lot of love and they turned out great.

For my daughter-in-law's bridal shower 5 years ago, I made (with the help of a friend) a queen sized quilt, done in oriental fabrics.  I was so impressed with myself, I didn't want to give it away; however, I do see it often when I visit my son and daughter-in-law and still get pleasure out of it.

I received a hand-sewn/hand-quilted quilt from a friend that is of a small town in Italy.  She made it from a photo she saw in a magazine. I knew it took a very long time for her to make it, as all of the intricate pieces has to be meticulously cut.  She now has Alzheimer's and can no longer use her talents to make any more quilts, so this quilt is a treasure for me.

The best gift anyone gave to me was from my husband who gave me a nice quilting table so I did not have to haul my machine from room to room.  

I believe the best gift I ever gave a quilter was a package of beautiful fat quarters for her stash.  She has used them in some of her projects.

And finally, the really, really best gift I received was the knowledge and patience of my mother in teaching me to sew and start quilting.  She is gone now, and I thank her everyday.

My husband gave me an HQ16 sitdown machine with it''s own table.  Now I have plenty of room to free motion quilt any size quilt.  It's great.

I made the chenile and four patch from fp Magazine to give her as a gift including a hot chocolate mix of three flavors from godiva, comfy bath robe, and a dvd movie. She loved it. Best gift received was my 200 drafting chair for my cutting table as it used as both cutting and quilting table wherever I go due to space reasons.

I just gave my 90 yr. mother, for her birthday, a book I compiled of all her quilts that she has gifted to family members over the past 40 years.  It took some doing to get everyone to photograph their treasures but they all came through with not only pictures but many heartfelt stories about the quilts.  Needless to say, she loved it.  Her reaction was worth all the effort to compile the book.  The gift of giving was twofold, I enjoyed giving it and watching all the family members OHHH and AHHH over the collection that is our treasure from Grandma.

I gave my daughter-in-law a quilting wall hanging kit to make for her daughter's room (my precious grandaughter).  The three of us spent a whole day running from one quilt shop to the next.  My grandaughter had so much fun because the ladies at the shops were super with her.  They would let her pick out a bolt of fabric & carry it around for the kit I bought for her room.  It was such a fun day.  Mae (my 3 year old grandaughter) still talks about it.  Isn't it funny how a simple gesture made such an impression on her.

A trip to to Kileaua Kreations quilt shop in Volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii! I will be going back late next fall and bringing my Sis-Inlaw, and we will hit all five quilt shops on the island and spend two days near the one in Volcano Village, which will only be about 40 minutes to another in Hilo! I love the style of Hawaiian Quilts and the hand application required!

My mother gave me a quilt hanging that I had admired and told her that I would love to have. She had never given away her quilted projects because she didn't think that they would be appreciated  and I believe that she was as happy to give it to me as I was to receive it.Since I lost her last year it is a very special reminder of the happy times we had together as we shared our love of quilting.

The best presents to give are QUILTS!

 Last year for Christmas I sent 2 quilts to the troops in Afganastan.  Later in the year I was told that they were given to 2 local women who had childeren and they had lost everything in the bombings. This year I am sending 3 quilts, also to Afganastan, and I hope that if the soldiers can not use them that they also get passed on in the same way.

probably the best gift I received was from my great  grandma before she died was her quilting frames. She was 101 and one of the last few quilts she did was for my son when he was born, when she was 92.

My first quilting book.  I received it from my mother shortly after I became disabled in a devastating car accident in 2005. The accident left me unable to walk and in trauma-level pain 24/7 for nearly 7 years now. I have always been a creative person; but, my physical limitations since the accident make most of my prior creative activities impossible to do.  I put my heart and soul into learning how to hand piece and quilt by hand because I could do that from my bed.  Most days now, you'll find me in bed surrounded by fat quarters, quilting magazines, and notions.  The simple gift of that first book has shown me a way through all the pain and hopelessness into a place of living again and giving of myself to others through my quilts!

My husband gave me an extension table for my sewing machine.  Now I don't have to worry about the weight of the quilt to my left when I am doing free motion.

Five years ago my old trusty sewing machine which I had been given on my wedding day from my in-laws finally gave up the ghost and died after 33 years of solid use! This was 2 days before Christmas and I was still making pj's for all of our 6 children and 9 grandchildren. In despair wondering how I could live without a sewing maching, my husband gave me free reign to go to the local Bernina store and buy my dream machine, the Aurora 440QE!

When our daughter was engaged to be married, I decided to make a quilt as their wedding gift. I was new to quilting but had an idea. I wrote to the groom's mother and asked for names and addresses of all her son's extended family members. Then I wrote to each of them and each of our family members to ask that they sign the enclosed sheet of paper. I then transferred each signature to a square, embroidered the names, arranged them with his family on one side and ours on the other. Alternating the signed square with an embroidered one, putting a narrow border on the edge, hand quilting around the squares and then binding, I finished the quilt in time for the rehearsal dinner where some of those special people were watching  the wedding couple open the parents' gifts. During our presentation, we said that our daughter and husband would always be wrapped in their family's love. It was a gift to remember!

My best gift was the loving teaching my grandmother gave me. I never quilt without thinking of her and was so honored to receive her last quilt blocks after her death.

My sister insisted that I join her for a Mystery Quilt Retreat by Quilt, Etc. in Sandy, UT.  It was the ultimate gift of time together doing something that I LOVE!!!

At the age of three, my grandson was fascinated by barns that were falling down.  He called them "broken barns".  I was just learning to quilt and decided to make a "Broken Barn" quilt for him using photos I had taken in my travels.  It took almost two years to make it as I made the pattern up as I went, using photos printed on fabric.  I alternated with blocks pieced to look like a barn and used various blues for the sky with a sun in one corner and a moon in the bottom corner.  I made the back to look like a path with a photo of him riding his bicycle.  I had such fun making it, and even more fun watching him open the gift at Christmas when he was 5.

Best gift I have received is fabric. Who has too much of this!!

My Viking Ruby now I can embroidery on my quilts.  My hand embroidering sucks.

My mother passed away last year and we found a quilt she had started years ago. Didn't even know she had one! My family had it finished and presented it to me for my birthday.  What a wonderful gift!!

My Koala sewing table.  It is only one step behind my sewing machine itself in my love of equipment level.  

I have a friend who has developed lung cancer and had a quilt she need finished but unable to continue the work.  She asked me to finish it so she could give it to one of her children. One day after I finished the project for her, her son came knocking on my door with a small black handled box.  It was a gift from his mother for the work I had done for her.  Inside this box was a nice Featherweight sewing machine that she had used to start the quilt.  I was so excited, I could hardly hold my composure.  I had always wanted a featherweight but could not justify the expense.  We were both blessed with the quilt and the featherweight.

My mom has always been a great seamstress. When we were young she hand-sewed every Barbie clothing pattern she could get--our dolls had the greatest wardrobe! Now she makes quilts for every grandchild and great-grandchild. At 73, she is super busy and super giving. She also takes care of her invalid brother and her mother. But, she won't spend a few dollars for a quilting magazine, so each year for the past couple years I have purchased a magazine subscription for her. She really enjoys them, but since she won't get them for herself, it makes a great gift for someone who already has everything she really needs.

My best gift:  my honey driving 8 hours to Bennington, VT, to take me to see the original Dear Jane Quilt!  

A trip to the Paducah KY Quilt show one April.  Best gift I ever received!!!!!!

The gift of friendship.  Quilters are the most loving, giving, caring people breathing!  They saved my life and my sanity after the loss of my husband.

My hubby is a great gift giver - over the years he's gotten me a Horn sewing cabinet, a Grace quilting frame, a Featherweight sewing machine, and 1/2-yard cuts of all  the Fairy Frost colors. He's probably the best gift ever!

The best gift received so far is the quilting frame my son brought home from his grandmothers at Christmas and said that he's grandmother wanted me to have it.  It belonged to her grandmother and was handed down 3 generations before getting to me. Mind you this is my x-husbands mother and she is in her 70's.

Best gift I have ever given was a wall hanging I made for a close friend for her birthday. My mother died with brain cancer 6 years ago and I decided it was time to open the totes with all her quilting supplies. I made the wall hanging out of my mom's items and when I presented it to my friend at a guild meeting she cried when I told her what it was made from.  I could feel my mom smiling down at me and saying she is proud.  Ah I want to cry myself now.  It was a blessing.

Fabric, fabric, and more fabric!

Best quilting gifts I have received are "going away" quilts. One is from my friends at the quilt shop where I worked, when I moved away. It is a signature quilt in my favorite colors of blue and white. The second is a "Texas" quilt, with the shape of the state in the middle and blocks surrounding it with different motifs representing Texas. This was from a group that I quilted with in Dallas. When I miss my friends, I snuggle under my quilts!

The best gift I have received is friendship with like minded people around the world.  I joined in a christmas swap at an online shop and not only received a friend for life but joined another online group and made more friends, some of whom I met in 2009 when I stayed with Yvonne in Renton, WA.  Meeting them was like catching up with friends I hadn't seen for a while.  Quilting is a universal language and it doesn't matter where you are from, quilters become friends very quickly.

My husband would never buy me something for quilting at Christmas or any other time.  He does not know

a thing about my quilting as far as buying me things for my hobby.  On that note, he allows me to buy whatever I want whenever I want so I can give myself a Christmas present whenever I want.  I really couldn't ask for a more understanding and supporting  husband.   I guess I would say the best gift I ever got for quilting is the ability to make a lot of things and donate them to worthy causes.  I get a lot of joy by doing it.

When I graduated from high school, my grandmother bought me a new singer.  After sewing many years on it,  I was blessed with a new modern machine, oh my what a difference!  What a gift, that was in the 70's and its still going strong.

My brother made me a cutting table that is tall enough to be comfortable and it rolls wherever I need it.  I simply love it!  Thank you Jamie!

I have received the gift of time. As a recent " empty nester", my husband understands the need for me to be creative and express myself through quilting. I am free to  browse fabric stores, even take road trips with a quilter friend to see the works of others and shop small quilting businesses in other states. I am grateful to him for everything and am making him a memory quilt for Christmas as a thank you.

My greatest quilting gift was a quilt frame built by my brother in law and an old quilt found at a flee market.  It was fire damaged and then repaired by my sister. It was a repurposed quilt with a outside pattern placed over top of an older quilt of another design. I would love to see what is underneath but that would destroy the quilt so I will satisfy myself with just imagining what is underneath.

The best gift I've ever received was a huge table that my husband made for by basement sewing room. It's 36x80 and finished smooth as silk, so those quilts slide easily when I'm doing machine quilting. It's white so that I can see the colors properly, and is supported on four corners by storage cabinets. It's big enough for 2 sewing machines, and still has room for cutting. It's just perfect!

The best quilting gift I have received is my Bernina 230 which my husband gave me when I was starting to quilt 2 years ago.  The best gift I have given is a queen sized quilt that took me 6 months to  make and hand quilt that I gave my mother for Christmas.  She knew the work that it took to complete and treasures it. I also made my daughter a quilt to take to college that is bright and cheerful.  All her friends love it and say "I wish my Mom would make me a quilt!"    

It was about 1980. I was a stay-at-home Mom with a 7 and 2 year old. Not much money in those days. I always loved to sew, so for my birthday, my husband gave me a gift certificate to a beginning quilting class in the newly opened quilt shop in town. I learned to piece, using scissors, templates, and hand sewing. Of course, hand quilting finished off my first project--a pillow top. This gift was the perfect gift for me since I would never have spent that kind of money on myself. Needless to say, I have grown tremendously both in skill and methods since that day, but it was the beginning of a lifelong source of pleasure and passion for me.

The best quilting gift i ever received was lessons in how to better my techniques.  I take pride in my quilts and am always looking for ways to improve. The lessons really helped me make much better quilts.

The best quilting gift i ever received was lessons in how to better my techniques.  I take pride in my quilts and am always looking for ways to improve. The lessons really helped me make much better quilts.

The best quilting gift I've received is the Mariner's compass bed quilt with matching pillows and wall hanging that my mother designed and made for me.  The best quilting gifts that I've given are the baby quilts made for grandnieces.

The best quilting gift was the machine & cabinet my parents bought for me when I was l8 years old, and a budding quilter, it is still in service along with 2 other machines, but this one was hard to beat. The best quilting gift that I've ever given were individual quilts made for my grandaughters.

A friend knew of my interest in quilting.  She gave me a vintage scrappy quilt top made by her aunt.  When her 50th birthday arrived as she was enduring cancer treatment, I gave it to her for to me it  is such a sentimental quilt top.  Her aunt who made it was present and my blessing was two fold as she touched and remember scraps.  She shared her remembrance of whose garment the fabric was cut.  Everyone present, even the gents were teary eyed.  My friend continues to be overwhelmed at her "surprise."  So pleased is she that she has become a quilter, with me as her mentor.  Making people happy is what quilting is all about for me.

re: December Member's Survey Contest - What is the best quilting gift you have ever given or received?

My son and ex daughter-in-law gave me a hard copy of "The Quilter's Companion" back in 1990. It is always at my fingertips. Other than that nobody has given me anything pertaining to quilting or sewing.

My DH is in the process of completing a brand new (and huge) sewing/quilting room above the garage.  

A huge box of Civil War fabrics from my DH!

~Hopppy quilting~

My great grandmothers quilt Dresden plate pattern.

Best gift I ever gave was a quilt to my grandfather.  I think he used it every day until he died, and I know he thought of me when he used it.  When he died, I got it back; and every time I use it I remember him.  

The best I made was a twin Cars quilt for my grandson. He loves Cars so I bought squares and racing fabric to make him a quilt. It ended up larger than his bed but now him and his brother share the quilt together. YEAH for them being toasty warm in Wisconsin under Grandma Pam's homemade quilt!

Let's travel back to 1974. I had 2 very good friends that decided to get married and I wanted to give them something really special for a gift. I made this awesome quilt top and my mother helped me quilt it so I could have it in time for the wedding.  I think it was the prettiest quilt I have ever made and quilted. At the reception they waited to open it last and the groom stood on the table to show it off. It is an awesome feeling when something is appreciated that much.

My step dad gave me my mother's sewing machines and quilting supplies after she passed and I felt her machine needed to continue making quilts for charity as she had done.. So you might say I got the gift of Quilt making from my mother. Each year I make more then the last, This year I have made 20 quilts for charity with those machines.

About 17 years ago, my husband surprised me with a wonderful Hinterberg full-sized quilting frame. It has become my favorite tool, bar none. Granted, I only do my bed-sized quilts on it but it is always holding a quilt in progress; then my Hinterberg hoop is my tool-of-choice for baby quilts, etc. Then, giving both my daughter and granddaughter sewing machines for Christmas was a joy. My granddaughter was only 6 - but she sews like a pro now!! Sewing is a wonderful gift to give to anyone and quilting is a treasure to be passed down through generations.

Ever since my grandma had shown me how to sew a quilt by peicing it by sewing machine then Hand quilting the whole thing I had fell in love with quilting now im 26 and starting into it again I have had so many projets going at once at grandma's house i was beging to thinkg she was tired of me coming up to see her 5 days a week.  So last year i asked for a sewing machine it did not have to be new..so under the tree with a bow and my name was grandmas singer stylist i have loved that machine sincei  was little and still love it now..it may be old but it works just fine...and that would have to be the best christmas present i have ever gotten.

Ever since my grandma had shown me how to sew a quilt by peicing it by sewing machine then Hand quilting the whole thing I had fell in love with quilting now im 26 and starting into it again I have had so many projets going at once at grandma's house i was beging to thinkg she was tired of me coming up to see her 5 days a week.  So last year i asked for a sewing machine it did not have to be new..so under the tree with a bow and my name was grandmas singer stylist i have loved that machine sincei  was little and still love it now..it may be old but it works just fine...and that would have to be the best christmas present i have ever gotten.

About 10 years ago I was waiting tables in the small town I lived in and one of my regular guests brought in a quilt she was working on. I fell in love with it immediately and asked her all of the details about it. She said that she was taking a hand piecing class at our local community college and a new session was beginning the next week. I signed up that night for the class (my first quilting experience). When classes began the next week, the instructor offered us an opportunity to purchase Gingher scissors at a great price. Being left handed, and seeing they offered exceptional scissors for lefties, I ordered a pair, and prayed I could make enough money during the next few days to pay for them at the next class. When the next class day arrived, I took the money I had worked so hard to make that week and excitedly approached the instructor to pay for my treasure. She informed me that a secret angel in the class had bought them for me. I stood right there in the class and cried. I never found out who gave me this amazing gift, but I am sure it was the wonderful lady that had introduced me to the class. To this day, my scissors are my most prized quilting possession and I think lovingly of the angel that allowed me to have them.

Several years ago I made a "comfort quilt" for a lady in my bookclub who was terminally ill.  I had members of the book club create a square, including squares produced by immediate family members.  I did not know this lady very well, but came to know her better through my contact with each of the people who made a quilt square.

Also, about 10 years ago, after the death of a good friend, I made his wife and 2 children quilts out of his clothing.  Each of them chose t-shirt and/or sweatshirt logos from places they had visited, etc. and then I embellished with fabric that had patterns that were characteristic to each of them.  It was a healing process.

And!  I made a lap quilt for my "difficult" Mom when her Alzheimer's began to be visible.  This was also a healing process!

My mom handed down to me several quilt tops made in the mid 1800's.  I recently finished hand quilting a lovely basket quilt.  I have one more of these antiques to start on.

My son bought me a Accuquilt GO! and my Mom gave me a gift certificate to my favorite quilt store.  

my portable sewing machine my hubby gave me last year

The best quilting gift I've rec'd was a wedding quilt my MIL made for us 16 years ago.  She used our wedding color (dk. green) to make the Irish chain quilt.  The unfortunate thing is that we have a black cat and we're afraid to use it and have him get it hairy!  Either way, it meant a lot to us and I appreciate it even more now that I quilt too!  

The BEST quilting gift I've received was last Christmas when DH gave me an early Christmas card (in November!) and in it he wrote "Good for ONE new sewing machine.  Merry Christmas with love" !!  

He knew I'd been looking at new machines, but it meant a lot to have HIM think about it - and before Christmas !  

The best gift I ever received was my father (the engineer) who taught me how to sew and most of all to be fearless in everything.  Because of him I've been sewing since I was eleven.   I have been quilting for the last 5 years because I was surprised with a Brother 6000D upon my return from a hospital stay from the next great man in my life, my husband. I have been very fortunate and I count my blessing every day.

I would love to win any amount of fabric.

My mother taught me to sew and quilt.  She has been gone for years now, but every time I do either, I think of her.

The best quilting gift I have ever received is a box of fabric my husband had collected over the years. He had it in Ohio as a friends place and when I got it I have since made a queen quilt, a twin Quilt, 2 baby quilts, and I still have a little stash left to work on a few small projects for small gifts.

I would have to say that my Bernina Artista was the best quilting gift I have every received.  It was actually a retirement gift for myself!  I had not had a new sewing machine in over 40 years, and felt I was well over-due.  It has really opened up the whole world of quilting for me and I am loving every minute of it.  It also has opened a whole new world to my husband, who is still in shock at the cost... but he is adjusting and now is happy to go along on shop-hops and is comfortable dropping in at every quilt shop on our trips.  Now, I need to work on that new long arm I am wishing for!

I started learning to quilt nearly three years ago.  The first quilt I completed I gave to my mom and since then I've given more than a few to family members (with quite a few more family members on my list). The best quilt giving though, was to a friend of mine who although we haven't been face to face in more than four years we've stayed in touch over Facebook.

Her daughter had posted that my friend was very, very ill and in a hospital in Miami (she lives in Green Bay, WI).  I had intended this particular quilt to be a donation to a 'family house' where cancer patients go for a break from the rigors of treatment, but I felt Gerti really needed it now.  I sent it to her at the hospital and knowing how much it meant to her touched me in a profound way.  She is now home and well and I'm grateful for that. (^_^)

I received the gift of a series of workshops given by a quilt teacher I have admired for many years!

When I started in 1997 my WONDERFUL husband converted our 3rd bedroom into "my quilt room" with cutting table, book shelves, fabric storage, etc!  What a wonderful gift (him and my quilt room!)

My husband converted a room in our house into my "Quilt Studio" as he named it!  And he built a sewing table with drop for my sewing machine.  Best gift(s) ever!

The best gift I have ever given is a Memory Quilt of my daughters wedding that I made for my

daughter Amanda and son-in-law Matt.

The best gifts I receive are the quilting gifts from my family.  From a quilting room to the wall board

to the many supplies such as patterns, books, fabric etc.

The best quilting gift I ever received was the encouragement & support of a group of friends who are quilters.  They kept telling me I could get into quilting, that I could be good at it, that I could gain satisfaction from it, despite not having sewn in over 25 years!  They took me with them to shop hops and a quilt shop tea, showed me how to make quick projects like a table runner and tote bags all the time telling me how well I was doing.  They brought me back from the brink of desperation after a devastating job loss by taking me under their wings & showing me how to fly again.  Their praise and help has been invaluable and I am so grateful they kept me going!

  The best quilting gift I ever gave was a baby quilt I made for a friend whose child was born with some serious heart problems.  Her daughter lived for almost four years, but when they buried her they included the quilt I had made for her. I was so very honored and touched to have been able to provide some small measure of comfort and love for a friend and her ill child.

last Christmas my husband gave me my new Huskvarna sewing machine, It is the 835 model with a wider throat space.  I can actually quilt a queen size quilt quite well  without too much strain on my back.  An with the needle up-down program, that really helps me when I am appliqueing or when I have small pieces to sew together.  I don't need 3 hands anymore!

The best quilting gift I gave I think were the quilts I gave my 2 sisters.  Both had embroidery and appliques on it.  jAnd I hand quilted both.  What you will do for a sister you love.

I have 7 grand chrildren, i gave each of them a full size quilt for thier bed last christmas. they were so happy that i had made them quilts and in thier fav colors. i used the log cabin pattern and it went pretty fast.

the best gift i have received is my grace pro quilting frame. and a month later i received a viking saphire sewing machine with a 10 inch throat. i love my gifts and enjoy making quilts for family and friends

The best quilt Christmas gift I gave was the year I gave each of my nieces, nephew and sons quilts (8).  Each quilt was a different pattern, 5 were made from scraps of fabrics the kids recognized from previous home made gifts, and all the quilts had a piece of their grandmothers, bathrobe worked into one of the blocks. All rhe quilts were opened at the same time and expressions of joy were mixed with tears. A very memorable Christmas.

a quilt made for xmas based on a small counted cross stitch i had done and thrown out by way of a friend.  she used it and made me a christmas quilt with it in the center.  it was so special and she topped it off with a all around good basic quilting reference book.  It was worth so much in $ and in thoughts and caring.  It has never been topped even by her.

Several years ago I received a Singer Featherweight sewing machine for Christmas from my best friend. I was totally floored.

The best gift I ever gave was the quilt I made for my husband for his chemotherapy treatments. On the day we expected to start chemo, they told us there were no markers! I feel like my "cancer quilt" did the trick! He remains cancer free almost 2 years now.

The best quilting gift I ever received was a completely hand made and stencilled owl from my then best friend, who has died and is still missed.  Best one I gave was my younger daughter's wedding quilt - stencilled flowers on the front and Tifaifai on the back.  The look on Jude and Colin's faces was worth every stitch (and it was only slightly late!!).

Easy answer! A 45mm Olfa rotary cutter.  Without that I never would have gotten so into quilting and all that it entails.  That make cutting accurately a pleasure and therefor a growing and continued involvement in the ever expanding "quilting world".  That cutter really started it all and continues to be in constant use in my work.

The best and most ultimate gift I give at Christmas are quilts to my loved ones. The look in their eyes and the smiles on their faces are priceless!! I am a giver not a receiver and each time I cut a piece of fabric or sew a patch together or put the last stitch in the binding I know I'm that much closer to seeing the love, joy and thanks for the quilts I give. Can't wait for Christmas morning!! Merry Christmas everyone!

The best quilting gift I have ever received is my Accuquilt Go that cuts fabric pieces quickly and easily. My husband bought this for me because as a busy mom of four and a fulltime college student, I was getting frustrated with the amount of time it took to complete a quilt. This machine has saved me so much time and improved my accuracy. The best gift I have ever given is the quilt I'm giving my grandmother for Christmas this year. It is a throw size quilt that incorporates pictures of all of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. My grandmother is 83 years old and most of the family is scattered across the country. With this quilt, she can see all of us every day. In addition, I poured my heart into this quilt from the fabrics to each and every hand stitch. I just know that she will love it as much as I do!

The best quilting gift I recieved, was a certificat to take a beginners quilting class at a local quilt shoppe from my mother two years ago.  She also gave one to my new sis-in-law, and this was perfect for us to learn to quilt and get a few nights out and bond as sisters!!  :)  The best gift I've given, I believe, was to my grandmother about 13 yrs ago, my mother and I made a picture quilt christmas wall hanging, that had the faces of all 22 of my cousins and I on it for my grandparents to look at and feel as if they were still getting the whole family together for christmas.  They had previously had a huge christmas parties with all of my aunts, uncles, and cousins every year, but they had just moved to Florida and weren't able to visit with the family for the holiday.  

The best quilting gift I ever received was the Janome 6600 my husband bought me for Christmas when I said I wanted to learn to quilt.  It is my treasure.  The best quilting gift I ever gave was the memory quilt I gave my best friend, made from the tee-shirts of her deceased son.  It was a total surprise for her and she said it was the best gift she had ever gotten.

As someone who didn't even know how to thread my machine my best gift was from my husband, a series of lessons from my fabric store to make a "Sampler" quilt for our Cal King bed, where I met my best friend, my teacher Mary Moody Cox, who has won contests and had her quilts on national tours.  There is nothing like a good foundation to increase a lifement of quilting enjoyment.

I must say my husband is my best quilting gift ever.  Any notion, fabric or machine I have ever wanted, he has let me get or has gotten it himself to give me as a birthday or Christmas present.  He has been given my Wish List for this year and as my birthday is 8 days before Christmas, I don't know what I will get.  I do know that I am NEVER disappointed.  My Viking SE and my Babylock serger are workhorses when doing community service for my quilt guild and that would not be possible without my husband's love and support of what I do.

My Tin Lizzie  I have literally spent hours of pleasure quilting.

I was given a quilt top that we in the south is called "a Dutch Doll" by a great aunt, that she hand pieced in the early to mid sixties. What a treasure!

I have never gotten one, so I bought one for myself.  I got myself an Accuquilt GO.  That machine is so fun to use!

The best quilting gift I have ever given is a crib quilt I made for the baby shower for a young woman whom I watched grow from a giggly teenager into a beautiful and accomplished mother-to-be.  She lost her father, who was a dear friend of mine and my husband's,  just before last Christmas. He admired hand-worked items of all kinds, and I regret that I never had a chance to knit the socks that I promised him.  I hope that his granddaughter's quilt makes up for that lapse.  

Our last daughter married and my husband as what I would like to do. I said learn to quilt.  He took me to wal mart said pick out some things for quilting. I said ok.  So I went and looked at fabric. He called me over and he had preplanned with a clerk:  Every thing for quilting was sitting on the checkout counter. Litterly, everything you could even imagine was their. So, I have been quilting ever since 1985. He even purchased a fold up dinning table for a quilt table (holds 2 1/2 yds fabric). My hubby is great. My best friend and hubby taught me how to quilt.

The best quilting gift I have received is a weekend quilting retreat at It's Sew Fun in north Georgia.  I was able to use the long arm and finish the quilts for my great grandson and great granddaughter,both born this year.  I was "sew" inspired that I have been sewing up a storm since my return.  Now I want a longarm!

One Christmas my husband made me a large wall cabinet to hold my many spools of thread.  It meant the word to me because he made it from a picture I Had shown him.  We were married 31 years and divorced this year.

The best quilting gift I ever received is a quilt my Mother made.  Squares are embroidered with

all the state flowers and it is hand quilted.  Priceless!  I remembered her working on it over the

years and even did a little quilting on it myself.  She gave it to me as a wedding shower gift

37 years ago.  

Last year the day after Christmas my best friend in the world went home to be with the Lord.  Before she died, she made me promise to take her Mid-arm quilting machine.  I am now the proud owner of her machine.  Everytime i get stuck, or am not sure of how something looks, I honestly can hear her in my ear telling me it's just fine.  The machine is great, the closeness that I feel is priceless.

The best gift I ever received was from my beloved Aunt Lillian.  She sparked the creativity in me and taught me embroidery and to crochet. After my grandmother died I rec eived a lap quilt my Aunt Lillian had made for her mother.  It wasn't anything fancy just functional but I wll never forget that lap quilt with the Holly Hobby fabric as a backing.  That little lap quilt inspired me to start quilting.  The best gift I have given was the baby quilts, receiving blankets at burb clothes I gave my daughter when My grandson was born.  I also in that baby gift made a special wall hanging for my daughter that was a variation of a log cabin heart.  While making all the baby quilts and things I realized that when a  baby is born we always give gifts for the baby but never for the mother so I made that special mother's baby gift.  I am currently designing a matching quilt from many of the heart blocks I have made to match the wall hanging.

The best quilting gift I gave was the gift of the first quilt I ever made to my Goddaughter for her 25th birthday. I usually don't give away the "first" thing I make of a new craft I've undertaken but I just couldn't resist. It was a lap quilt but I made it to be used as a wall hanging.

I've gotten quilting gifts for more years than I can count - everybody knows anything related to quilting will be a hit with me.  But the VERY best quilting gift ever is my drop-leaf work table.  Long and wide enough for unfurling and cutting fabric while still having room for my little piles of papers, pencils, pin cushions, cutting tools, and whatever else happens to land on that large flat surface!  My husband hit a home run with this gift.

For my birthday last summer, my hubby bought me a Janome Horizon....a real "Cadillac" compared to what I was sewing on before.  I love it!

Last week my wonderful husband just let me go into our local Bernina shop and purchase a new 830LE along with any attachments, carriers, or supplies I needed/wanted.  No wonder we've been married for 35 years!  I think winter in N. Idaho will seem a lot shorter and brighter this year.

I got a zippered storage case with all kinds of zippered  pocketss for pins , needles, scissors, cutting tools. I love having everything I need to carry with me wherever I go.e

I received a quilt top that my friend bought at a yard sale in Gettysburg for $.50!!!  It appeared to be from the 1940's.  I added appliqués flowers and vines to blank areas,quilted it and it is one of my most treasured quilts.

I received a quilt top from my friend who purchased it at a yard sale in Gettysburg, PA for $.50!!!  It appears to be from the 1940's.  I added appliqués flowers and vines to blank areas and quilted it.  It is one of my most treasured quilts.

The best quilting gift I've ever gotten was a floor hoop from my husband. It meant that he really supported my hobby.

the gift I received was a little one froma then Viking teacher, Connie Palmer.  She asw me struggling with cliping threads and gave me HER little havel clippers.  They work with one hand and a squeeze motion.  They have been used for clipping, trimming, and other sewing uses.  Thank you Connie

the gift I received was a little one froma then Viking teacher, Connie Palmer.  She asw me struggling with cliping threads and gave me HER little havel clippers.  They work with one hand and a squeeze motion.  They have been used for clipping, trimming, and other sewing uses.  Thank you Connie

The best gift I have given was a flannel Christmas quilt made for a daughter from a pack of beautiful cuts that she had given me for Christmas a couple of years earlier.  It was a log cabin quilt with a Father Christmas panel in the middle.  We were full time motor homers then, and I needed a place to lay it out to arrange the blocks.  I took it to a sister-in-laws home where her father and uncle decided they could arrange better than the ladies.  And they did a good job!  I used their work and noted on the label who had done that.  She loved it and cried when she read the label.  I gave a gift and got one in return!

I bought a Bernina 8209 machine and had to buy a table with it because it is so heavy.  For christmas that year my husband gave me the companion drawers to the table It is the best.  Stoes a lot.

The 1/4" sewing foot is indispensable.  I use them on my Pfaff 7570 and my Quattro 6000D.

The best gift I ever did for my three bothers and there reaction they gave me when they got them I was going to have a brain surgery done and for me to make something for them to where they could always know how much I cared about them. My surgery went great but they are still happy with their quilts

The best gift I ever received was my husband  offering to turn a corner of our bedroom into a sewing area so I could sew while on dialysis .

The best gift I ever did for my three bothers and there reaction they gave me when they got them I was going to have a brain surgery done and for me to make something for them to where they could always know how much I cared about them. My surgery went great but they are still happy with their quilts

I made my daughter a quilt for Christmas 5 yrs ago and little did I know she was diagnosed with cancer a week later (she survived. She took her quilt to her treatments with her and all the staff signed it for her on the day of her last treatment. That was, and still is, my inspiration for further quilting!

The best gift I have received is my husbands support and always remodelling to fit more quilting things in.  The best gift I gave was a fishing themed quilt to my grandson who is so proud of that quilt that he folds it up every day so no one will sit on it and then covers himself when he goes to bed.  The look on his face when he received it I will always cherish.

The best gift I gave was 6 quilts I made out of my father-in-laws clothing after he passed away. Each of his children were given the quilts to be passed down within their families.

The best gift to received is always fabric shop gift certificates.

This year I made a rag quilt for my cousin who had cancer and stays on the couch.  Unfortunately, she passed the day I was going to give it to her.  I gave it to her mom instead (with 2 matching rag pillows), it was enscribed "TO DONNA - CHRISTMAS 2011 - LOVE - VIKKILEE".  Her mom proptly put it on her couch and it is helping with her and my uncles griving process.  I used rainbow colors in felt so it is very colorful and a great reminder of their wonderful daughter and my friend.

I got my first rotary cutter as a gift. Years ago. Of course I fell in love with it and now have several. As time goes on they some how improve them! I can not imagine how much time this little tool has saved me though out the years. Thank you dear daughter!

I have received two sewing machines as gifts, one from my husband for my birthday and one from a parent's friend who passed away & wanted me to have her machine.  But, I think the best "gift" I've gotten is the chance to make quilts for each of our nieces and nephews (13 all together).  So far, I have completed two, am quilting two more now & have the supplies for a fifth.  Each quilt has taught me a new technique & given me the joy of giving something special to each of these family members.

The best quilting gift that I received is my Bernina 440 machine.  

As a new quilter, I won a fantastic basket full of fabric, patterns, thread, books, and notions to launch my new found passion. It was one of  two huge door prizes at an all day Quilter's event in our area, and I was thrilled to receive it. I now patronize the sponsoring quilt shop on a regular basis!

Last year I received a Bernina long arm frame from my husband.  I love using it to put the finishing touches on a quilt.  I would have been just as satisfied receiving fabric, but this definitely topped my expectations:)

A Viking Scandinavia 400 sewing/embroidery machine in 2005!

My mother-in-law gave me the best quilting gift ever. My Bernette sewing machine was plugged in on my dining table (the only place I had to sew) and my dogs ran through the room, knocked the sewing machine to the tile floor and broke it.  I was recovering from heart surgery and we just couldn't afford to replace the machine.  My precious mother-in-law sent me a generous check and I spent weeks and weeks researching sewing machines.  I finally decided to purchase a Janome with a quilting table.  It opened up a whole new world to me and I will never be able to repay her for such a wonderful gift.

My husband bought me a new sewing machine a few years ago, Brother Quattro.  For each $500 you spent you got a chance of a flat screen TV.  We won the tv(we never win anything!) and we needed a new tv at the time.  It was supposed to be 42 inches but since the store was out of that size they gave us a 46".  

The best gift I have received is the beautiful sewing machine cabinet my husband built for my new Bernina sewing machine.  He also built two bookcases for all of my craft-related books.

About 27 years ago my daughter gave me the first fabric "medley" I ever had!

what made me proud ,was when i made a bib and a baby blanket for a friend . i had never made anything before. i had no help. thank you. merry crhismas to you and your. and to everyone that reads this. i will be 65 march 16 2012. and learned to sew on my own.

The best quilting gift I have received is ongoing:

Each time I go to a quilt gathering, be it Paducah, Lancaster, Burlington, Nashua, Sisters I feel welcomed by everyone I meet.  Can't ask for a better gift than that.

I am a Project Linus Blanketeer and I have given beginning quilting lessons to new quilters that have expressed an interest in joining our group and sew for charity.  The recipients are always enthusiastic and grateful for the lesson.  Sharing my love and knowledge of sewing is always a gift I give freely.

I am thankful to the Pioneer Quilter Guild in Rocklin California for never giving up on me each time I said no I don't sew.  I had been turned off from sewing by a home ec teacher who kept making me take out my zipper over and over until I did not even finish the dress because she would not let me do it at home and there was no machine available for me to use at the school.  But everytime I said no the ladies kep telling me it was not sewing it was quilting.  You see I worked at a Christian camp as the food service director and they came up there for retreat every 6 months. So after 3 times 1 1/2 years I said yes so when they came up 6 months later Marcy brought me my first sewing machine,rotary cutter and mat,  it was the machine that she used as a child and the ladies donated fabric in all the colors I love and Marcy taught me to quilt.  I am so thankful to Marcy, Sandy, Diane and all of the other ladies in the guild who gave me a love for a wonderful hobby that I have been able to bless many others with.

One Christmas I was complaining that I didn't like the way my quilt signature block looked with my awful hand writing, so my wonderful husband got me an embroidery machine and now all my signature blocks look nice and neat. I know that signing them is the way to go but no one would be able to read mine if I signed it.  

My very first quilt I ever made was for my town's St. Patrick's Day celebration in 2007. It was huge and beautiful. It was raffled off and one of my good friend's won it. My birthday was the next week, and she brought it back and gave it back to me for my birthday. She said I should be able to keep my very first quilt. So, it was given and received and very treasured!

My best gift is free information from more-experience quilters than I am. It gives me a good start without unnecessary mistakes. One lady in particular has given me step-by-step instructions. She is so kind to do this for me!

I love to sew.  When retired I spent as much time as possible gathering materials, threads and all the items we use to make quilts.  I made small  gifts since most of my time was caring for my beautiful mother.  She was so good at sewing, made most of my clothes, curtains, bedspreads, re upholstered furniture and so much more.  I learned by watching her at the machine.  When I was married, she gave me one of her well used machines, a portable Greybar.  Over the years we both bought newer machines and passed down the well loved ones to granddaughters and daughters which identifies my most favorite gift, our used machines.  The last one is a wonderful Baby Lock quilter's edition I gave to my daughter( when I got the Bernina Aurora QE 440). With that she has been making beautiful quilts, won the Blue Ribbon at the fair two years ago.  Unfortunately my mother never got to see the quilts before she passed on but she did receive home sewn gifts from my daughter and granddaughter.  The portable sewing table would be neat to have, I have an old portable typing table that I've used in a pinch.  Sewing and gifting mean sharing love with others.  Thanks for the space to share with all of you too.  

Phyllis

Hmmm my best gift  is my wonerful husband :-) He loves the fact that I quilt.  Though he is crabby sometimes, as long as he gets a new quilt for his Truck (Peterbilt) and some new pillow cases occasionally he is happy.  He also says that he would much rather have me hanging out at Quilt Shops than the local Watering Holes!! LOL LOL.  He is a great gift.

I think that the Fons and Porter Binding Tool was the best tool I ever bought and as a result I have given them to other quilting friends.  They agree with me....the best tool ever!

I would have to say the best quilting gift I have ever given was a quilt made from the pattern Turning Twenty, which I love because it makes a good size quilt and is different every time.  I made it with blue fabrics and some creams, because my Mother loves blues.  But what made it special is I machine quilted it freestyle with all her favorite things and memories.  It had sail boats, her dog, her college motto, a bird flying to her nest where her baby birds wait hungrily and much more.  It was very fun to make and my Mom loved it and always has it out for people to see.  I love making presents like that because you think of that person the whole time you are making it, and as you sew you are poring your love for that person right into the quilt, so it can't help but be special.

My first  Bernina.  My husband told me I'd never have the time to hand quilt, which is what I wanted to do before I realized it was legal to use a machine, lol.  So he researched and bought me a Bernina to quilt with.  He was right and has been supportive ever since, helping me find time to make tops and quilt them.  I still work, but he takes on extra household duties to enable me.

My most prized gift was sent to me just a few days ago. I am a longarmer, using a Gammill Classic Plus. As a thank you gift for sending my dealer a new customer, I received this: it is a cylinder shaped wooden container that holds my pins. But the best part is that it has a very strong magnet in the bottom that also holds it securely to the rail for the frame. It also has another slightly larger cylinder that goes over the top to keep pets out of the pins. I can roll my quilt and the magnetic container stays put. Even if it turns upside down, the pins will not spill. Love, love, love it.

My friend gave me the confidence to quilt and the knowledge to keep on going.  I owe her for giving me such a wonderful gift!

My best quilting gift was two years ago.  We met my husband's best friend and his wife for lunch one afternoon.  They were about to become first time grandparents, and I had made a baby quilt with an embroidered carousel animal in each block.  First time grandpa loved the quilt so much he showed everyone dining in the restaurant.  I was so happy he loved the quilt.  The memory is bittersweet since he died of a brain tumor a short time later.  But his memory lives on and his son recently told us that the little girl now shares her quilt with her new baby sister.  I couldn't have a better gift than that, and that's really the reason I sew and quilt - to bring lots of joy and love.

One year when I was still working, I secretly passed out a square of fabric to every person in the office, with the exception of the boss and his wife.  I did this in February to give everyone a good long chance to personalize their square.  Sadly, one person passed away during the year, but I used his square as a memorial to him.  The squares slowly trickled in, but I got it all together, set the squares in an attic window setting, using colors that coordinated with the office decor, and hand quilted the result with gold metallic thread.  It was then presented to Mr. and Mrs. Boss at our Christmas party to commemorate their (at that time) 15th year of ownership of the company.   The looks on their faces was priceless.   Shortly thereafter it took a place of honor on one wall of our entrance foyer.  This happened in 1998, and I retired at the end of 2001.  I consider this quilt the most gratifying quilt I have given as a gift.

This has already been a great Christmas and it's still a week away.  My husband made a new sewing table for me....love it!  And today my boss gave me a gift certificate to Fabric Depot.  I love that they know me so well!

I think the best thing I recieved about quilting are the times my grandmother sat next to me showing me how to quilt.We would sit and discuss different topics while piecing and cutting  fabric shapes.I not only learned to quilt but also a built a strong bond between my grandmother and me.

I have my daughter and daugher-in-law Elna's for Christmas so they could quilt with me.

My friend gave me a quilt and pillow for Christmas many years ago.  She didn't make it but it was special.  The pillow is long gone, but the quilt covers my computer chair and I snuggle in it during the cold weather because my room is not well insulated.  It keeps me warm!

The best quilting gift I have ever given was a group effort. I have been playing Bunco with a group of neighborhood women for about six years. Two years ago, one of the girls announced that she and her family were moving from the South to her home state of Iowa. Each one of us did a Sunbonnet Sue block representing ourselves to her as a farewell gift. We called it "We've Come From Alabama with our Hearts upon our Sleeves"; each Sue sported a heart-shaped button on the sleeve of her dress.  The focal fabric was the Northcott state flower fabric - Alabama Striped Camellia. I assembled it and handquilted it. It came together so nicely and she was thrilled with it.  I was even thrilled to let this one go because it gave her so much joy and I felt that she could go home knowing that she had a little piece of each of us going with her.

I received angel blocks from my guild after my 4 year old grand daughter died.  I made them into a quilt and donated it to Make A Wish.  

Two years ago, my husband bought me an Inova 18" quilting machine. I love it and it speeds up the process of quilting so much. But the best part is that it showed that my husband knew how important quilting is to me and wanted to make it easier to do. He showed me respect and love in this gift.

When my aunt passed away nine years ago, she left half of her inheritance to me.  The treasures included several quilts she embroidered and quilted by hand.  I took home her deluxe Pfaff and a great desire to learn how to quilt.  I came home and began taking lessons at the local quilt shop.  I have been working there for almost four years and I can't stop designing and sewing quilts.  Quilting has become central to almost all I do.  I really enjoy making and donating 12 or so quilts each year.  My aunt's gift is the gift that keeps on giving.  I'm blessed.

The best quilting gift I received is my mid-arm machine and quilting frame.  The best quilting gift I have ever given is my daughter's 16th Birthday quilt.  It was the second quilt I had ever made, my second sewing project ever, and I designed the whole thing with the help of my two good friends who are seasoned sewers and quilters.  My daughter loved the quilt.

Although I have recieved many great quilting gifts from my quilting friends or have given them the very best was when a cousin of mine asked me if I could finish a quilt her mother started back in 1987 but because arthritis crippled her hands she could not finish the quilt. This quilt laid in wait until a time I had been quilting a few years. My Aunt Dorothy  had ordered the pattern out of a Canadian magazine and when I saw the name of the quilt designer it rung bells in my head and I went to one of my yahoo groups asking if anyone knew if this lady was still quilting. She was and still is designing quilts. I e-mailed her that night and and she was so surprized to hear from me and the quilt my aunt started all those years ago. We coresponded about this quilt and how to finish it. This all lead to a story in the Canadian Quilters Association magazine about my aunt, myself, cousin, herself (Sandy Small Proudfoot) and the Inuit artist whom she had gotten the design of the bird from.THis bird was in the centre of the quilt. She looked into finding this Unuit fellow only to learn he had passed away about 3 years before. SHe redesigned the pattern and this time a portion of the sales of this pattern are going to this Inuits wife and family. I finished the quilt for my cousin and it hang proudly in her home. She told me her mom would have been so happy to have her story in a magazine. My aunt once told the local paper when they did a story about her that she would have to live to be 100 to finish all her projects. She didn't live that long but it warmed my heart to be able to finish this quilt for her daughter. It was a labour of love for me. My Aunt was a very fine needle woman and did leave many of her finished projects. Dixie from Canada

The best quilting gift I have ever received is every time I show someone how to quilt. We start with a simple table runner and matching coasters that can be finished in a day. By the end of that day, there is always excitement in their voice and eyes about future projects and possibilities, but the best part is their pride and awe at their accomplishment. There is absolutely no better gift than that!

I recieved an ergonimically designed large handled unpicker that I absolutlely love.  It is so much easier to hang onto when I need to remove some stitches.

The best Christmas present I have ever received was a cordless iron that my son-in-law told my daughter to buy for me.  It is so great when pressing blocks or material--no cord to make new wrinkles.

the best quilting gift I ever received was my introduction to quilting many years ago and I have been giving it forward ever since. This gift from a friend started me on a never ending journey of challenges that never seem to end and when I solve one there is always another waiting. I Love this Trip

the best quilting gift I ever received was my introduction to quilting many years ago and I have been giving it forward ever since. This gift from a friend started me on a never ending journey of challenges that never seem to end and when I solve one there is always another waiting. I Love this Trip

In 2002 we drew names at work for Secret Santa. We set a $20 limit. When I opened my present it contained five 2 yard pieces of fabric from lavender to deep purple, each a different print. I was so happy I cried. I love purple of any shade. Apparently my Santa had over heard me talking with another co-worker about a quilt I was saving fabric for and made it possible for me to finish my collection.

When I was still new to quilting a co-worker got anew machine and gave me her 1/4 seam allowance foot from her old Janome. What a God send. Best present every and it's a great teaching tool since I am now using it to teach my granddaughter how to sew.

In 2002 we drew names at work for Secret Santa. We set a $20 limit. When I opened my present it contained five 2 yard pieces of fabric from lavender to deep purple, each a different print. I was so happy I cried. I love purple of any shade. Apparently my Santa had over heard me talking with another co-worker about a quilt I was saving fabric for and made it possible for me to finish my collection.

Last year my wonderful husband bought me a Horizon, this year a Artistic 18.  Next year I'm making (finishing) quilts for everyone in the family!  

I got a Bernina 830LE. Yippie!

The best gift I received was my new machine from my husband. Little did he know that was only the beginning!!!!

The best gifts I've given are all the quilts I've given to loved ones; and the best gifts I've received are the friendships that God has so graciously given to me. But the very best gift of all is the gift of Jesus Christ, son of God, who came to earth to be my saviour. Happy Birthday, Jesus!

A friend of mine gave me as a gift the Fons & Porter's Love of Quilting Magazine telling me how much i would love it as i rolled my eyes and thought i hate sewing (hated sewing since i put my finger under the needle when i was little on a sewing machine). But i love art so one day when bored i picked up the magazine and went wow these are beautiful the rest of my day was spent carrying the magazine around writting list of what i thought i might need i had fallen in love with the designs and beauty of the quilts. I am still learning my friend is being pestered by me for every question i can think of beside all the online classes i signed up for. So i would have to say the best quilting gift i have ever received is the gift of the Fons & Porter's Loves of Quilting Magazine. It gave me a new love of a lasting art to be passed down thru the years to come.

The Best gift is my God and my Fiancee just for believing in me and being by my side threw Depression and becoming Disabled and still loving me and wanting to Marry me before Christmas.  Also he bought me a featherWeight 221 and table for CHRISTMAS. GOD BLESS EVERYONE...

The Best gift is my God and my Fiancee just for believing in me and being by my side threw Depression and becoming Disabled and still loving me and wanting to Marry me before Christmas.  Also he bought me a featherWeight 221 and table for CHRISTMAS. GOD BLESS EVERYONE...

The best quilting gift(s) I have ever received:  My sister`s first sewing machine to encourage me to learn to sew; my husband`s encouragement to sign up for quilting classes from a local quilter through our local Legion; and, my new quilting friends in the local quilting club for their knowledge and inspiration.  I told my husband I have always wanted to learn to quilt but we could never afford me to take classes in the city. Now we are in smaller town where classes were more reasonably priced.

A friend has met with me and another mutual friend twice, to teach us better quilting techniques.  Her time and knowledge are her gifts to us........priceless to me!

When my mother passed away my sisters let me have my mother's sewing machine. I have maid many things for them with it.

My husband gave me an extension table for my sewing machine.  The table takes the weight of my quilts while I am free motion quilting--my favorite part of the quilt!!

My Daughter in Law's bought me the Gutterman Thread collection that I hang on my  sewing room wall.  To top it off, they keep refilling the colors that are low every year.  Of course they have been benefiting from my sewing obsession.

The gift of two ladies I met in an excercise group that have a common love of sewing--not just quilts as I have focused on in the past, but clothing items, curtains, etc.   We meet every week and spend about 4 hours sewing together.  Sometimes the same project--sometimes individual projects needed for special gifts.

The best quilting gift I have ever received is all the new friends I have made since I started quilting.

The best gift I have ever given was a Cal-King quilt I made for my sister. It was a surprise Christmas gift.

that was my friend judy who taught me nothing is perfect. to put yourself in a quilt and all will be great. neena

The best quilting gift I ever have given was to my best friend lorie for her dream wedding to her high school sweetheart Michael. My Mom and I worked it together and she actually cried when we presented it to the two of them the night before their wedding. The best quilting gift I have ever given will be this Christmas to my Grandmother who is ninety, again Mom and I made it which both gave us special bonding time as well as a special Christmas gift for a wonderful Grandmother.

my viking diamond sewing machine

A box of old laces that my mother inherited from her aunt and I from my mother.

This Christmas I gave quilts to my 3 daughters and 4 grand daughters the looks on their faces was worth all the work. my husband gave me a quilting machine and the king size quilter, I don't know what to call it. its the big thing you quilt on.lol     I also have 2 sisters that love to quilt on the quilter.

When our grandson, Chase, who is now almost 7, gave me a box with spools of thread in it.  Most of it was orange, since that was his favorite color at the time.  He was 3 then.  He also wrapped the gift himself.  All those spools of thread meant more to me than the expensive, do-everything sewing machine my husband gave me a few years back.  It's something I will always remember.

I recieved a quilt from my ex-mother-in-law.  She was in her 90's, wore glasses with very thick kens.  She was a walker to get around and made my quilt on a tredle sewing machine.  She sent me the quilt even though I was divorced from her son.  It is a very dear and cherished quilt.

I had a rickety old sewing machine that would sew right when IT wanted.  Sometimes it was right but most if the time I was fighting with it.  Anyway my husband one year bought me a BRAND NEW Brothers sewing machine!!  I was in heaven!! he he  I sewed everything in sight!! he he  I love this machine.  It is an older machine now but it is still going just like new and we do a good job together sewing.  It was the most surprising and wonderful gift that my husband ever gave me!!  

My father's sister gave me a quilt that she said her mother's mother (my paternal great-grandmother) was given when she turned 12 by her grandmother (so, would have been my great-great grandmother? or is there another great in there?) who hand quilted this two-colored quilt made in 1865, supposedly. There is no label on the quilt and I don't know how to get it authenicated, but it is really, really cool to have this quilt.

My best quilting gift was one of love. I choose to make each of my brothers a quilt. I made my brothers Sean's first,and gave it to him for Christmas. Then i had to choose between my remaining brothers who was next. After careful thought i went ahead and started Stevens quilt, my oldest brother. He wanted a purple Bargello.After several months of pulling my hair out i finally finished it. Wrapped all pretty for Christmas morning. He got his quilt and loved it. Within six months (June) Steve had died. I was so glad that his quilt had brought him so much joy.  

The best quilt I received but in a sad way was when my mother passed away in March 2011 I received the quilt my grandmother (her mother) made between 50-45 years ago with hand quilting.  This means alot to me as I was named after my grandmother and it kept my mother warm in final years

It was praise from my husband stating he liked the quilt I refer to as the "ulcer" quilt. It was a pain but turned out beautiful.

My Mon gave me my Grndmothers wedding quilt from 1917. I already own her Singer Treadle sewing machine with the bill of sale from 1925, and my Mom's Featherweight from 1948. So these are my best gifts.

The best advice I ever got was from my Mom before I was married. She said to buy a sewing machine before I got married or there never would be money for it after. I took her advice, took sewing classes after I was married( she babysat) , then she passed on her love of quilting  to me.

I love the daily quilting calendars. They are daily quilting designs & patterns. Each design then can be put together to make a quilt & it lasts all year!

The best quilting gift I've ever received was from my Mom. She made a flower garden quilt for me from scraps cut from my Mother's, Sister's and my old dresses, skirts, shorts and shirts. I told her years later that every time I pulled the quilt over me, I felt like she was hugging me.  She cried.  She had no idea her quilt affected me like that. She was so happy.  

My Dad was a carpenter, and made things only for his family. When he and my Mom started quilting he made a drop leaf table to cut material on and baste his quilts on. When my parents couldn't quilt any more, they gave me the table. It comes in very handy for baby sized quilts to bed sized quilts. And the really best part, is that my Dad, who has since passed away, made this beautiful and useful table.

I received a bendable light to mount on my machine so that I could see to work at night with my bad eyesight.  What a wonderful gift it has been

My husband converted a spare bedroom into a quilt studio for me. He purchased the shelfs, drawers and a long work table from a quilt store that went out of business. He contacted another quilt store owner and learned  how he had built their design walls and build a beautiful one for the my studio. He hung peg board up to hang my tools and installed an electrical strip the length of the table so I could have 3 machines set up at once. I now have my space where I can go and sew without being bothered and can leave my projects out knowing they will be safe for the next time I can sew. It is the best gift I have ever received outside of marrying my husband!

The best quilting gift ever given was a memory quilt to my parents for their 50th wedding anniversary.  The pattern was Robbing Peter to Pay Paul and each square was embroidered with names and dates of children and grandchildren.  

And the best quilting gift received was a comfort quilt stitched by my dear quilting friends for my daughter when she was diagnosed with Lymphoma.  It was a constant comfort and reminder that the love friends share is not only warmth for hard times; but strength for healing.

The Best Gift that I've received was a gift certificate to a fabric store that carries a fantastic selection of quilting fabrics and notions for whatever and whenever I had a need that year!

The Best Gift that I've given are Personalized Christmas Stockings that are Hung up the Living Room Stairs each Christmas Season in each families' house Every Year since the Stockings were made (:-D

I have 3 that i cant choose between:

1. My parents went on the Honeymoon they never had to Hawaii and came back with multiple fabrics that they knew I could not find around home...it was awesome to see the beautiful fabrics and to know that they were thinking of me on their trip.

2. Recently both of my sewing machines died and my husband was going behind my back to replace them with a better one...god bless him, he got so overwhelmed with all the different ones he has come to me for help...keep in mind that 2 weeks ago i was in an accident and totaled his truck. Still he wants me to be happy, says the truck can wait.

3. When both of my machines died and my 16 year old daughter seen how upset i was she told me to use hers...

I am blessed in many ways and the love of my family is the very best one!

Before I thought about quilting my mom learned to quilt and made very special quilts for all the grandkids.  She made hand embroidery blocks with all their birth information on them.  It took a number of years to get them all made and every 3 years or so she would give 3 or 4 quilts for Christmas to the next group of similar aged grandkids.  I wasn't even thinking of the fact that she was working on them in between.  Then one year she gave all the daughters and daughter-in-law dresden plate quilts in our favorite colors (which matched our bedrooms).  Mine is in purples. I didn't have any idea she was making them and was speechless when I opened mine.  We live in a different state and so I didn't see the others open theirs on Christmas.  I got mine a few days later.  I have a king size waterbed and the quilt was much longer than her frame.  That quilt means so much to me.  Her vision isn't very good.  I don't know how she managed all that hand quilting.  She and a friend self-taught the quilting together.

A few years ago, after I started quilting, one of the first quilts I made was for a Christmas gift for my mom.  I made a pieced pattern.  She was going through an illness at the time, and I hoped it would cheer her.  Even though she has quilts she had made, that quilt is special to her, because I made it for her.  

Not having done any quilting, so have not given a quilt .  But I did receive a quilt as a wedding gift from my Matron of Honor at my wedding.  She not onl made me a quilt, but she also gave me some squares of that quilt to start a "depression" quilt with.

Karon

The best quilting gift I have ever given is that whenever someone in my family or friends circle has a new baby, I always present them with a new baby quilt. No one has ever been disappointed. Including me. I love to see the new mom's faces. The best gift I ever received was from the person who taught me to make baby quilts; when I was pregnant for my second child. Thanks so much Bessie Price. You may no longer be alive but your talent is always alive.

The best quilting gift that I have gotten, is a treadle sewing machine from my husband.  He is very supportive of my hobby.

Several years ago my husband built me a beautiful wooden 3 rail quilting frame. Since then I have used it many times including the two  "50 Years of Memories" quilts that I pieced and quilted for both sets of parents (his & mine) for their 50th Wedding Anniversaries. I used traditional quilt patterns and added treasured photos of the couples from childhood, dating, weddings, past anniversaries, and up until their most recent photos and written memories,  including one post card sent from overseas during the war, to make one of a kind keepsakes. A few months ago my father-in-law had the quilt displayed at my mother-in-laws funeral during family visitation nite. It gave everyone there a glimpse of the memories that my in laws shared during their lifetime together.

The best gift I've ever received is an invitation to join a small quilting/embroidery/sewing group.  I have been in the group for 6 years and each lady is an inspiration and help.  We laugh and cry together and cheer each other on to new and better things.

I made a quilt of 12 T-shirts from the various years of the annual Butterfly Festival at Powell Gardens, Kingston, Missouri to be raffled.  It bought in thousands of dollars more than I could have written a donation check for! A quilt is a gift that keeps on giving - more than to whom it is given!

Our guild had a  4 fat quarter exchange where we had to make something for the other person.  I made her a utility apron and a table topper.  Turns out she is a long arm quilter and she really appreciated the utility apron!  She also liked the wrong side of the table topper!  Go figure!  Coincidentally she received my fat quarters and made me a Christmas wall hanging.  I love it!

The best gift I received is my Bernina 440QE with a BSR.  It was for Christmas, Anniversary, Valentines, Mother's Day and Birthday one year.  I love it and it has gone on a number of retreats and vacations.  My husband didn't let me take it on the Alaskan cruise however!

I have had several friends that have given me their leftover fabric scraps this year and believe me I have used them all year. I am so excited because I have taken the scraps and made extra quilts for each person using their fabric in each one. I cannot wait to hand each one a quilt that they never even thought about making or receiving. One very special friend is from Hawaii and had some fabric from home. Although they may not get a chance to go back to their beautiful homeland, I plan to give them a little bit of home with that very special fabric. I love making scrap quilts and these will be so special.

The best gift I have received were the smiles of several sick children and a co-worker that are dealing with cancer when I gave them quilts for Christmas this year.

Best quilting gift I ever received -- a trip to the Sisters' Quilt Show in Sisters, Oregon!

My brother-in-law got my name for Christmas and signed me up for a quilt class here in the area by contacting a local guild to arrange it.  He lives in MN and I live in WA!  The members of the guild couldn't wait to meet me and hear about this amazing brother-in-law who would go to so much trouble to give such a wonderful gift!  I really enjoyed the class and his thoughtfulness!

The best quilting gift I have received are the ooo's, ahh's and smiles of those that I have given quilted gifts to.

It is when My family likes what I made and makes dinner or cleans house so I can keep on doing what I love.

My husband put up a 10 x 13 shed for me as my new quilting "shack".  He finished the interior and put in nice flooring, heat and air.  It is a wonderful place of great peace, joy and creativity!

The best gift I ever received was a Bernina Aurora 440 QE machine I gave myself a few years ago. Since then I have made quilts for Quilts for Kids and several family members. Just this Christmas I made two for the Alzheimers residents where my mother lives,and doll clothes for my granddaughters American Girl doll for Christmas, I know she will be thrilled. My best friend will also receive a quilt this Christmas, she doesn't know it yet!!

Fons and Porter, Love of Quilting magazine......of course!

A quilted Christmas runner and a Christmas tree quilt.

My greatgrandmothers hand pieced and quilted quilt. I had wanted it for years but so did a few other people so I never dared dream it would be mine one day. Such a treasure....

The best gift is always the one that's given from the heart. This year I made two nearly identical "princess" lap quilts for my granddaughters for Christmas. (Which I designed myself!) One is mostly pink with purple and white accents. The other is mostly purple with pink and white accents. These are the first serious sewing that I've done in almost 20 years, and the first quilts that I've ever made. Thank you for all the tips, how-to videos, patterns and links available on your website; they really made this possible. So this was a double bonus: your gifts to me, enabled me to give to others. And isn't that how it ought to be? Thank you for your website. It is truly a quilter's treasure. Blessings! and Merry Christmas!

Best gift ever given was a couple of tree skirts that I made for my sister in laws.  They were strips pieced together on a backing, and came out looking fabulous.  Made my own in blue fabrics, and theirs in regular green and reds.  

For over 20 years, three friends and I went on a yearly trip we always called our “canoe trip.”  The first 3-4 years, we went canoeing long weekends.  Then we branched out and drove or flew to different areas and spent 8-10 days.  We hiked in the Smoky Mountains and upstate New York.  We flew to California, Maine, the Southwest, visited  several national parks; each year we hiked some and explored the areas.   Two and a half years ago, our friend Mary was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and could no longer go.  She was getting chemo treatments.  Since I am the only quilter in the group, I decided we needed to make a quilt for her.  I machine embroidered several blocks with wild flower designs.  I gathered photos from several of our trips and printed them on fabric and incorporated the photos into the quilt, along with the location where the photo was taken.  Marsha and Sue helped in arranging the blocks, choosing fabrics, etc.  Marsha wrote a poem which I embroidered and Marsha sewed it to the back of the quilt.  Sue did the handwork to sew on the binding after we had it quilted.  We presented the quilt to Mary and she used it daily and took it to all her chemo sessions.  Mary lost her battle in July.  Her daughter now has the quilt.  So that’s the best quilting gift I have ever given.

The best gifts I recieved were my great grandmother's handquilted quilt and my quilting frame I use when I handquilt.  The quilt I recieved was made by my grandfather's mother who, I found out many years later while working on my family tree, had passed away on the same day I was born. It just means so much to me that I am the one who inherited this quilt...I love it so much!!  I handquilt now to keep the tradition going in the family. I hope to pass my gifts on to another in my family, in time, who will cherish them as I have.

I received a quilt from my mom for Christmas a few years ago.  That inspired me to get back into sewing.  This year my husband bought me a computerized Brother 950D sewing machine, since my old machine was nearly 34 years old.  

The best received was a Singer Featherweight and the best given was full sized quilts to every member of my family which is mom and dad, 2 sisters and 2 brothers along with my 2 best friends.

The best quilted gift I ever made was the quilted christmas stocking I made for my little niece who is my name sake. I wanted to make her first christmas stocking. I had never made one before. I found a cute pattern and worked on it for 2 days. I used all of my material stash. It came out so beautiful. I was so excited about it. I had tears in my eyes when I signed the back of it.

3 years ago, we sold our house.  That has been the best Christmas present yet.

A very dear friend just bought me a 1940's Pfaff 30 sewing machine, complete with the original table and all accessories.  I am SO excited to start using it once it gets here!

My very first quilt project was one Carolina Lily square that I did in a 1930s colorway and made into a small postcard quilt.  The lady that got me interested in quilting had just lost her father, so I sent it to her as a condolence and a thank you for introducing me to the fun of quilting!

Thest quilting gift I ever received was a new Elna Air Electronic about 30 years ago that is still working like a champ.

My sister in-law is an absolute FREAK for anything GARFIELD.  And I do mean crazy.  I was invited to attend her graduation from Nursing School a couple weeks ago and I needed to come up with something FAST for a gift.  I found some Garfield fabric online and was able to get it in time to make her a very cute lap quilt for her graduation gift.  She was floored and sooooo happy and it made me soooooo happy!

I have attended the Internatiional Quilt Show in Houston, Texas for 20+ years.  This year I had open heart surgery late July and was unable to attend.  Two of my friends assembled a registration packet with a 2011 pin for me.  One of the friends invited me over to  present the packet and displayed her purchases for me to see--I felt as though I had gone to a miniture Festival.  It was a complete surprise and the warm feelings I had that my friends remembered me cannot be described

The best christmas gift I received from my husband when I first started quilting and he bought me some quilting books & notions.

When my best friend died her sister gave me all her quilting stuff: tons of fabric, tools, patterns, some projects, and a barely used Bernina!

The Best quilting gift I ever received was a embroidery sewing machine from my son. I was in the middle of completing a quilted jacket as a gift and my old machine stopped working before I was able to complete it. I just happened to be on the phone with my son when it quit working. The rest is history. I had no idea he would send me such a terrific gift. Needless to say I have made him two king size quilts so far with various other items as gifts. Children are treasures.

Last year my husband and I went to the Grand Canyon for our first trip after our fourth child finished college.

We were not able to find a quilt shop while on the tour. My husband surprised me last Christmas with 3 applique patterns and batiks to finish them that he ordered on line after we came home. What a great memory when we look at them.  

A lap quilt I made for my sis, she is a monkey, sew I made her a Monkey Wrench quilt! From monkey fabrics, and bright yellow and oranges. Not her style at all, but she loves it. Her family keeps trying to take it away from her!

~Hopppy quilting~

I have osteoarthritis in my back and shoulders so sitting at the sewing machine for longer periods of time becomes quite painful.....my hubby bought me the most AMAZING health chair this year for Christmas (yes, I'm using it already.....Santa's been very kind!)  so that I can sit with comfort for longer without the back pain and stiffness I had before.....I plan to use this chair for many many more years as I'm only 46 now......can't stop quilting because of a little back pain! :D

The best quilding gift I was ever given was a $50 gift certificate to our local quilt shop, Mablelena's

The most special gift I received was a birthday gift of a quilt shop hop with transportation by a chartered bus.  My daughter arranged the tickets so we could spend a day together doing something we love together.  We both took a day of vacation and left home at the crack of dawn to join the shop hop group.  We had such a great time together.  Mother daughter memories are always so special and I will always remember the day and her gift of time to me.  We share the love of quilting and she shares this with her students.  What greater honor to the art of quilting than teaching young people the art for future generations.

a few years ago I was looking for a sewing table, and while in a local business supply store, I found a computer desk, that was perfect for what I wanted.

so I grabbed their catalog, and took it home.

I showed it to my husband.

Christmas morning we opened our gifts, and I was happy with all i got, thinking nothing of not getting that one item,

my husband, took his tools out to his workshop, then buzzed me on the intercom to come out there for a minute, when I walked in, he said oh by the way here is another gift for you, and it was that very unit I had asked for.

needless to say I cried, he got me good, bless him,  and it has turned out to be the best sewing table ever, with room for my machine, and my serger, and plenty of work space.

Friends to share the love of quilting, embroidery and sewing.  It is all about the community of creative people.  From the days when women stitched together with needles of bone, in the medieval times when they stitched in the bowers of castles to today in our sharing online and at retreats and guilds, it is about the human bond.

The best gift I have received is my first rotary cutter from my mom.  It was the last gift she ever gave me before she passed away.  I love it so much, I bought another one to use regularly! The one she gave me is kept protected and used rarely.

I received a 12 1/2" square measure from a quilter friend. It has been very helpful to me.

The best quilting gift I have ever received was spending time with my 15year old daughter in a quilting class.  In a time when quilting wasnt "cool" with her friends, she took the time to spend every Saturday for 8 weeks with me.  She still secretly quilts a few projects now and then but the memories of sharing that time together is better than any skill I learned in the class!

My significant other is my best gift.  He is a hand-dyer.  In addition to encouraging me in my quilting, he provides a fabulous supply of hand-dyed quilting fabric--both cottons and silks.  He loves going to quilt and fabric stores; and actually spends more time feeling the fabrics than I do.  Love it!

My mother made a Grandmother's flower Garden early on in her quilting days.  She designed her own border and the fabrics are from clothing that she made for my daughters and nieces.  It has alwys been my favorite of all she made and she gave it to me.  I treasure it.

My mother made a Grandmother's flower Garden early on in her quilting days.  She designed her own border and the fabrics are from clothing that she made for my daughters and nieces.  It has alwys been my favorite of all she made and she gave it to me.  I treasure it.

I made the advent calendar for my grandson, Charlie.  I also made an advent calendar for 3 other small friends.  They really enjoyed the fun of the calendar.

The best quilting gift I ever received was from my late husband, it was a Viking Designer Diamond with Fab-U-Motion.  And the best gift that I ever gave was a infant quilt for my first grandchild; at age 16 years, she still has it.

The best quilting gift I ever received was my Bernina 830 sewing/embroidery machine.  It's been in constant use for 3 years now.  It has given me so much joy to be able to create beautifully constructed projects to gift to others.

My new sewing machine that is supposed to arrive today ~ woohoo!

The best quilting gift I've ever received is a surgical tweezers.  It can grab onto the very smallest thread and hold on, which I can't do with my fingers.

I have been teaching my niece, Barb, to quilt and yesterday, Christmas Day, I received an all expense paid 4 day quilt retreat from her.  It left me speechless and teary eyed - the best quilting gift ever.

Sometimes small and simple is the best. A friend gave me a 1/4 seam foot for my Janome.  I never knew such a thing existed. Boy did it make my life easier.

Christmas 2011 I received a just because from my very dear friend.  When we exchanged gifts she said I didn't bring a Christmas gift this year but a " just because".  It was a beautiful quilt, "scrappy" with a beautiful design and lots of applique.  I have never been so touched by such generosity.  I love my Bonnie!

I've sewn all my life, since I was 5.  I finally began to quilt just recently.  My Grandmother quilted all her life making a total of 60 quilts.  I've had her sewing box for 18 years, since her death, and just this year noticed an envelop in the bottom.  It was a hand-quilted block top.  Since I was making quilted hot pods for all the women in my family, I decided to finish the top for my Mother and give it to her for Christmas.  She thought it was really nice until I told her the story.  Then she was so shocked; she was speechless.  It really touched her to have something come to life that was her Mother's so many years after Grandma's death.  I was proud to keep her memory alive.  Priceless.  

The best gift(s) I have given is quilt magazine subscriptions to my friends to keep them inspired as they inspire me.

The best quilting gift I have received is the pride that my Mom had in me when I showed her a new quilt. Out of all her girls we fiqured that I would not be the sewer, but I am the only one out of three. I wish my Mom was still here so I could show her my quilts. And the best quilting gift is the memory quilt with all our pics on it that I gave my Mom. I was my first quilt, not very good but she loved it. I now have it and it hangs in my bedroom.

Hoping that your selection is random  ...  my best gift was a new machine after the county fair, a sewing machine reserved for only quilting

My Bernina sewing machine along with every foot made for it and a Koala quilters sewing cabinet to house it all from my wonderful husband.  I had no idea he was planning all of this and it was a fabulous surprise.

Karlene

The best quilting gift I ever received is a sister who quilts with me.  We have taken classes together and share fabrics, projects, tools, machines, etc.  She is always interested in what I am doing and I am interested in what she is doing.  I am retired and she has been out of work for awhile.  We have a third sister who just retired and I hope she will join our sewing/quilting circle so we can share our expertise with her.  It's very difficult to quilt when you work, especially for teachers, as I had been--there aren't enough hours in the day to spend on school work--you could spend 24/7 and still not feel that you have gotten everything done.  Now that I am retired, I leisurely can complete projects that I had set aside for another day or new projects that come up.

The best quilting gift for me is to be able to quilt with one of my Mother's best friends ,it makes me feel the presence of my Mom when we quilt together in quilting class or going o her house and having her help me to become a better quilter and make beautiful quilts like she does .

About 5 years ago, I received a special Christmas gift from my daughter.  It was a beautiful 'quilt as you go' table runner.   The thing that made it special was that my daughter doesn't know a needle from thread!  One of her sorority sisters could quilt and worked with her to teach her to make the runner for me...tears of joy were flowing by both!

About 5 years ago, I received a special Christmas gift from my daughter.  It was a beautiful 'quilt as you go' table runner.   The thing that made it special was that my daughter doesn't know a needle from thread!  One of her sorority sisters could quilt and worked with her to teach her to make the runner for me...tears of joy were flowing by both!

My darling hubby bought me the new Juki TL2010Q for Christmas last year and then for Valentines Day, bought me a Grace Frame!  He's definitely a keeper!

This year my fabulous husband made me an Ironing Board.  It measures 24 inches by 60 inches.  I'll never run out of space on this one.  When I'm doing assembly line piecing and ironing I'll have all the room I need.

My best gift was a beautiful 5' sewing machine cabinet my husbund made for me.  This year it will be moved to a bigger bedroom - woo hoo!

My lovely sewing table my hubby made me is a favorite.

Best gift received: Encyclopedia of Blocks

  I received two best gifts. The first was when a local quilting shop advertised a learn to quilt class six years ago. Even though my parents had bought me a machine for Christmas in 1973, I had never used it. Jane taught me how to use it, measure and cut fabric, etc. Two months later I had a beautiful Turning Twenty quilt.

  That year for Christmas my sister-in-law gave me $50.00 to spend on myself. It came at the perfect time as all I needed to continue my quilting addiction was a cutting mat. Her gift allowed me to purchase it. I'm forever grateful.

It has to be the rotary cutter!  I use to cut fabric by hand to make quilts.

A friend has given me some lessons on paper-piecing and some how-to lessons on quilting and block piecing.  It has been a wonderful time-giving present for me!

The favorite gift I ever gave was a block of the month package of 12 blocks on sale from Hancocks ($5) that I gave to my niece for Christmas.  She and her mom got to spend fun time together making the quilt.

The favorite gift I received was my first quilting class taught for free to me by an expat in La Paz,Bolivia, where we were doing mission work.  I still have everything I made in that class and it started my lifelong enjoyment of quilting.

I received a quilt from Nana when I first started cancer treatments and I just got a quilt from the Ladies at the NW Retreat - the very best gifts because they were both from the heart!!!

I recieved a quilt from my ex-mother-in-law.  She was in her 90's, wore very thick lens (glasses), used a walker to get around, and used a tredle machine.  It is priceless to me and I store in a acid free tissue paper and box.

There are so many, it is hard to name just one; but, when I was first diagnosed with cancer, just before Christmas 2 years ago, I received a quilt from someone I only knew here on QCA. She mailed it clear across the country and I use it every day and know that there are wonderful people out there and that they are praying for me.  I also received gifts and cards in the mail from all over the world from the wonderful people here at QCA. Thank you so much for this site where we can make such wonderful friends!