tarabenet wrote:
Indeed I did say that - almost word for word! Good on ya for paying attention tarabenet.

If I make a gift of a quilt, it is simply that a gift. Once it leaves my hands; I have no control over what people do with it. I do tell receiver that should at any time the quilt needs to be repaired to return to me for repairs.
It is true that many do not respect the time or energy which is put into a quilt; however I don't have control over that fact of life. I have had people who don't use the quilt for fear they will 'spoil' it. I explain to them to use it...it was given to be wrapped in love.
I generally don't do quilts on commission. I do quilts from my heart.

FW

I don't want those kind of folks to own my work anyway. I am really picky about where my quilts end up living. If they see no value in my work, I see no value in their opinion. Betty Ann

Amen to that, Phyllis!

What I think is amusing is people seem to think hand made quilts should be soooooooooo cheap!!

I'm mean, really now, why should quilts be so expensive, it's not like you had to drive to wal-mart and pick one China made one, all wrapped up in a plastic reusable zipper bag!!!!

What people don't understand it the amount of time, dedication, fabric's supplies, allllllllll these things we put into making to the best of our ability the perfect quilt.

I had a guy stop here, saw a teapot quilt a client of mine made, he said he would love to buy itfor his wife, so I talked to the lady. With the type of fabric, the applique work that was done by hand, plus my cost to quilt it, all came to aprox $300.00.

I thought this was a good price, however the man coughed said he just don't see that amount of money in a quilt what so ever. Ah well, lets see him find that type of quality work in wal-mart.

Phyllis

I have made one quilt on commission and they lady did not bat an eye when I told her the price. If they don't bat an eye I am willing, but I will not compromise the worth of my time and effort to make a sale. I quilt because I love to quilt. I give most of them away at my own expense. I have told a few family members that if they pay for the fabrics I will make the quilt for them. I have not had takers yet. As a general rule for pricing I go with 2 times the price of the fabric for my labor and then add a price for the quilting, either my quilting it or hiring it out, plus 0.25 an inch for binding. The one that I did for commission I kept careful track of the time it took and then went back to my figure to see how I came out and I was please with the per hour results. If a person truly appreciates quilts and what it takes to make one they will pay for it.

I also told my neices/nephews that if anything ever happened to it, don't be afraid to bring it to me for repair... I want my quilts used and loved, and I'd rather repair it so they can keep on using it than have it live in a box... or worse!
Florence

My favorite answer is this: "That's the wrong question!"

So far my quilts have all gone to CLOSE family (self, husband, daughters and grandaugter and one to a close friend who cherishes my rendition of his bicycle race t-shirts) and have been loved and appreciated. Whenever I think about giving to someone who won't appreciate them, I find my enthusiasm for the project cools considerably.

So far, I haven't given in b/c I wouldn't know the price to put on a quilt. Plus all my work so far is hand-quilted which, as you know, is so very time intensive. While I'm sitting there doing it I spend some of the time thinking about the person it's being made for................not everyone who asks for a quilt is going to get that much of my BRAIN TIME! LOL

When I give a quilt, I ALWAYS tell the recipient that if at some point in time they are tired of it, to please give it back to me and I will not be offended. I REALLY don't want my quilts to end up at Goodwill! I have made and given quilts to most of my co-workers (about 12) who pulled me through - and covered my butt at times - some very difficult medical problems with my son. The only one who has ever harped on when his quilt would be done was hubby - who got one that was thrown together to shut him up. I then showed him the difference between his and one that percolated until inspiration hit and he doesn't bug me any more.

Nancy, I was just admiring your quilts yesterday. I think your mom needs her head checked.

Keep up the great work!
Chelley

McC, I wouldn't know how to put a price tag on your quilts...they're absolutely wonderful. Shame on your Mother! I now wonder what my Mom might think of my homemade quilts since she grew up in the Depression era? She's happy so far with little wall hangings and pillows!
I've been really thinking hard about this subject, and it seems to me that non-quilters just don't get it! I can't elaborate on that, I'm off to work, but y'all know what I mean.

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.

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

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