Will you make me a quilt?

[CharleneNJ]

All of my co-workers know that I quilt (a LOT). They've seen most of my quilts (which are numerous). They all want me to: a. give them one, b. sell them one for maybe $100, or can I make them one of their choice. What do you say? And what do you say to the person who says, "What do you do with all your quilts?" I often liken this to asking an artist what he does with all his paintings! I make them because I just have to!

[CharleneNJ]

I know what you mean. I think sometimes people think you just pull these quilts out of a hat or something. The quilt I am making my MIL started when she saw the one I was making for my Dad... which started when his girlfriend of the time saw the one I was making my husband... which started when he spotted the Pittsburg Pirate fabric a the store and came asking "Honey please????" LOL. I really don't mind too much because I almost always give my quilts away anyway, but it is annoying when people ask for them and then don't appreciate how much work it is to make them. I also have been asked to make quilts to present as awards for my ladie's guild at church with as little as two weeks notice, so I know they don't always get the time involved either.

[CharleneNJ]

If you DO sell your quilts or accept commissions then you have every right to say "sure, when can we get together to discuss type and price?" :wink:

If you aren't selling, I'd just laugh and say "get in line!" --

I give mine away, (or keep!) and the who/what/when is entirely up to me! I did decide 4 years ago to make one for each niece/nephew as they graduate high school, so they now expect it (only one left, then on to my own children!) but they know the design is going to be a surprise. (and I decided to do this, knowing there was one each year!-- I'm the only one in the family that went and had twins...not sure how I'll surprise them ) The only person who ever asks for one is my 9-y-o (who already has a twin-sized trucks/trains/planes thing I made when he was about 4, he got to pick the fabrics... I guess that was a bad move! :? ) Now sometimes he wants a "horse quilt" and sometimes its a "Beatles quilt" and next week it'll be something else... but hey, he's learning to sew, so he can make his own!
Florence

[she-quilts]

My reply, "You can't afford me!"

I make my new g-nephews quilts when they are born. (still waiting for some g-nieces!). After the first one, when the second one was due to the same family, the mother (my nephew's wife) said she'd like "this one's quilt in green w/ cars"!!! :roll: Hahahaha!!! It did end up w/ a more green border but that is it! It is a gift, not an order!

I decided to make my dh's nephew a quilt since he is only 7 and much younger than the generation on my side. For 2 Christmases when he was at my in-laws, I worked on a quilt, putting the binding on while I passed the boring day. He LOVED the quilts and with the one for my ds, the nephew said if my son ever didn't want it anymore, he'd take it. :wink:

So I thought I'd make him a small quilt this year. DH suggested I ask his mom b/c DH thought it a dumb gift for a 7 y/o boy. Well, the mother asked the child and then the child wanted to make suggestions! That was the end of that thought,... I asked for other Christmas gift ideas as I had decided not to make a quilt this year. And I didn't take any to my in-laws to work on in front of them either. hmpf!

I can chose to give a quilt but no way will I make one for cheap!

Joyce

[she-quilts]

Wow! Even the title of this thread got a bit of a rise out of me! That is too funny!

"Never sell a quilt for less than you are willing to accept." Words from a wise teacher! If you do sell your quilts, ever, that is. Don't accept less for your quilt than it is worth to you, in your heart. And never never haggle with someone over the price of your quilt: if they are haggling, plainly they do no understand or appreciate your work. The teacher who dropped this into a lecture was Ricky Tims himself.

People are so used to buying what they think is a "quilt" at Linens & Things for dirt cheap. Many simply don't know the difference, or have any clue at all about the time and love in a real quilt. I can't get upset with them for being uneducated about this, bt that doesn't mean I have to go along with their skewed version of reality!

[she-quilts]

I guess this is a common problem. In my short quilting time, I've given most of my small, learning quilts away, with great pleasure, but when asked to make and sell a quilt, I really don't know what to say. The girls in my hubby's office want him to bring my quilts in to show, but I would have no idea how to sell them, even if I wanted to. If someone wanted a "custom" made quilt, I would have to turn them down. I've always been "too easy" and have a hard time with the word "NO", and would end up being on the short end of the stick, so to speak. It happened a lot in my stained glass days. I was very happy as long as I could make a gift of one of my pieces, but when I was commissioned for a particular piece, the recipient would get a really great deal, I would take a beating, and it would take a lot of fun out of it for me.
Lately, it's been happening with my sewing, too. I gifted my Mom with a really neat tote bag...now, all her friends want one, and I really don't want to mess with them. Also, pillowcase dresses have become the rage with my grand-nieces and their daughters. I don't mind making a few for them, but so far, I'm the one buying the vintage pillowcases! I really need to learn how and when to say No!

[quilting101]

i too give most of my quilts away dh ashed me not long ago when was i going to make a quilt for our bed lol. i don't mind family members asking for a quilt they know they will have to wait a couple of years for them and they are happy to do that. i have just finished making one for a young nephew that he had a lot of input to at the design stage i was thrilled with his interest and his enthusiasm for my quilts. not so nice was a quilt that i and my grandaughter made for my friend's first grand-child i was helping at their house one day and found the quilt folded up in a plastic box in their shed i was very upset and wanted to take the poor little thing home where it would have been loved . i never said anything but it was hurtful. have any others ever had the same problem.

[quilting101]

Sewso, I suggest you go to Ricky's website and order one of his T-shirts that say "I Cain't I'm Bizzy" Betty Ann

[quilting101]

i too give most of my quilts away dh ashed me not long ago when was i going to make a quilt for our bed lol. i don't mind family members asking for a quilt they know they will have to wait a couple of years for them and they are happy to do that. i have just finished making one for a young nephew that he had a lot of input to at the design stage i was thrilled with his interest and his enthusiasm for my quilts. not so nice was a quilt that i and my grandaughter made for my friend's first grand-child i was helping at their house one day and found the quilt folded up in a plastic box in their shed i was very upset and wanted to take the poor little thing home where it would have been loved . i never said anything but it was hurtful. have any others ever had the same problem.

That's so sad :cry: . I definately would have been just as devistated

Linda in SD

[quilting101]

I know how you feel Quilting. The quilt I made my dad was my first ever hand quilted quilt, and i was quite proud of it. It was a bears paw pattern set on point made with a novalty fabric featuring his favorite baseball team and had pillow shams made to match. It took just over a year from start to finish. When a relative was in from out of town over the summer I asked him where the quilt was so I could show her. It was upstairs simply folded and tossed in the bottom of his closet. I let him have it :lol: Now any time I go to his house it is out and on his bed for the world to see. 8)

On top of that my MIL saw the quilt I had made dad and began HEAVILY dropping hints she wanted one too. I let her pick the colors (Peach and yellow, not my favorite shades) but I chose the pattern - Berkshire Blue (although as I said she picked different colors) but instead of the blank center I added a Blazing Star and I changed the size to a queen instead of full. Her quilt is larger and FAR more elaborate in the quilting, and I have been working on and off on this one for a year and three months - it is almost done yippeee!!! Thing is every time I see her she is ragging me because it is not done yet, as if her quilt is the only thing I am working on. Grrrrrr...

[quilting101]

Sewso, I suggest you go to Ricky's website and order one of his T-shirts that say "I Cain't I'm Bizzy" Betty Ann

Great idea, BettyAnn! I think I'll adopt Ricky's motto from now on, and wear the t-shirt...thanks for the suggestion. Do you think people will get the idea?! :roll:
BTW, my fellow Floridian, your quilts are fantastic, and very worthy of being sold! I've admired your works in Ricky's book very much.

[quilting101]

not so nice was a quilt that i and my grandaughter made for my friend's first grand-child i was helping at their house one day and found the quilt folded up in a plastic box in their shed i was very upset and wanted to take the poor little thing home where it would have been loved . i never said anything but it was hurtful. have any others ever had the same problem.

I very laboriously made a Lady of the Lake quilt in pinks for my Grandma. I thought she would like it because she used to find quilts at garage sales for me. Well, my stepmom later found it in the bottom of the closet. Fortunately, she did rescue it. She asked me if I wanted it back but I didn't (maybe someday) so it is in the stack of household quilts on display in the spare room. I found out later that Grandma was from an era where handmade things meant you were poor. She had a storebought quilt on her bed, but it was MUCH more valuable to her than anything any of us could have made for her. She also took offense at scrappy quilts, saying they were "Too Dutchy!" - my sister and I happily took them.

As far as making quilts - I have made a couple of quilts for friends. I don't charge much, but use them as an excuse to try a new technique or block, like Winding Ways, without committing to a big project. For everyone else, the is The List. When you have made The List, you will receive a quilt at some point, and I have given people the knowledge that they had made The List as the gift! They're actually pretty thrilled, although they know they have to wait a while.

Tama

[quilting101]

I made my 1st quilt for hubby and he luvs it so that was taken care of right off the bat. My DD asked when she would get hers and I said, when the time is right. She didn't know that I had secretly been working on it while she was a work(she still lived at home). Of course she got it for christmas and has to clean kitty hair from it all the time, but I made it for her to use and she does. I have to say I only have had one family member ask me for something and that would be my mother-in-law(MOM to me), she wanted a new runner for her table. I made it gave it to her for christmas and it hasn't left the table except to be cleaned. I am very blessed and everyone who has gotten one of my quilts has cherished them and display them proudly.
Others who have seen the truck quilts ask about getting one, but I tell them I am booked at the moment. They still beg and when I tell them what I would charge for one and how long they would have to wait, they back away. I'm not in this as a business so I don't feel bad sending them away.
Your quilts are priceless and price them that way. It gets the leeches of your back.

Linda in SD

[quilting101]

I have learned a new word, it is short, simple and so easy to say.
It is the word, NO!
I usualy say the words,I'm sorry but no, when people ask me.
I have been burned one too many times, so now I do quilts for people that I want to do them for.
I'm happier, less stressed, and I enjoy doing quilts that I want to do, not that I do because I feel guilty!
Try it,
Roni

[quilting101]

I really love to design and make quilts, and some of them are made for close relatives, but at this point I'm not ready to be in the "quilting business." Usually people are more concerned with getting one with particular colors than good workmanship, etc. My greatest heartbreak about quilting is that my own mother really doesn't like my quilts. She, too, grew up when homemade meant poor, and although she kind of likes a traditional bed quilt, she absolutely hates my art and wall quilts (and tells me so). They just don't make sense to her. Consequently, I never ask her to see my quilts hanging at shows, and that makes me very sad. Luckily I have enough other loved ones who do appreciate them.

I'm also going to get one of the T-shirts from Ricky. So far I've been able to fend quilt seekers off with a laugh and some off the wall response.