And it is heartening to find there are others out there, thot I was " the only one" . What a shame about the "backing" wall hanging".....personally, I.d even hang the picture of it!
Gosh, ladies. I can't believe what I'm hearing. I'm so sorry. I can understand maybe a teenager going through a phase like what you describe, but full grown adults? :-/
Personally, I have 2 quilts that my grandmother made and I cherish them. There are a lot of other handmade things that she did that I wish I had... But then, of course, MY Granny was tasteful and classy and all her projects were gorgeous and anyone would love to have them. :-P ...Just kidding!! I know you guys make great stuff and I can't imagine why your families don't appreciate it. :(
Candis, I *know* your quilts are great, because I am the proud owner of one. It's on our couch where we watch TV every night and my husband keeps teasingly trying to call it 'his' quilt for some reason. I keep having to correct him. I guess maybe it's time I made him one of his own. :)
Anyway, I haven't gone through what you guys are talking about, but it sounds horrible and I'm sorry to hear it. :-/
I made a crazy quilt once for a friend and her cat took it over. All that work for a cat bed. I made a baby quilt for someone else and when I went to her house later, she couldn't find it. I guess it was special to her. I have given away most of my quilts except for the ones that I've done these last two years. Most have been claimed by a kid or two. I just had such unlucky responses to the amount of work and love that's put into them. So now I keep them and leave them to my children because they have special memories of the times that I make them. Like for instance buying fabric while on vacation and turning it into a quilt. I started a quilt when my son had his brain surgery and every milestone I do a little more on it. I have two special quilts in mind that I need help with. Beloved's grandmother passed away and one of the things we received were her vintage handkerchiefs. And the other thing is my parents had a traditional Korean wedding and the clothes they wore were silk. My dad after she passed put the clothes in a garbage bag in the garage. I was devastated when I saw them. Now they are full of mold and spots. I want to cut out the good pieces and do something with it but can I do it with it being silk? Should I iron something to the back to stabilize it? Anyone got any ideas for working with silk and designs for vintage handkerchiefs? Any help would be wonderful. Thanks
I make most of my quilts because I want to see how they turn out, with no one in mind. I have a big pile now, and every time I start a new one , someone will say "who is it for?" I say no one, I just like it. Then why are you making it? you already have a bunch? Anyway ,now when people come to visit ,they go through the pile and can pick one out if they like it. That way I think they like it better, it's like shopping. Sometimes they even pay for it!
KimSue Frick: I made a crazy quilt once for a friend and her cat took it over. All that work for a cat bed. I made a baby quilt for someone else and when I went to her house later, she couldn't find it. I guess it was special to her. I have given away most of my quilts except for the ones that I've done these last two years. Most have been claimed by a kid or two. I just had such unlucky responses to the amount of work and love that's put into them. So now I keep them and leave them to my children because they have special memories of the times that I make them. Like for instance buying fabric while on vacation and turning it into a quilt. I started a quilt when my son had his brain surgery and every milestone I do a little more on it. I have two special quilts in mind that I need help with. Beloved's grandmother passed away and one of the things we received were her vintage handkerchiefs. And the other thing is my parents had a traditional Korean wedding and the clothes they wore were silk. My dad after she passed put the clothes in a garbage bag in the garage. I was devastated when I saw them. Now they are full of mold and spots. I want to cut out the good pieces and do something with it but can I do it with it being silk? Should I iron something to the back to stabilize it? Anyone got any ideas for working with silk and designs for vintage handkerchiefs? Any help would be wonderful. Thanks
Silks would go great in a crazy quilt, mixed with other fabrics. It could be a wall hanging, since silk shouldn't be washed. Lucky you for the vintage hankies! I have a bunch of those I collected from antique shops, not as special as yours,, but I made a beautiful butterfly quilt out of them. I want to make another. Since I have more left. My mother had a silk robe she always wore, beautiful colors in it, I cut it up after she passed, I wanted to do a crazy quilt with them, But when I moved to California, they disappeared. Sad. Carolyn, you are the example of why I love making Quilts for people I have not really met. Thank you for appreciating my work, and the sent images behind your gift. I loved making it for you! .
Ginny L: I make most of my quilts because I want to see how they turn out, with no one in mind. I have a big pile now, and every time I start a new one , someone will say "who is it for?" I say no one, I just like it. Then why are you making it? you already have a bunch? Anyway ,now when people come to visit ,they go through the pile and can pick one out if they like it. That way I think they like it better, it's like shopping. Sometimes they even pay for it!
Wonderful! I always used to have someone in mind I made mine for, I would gather info on them, fav colors, designs, things, interests. Then I would build the quilt around those things I knew. But lately, I too have been seeing designs that I love and fabric I love and just making them. Come holidays or birthdays I send one out, if it's the ones who appreciate them. But I admire how you do your quilts, I need to do that more,, Sew for myself!!
I love this idea! What lucky friends and family who get to go "shopping". They get to choose their favorite and you get to make all your quilts for you.
I like Ginny just make the quilts because I like the fabric or the pattern,I don't have anyone in mind most times. I have only made a couple for folks in mind and have been lucky they appericated them
EAT!! SLEEP !! QUILT!!
Thank all of you so much for responding to my little "fit" about my daughter in law and her unappreciation of anything homemade by me. I, too, make lovely things and work on them very hard. Must be my son never told her the story behind the one good quilt I made that they all snuggle under in their family room or it would be in the garage with everything else I have ever given them. This particular quilt is a huge log cabin quilt on one side, the backing is all city lights and buildings. I made it for my son when he lived in NYC (little bit country, little bit city) with his previous live-in girlfriend of 8 years. It tickles me to see it there. I've never been one for a price tag gift. The true gift is one from the heart, no matter how big, how small, or even how well it is made.
By the way, can't remember who was discussing silk and old hankies--I agree, the silk would be beautiful in a crazy patch quilt with some stabilization. Old hankies are great that way, too. If you don't have alot, make yourself a beautiful blouse using the hankies (again stabilized) for pockets, collar, bottoms, back--wherever. I did one for my Mom years ago and it has held up well after many, many washings. She wears it everywhere and gets tons of compliments!
Whoever is so stupid and ill-bred to turn a paper-pieced quilt over and use the back as a tablecloth should be shot! Sorry, didn't mean to start any gun control issues here.
Dyen4fun: Thank all of you so much for responding to my little "fit" about my daughter in law and her unappreciation of anything homemade by me. I, too, make lovely things and work on them very hard. Must be my son never told her the story behind the one good quilt I made that they all snuggle under in their family room or it would be in the garage with everything else I have ever given them. This particular quilt is a huge log cabin quilt on one side, the backing is all city lights and buildings. I made it for my son when he lived in NYC (little bit country, little bit city) with his previous live-in girlfriend of 8 years. It tickles me to see it there. I've never been one for a price tag gift. The true gift is one from the heart, no matter how big, how small, or even how well it is made. By the way, can't remember who was discussing silk and old hankies--I agree, the silk would be beautiful in a crazy patch quilt with some stabilization. Old hankies are great that way, too. If you don't have alot, make yourself a beautiful blouse using the hankies (again stabilized) for pockets, collar, bottoms, back--wherever. I did one for my Mom years ago and it has held up well after many, many washings. She wears it everywhere and gets tons of compliments! Whoever is so stupid and ill-bred to turn a paper-pieced quilt over and use the back as a tablecloth should be shot! Sorry, didn't mean to start any gun control issues here.
LOL, my kids 27 and 34, were just appalled when we went to visit. At least I have that satisfaction! My step daughter, 29, just had to have this quilt I made so I gave it to her for Christmas last year. I told her if I found it wadded up in. Corner, used as a moving blanket, on the floor for the animals, etc. she would never get another handmade gift from me again. Sure enough, 6 months later I went to her apartment and she was using it as an old recliner cover. Her disabled brother was sitting in that chair every day and he is autistic. He picked at it and ruined it. I told my husband that was it. A quilt is not Furniture cover. No more handmade items for my step daughter. He wanted me to tell her and I said I told her when I gave it to her. She'll eventually figure it out. LOL
aka Grandma Sunshine
I am a happy camper tonight. I went to my LQS today and found the exact perfect fabrics for Pat's center. I think I'm getting the hang of this Round Robin thing.
Georgetown, CA I'd Rather Be Quilting
Reading everyone's tale about things they have made and given to family, only to have them be tossed aside.
Well, I decided to make a quilt for my Mom and Dad, the cover they had on their spare bed was itchy and scratchy and I just hated to use it when I visited them. So, my Mom had given me these calendar towels she had collected over the years - we're talking some from the 60s. So I took them and cut them up and made a quilt especially for that bed. Got it to them and lo, and behold, next time I'm there I thought I would be sleeping under it BUT no, that same old scratch, itchy cover was still on the bed.
I asked Mom about the quilt I made and told her I would like to sleep under it, that the cover was not comfortable. I put the quilt on the bed and put the cover in the closet. Mom said it had been in her family but it's just an old store-bought cover, faded and so scratchy you can feel it thru the sheets.
Well, my Mom has been gone for more than 5 years and when down there in Sept for my brother's funeral, yep the quilt's folded up in the closet and that same old cover is on the bed. I didn't say anything but will be getting it back when Dad's gone.
"I think it's only fair to warn you that I am, in fact, a librarian." Librarian 3: Quest for the Judas Chalice
Debbie from OKC
Maggie--that is the worst! What is wrong with these people (kids) today? I've never heard a "Thank You" from my son or daughter in law for anything. I have to call them to see if they even got it. I didn't raise my son that way.
I think we should start a club where we only give to each other. I HAND APPLIQUÉD a Christmas quilt for my niece for Xmas in 2011 while recovering from triple bypass and told her about it on the label........she never acknowledged it until November of 2012 when her grandmother died on Oct 29, saying life is too short! I went to her house last wknd in Georgia, she got in a snit over a trivial thing and isn't talking to me again....and my sister, her mother, is using the quiltm i gave her last year as a couch cover for the dogs!!!! Arrrrrgggggghhhhh
I just stopped giving to family unless they ask me to make one for them I don't . Unless they are into sewing or crafts of some kind they have no concept of the time money and love that goes into making these,I'd just as soon keep them myself and use them as a brag topic..LOL Barbara