dlquilter wrote: I'm with Dana to the letter of what she expressed. I don't make many quilts for gifting, though I do make them occasionally for my nieces, nephews, and brothers. My oldest son and grandson have their own quilter (OriNebula) to make their quilts, though I made one for my grandson when he was new and a little bitty quilt for his wall that he designed himself in crayon and I interpreted in fabric. I made a quilt top for my youngest son's bed and my DIL is quilting it for me on her longarm. They may get one or more of my art quilts in the future if they want them.

I love to make art quilts and have them shown in a show, but I decided after this last Hoffman Challenge (the mermaid quilt) that I would only make art quilts at my own pace and with my own choice of fabrics in the future and if I think they are good enough, enter them into whatever contest seems to fit at the time, or not. :shock:

As to changing...My techniques have really improved to the point I feel I can make most any quilt now except maybe a detailed traditionally quilted one, because, though my piecing is pretty good, my quilting isn't that good. I am surprisingly going to make a traditional quilt next, however...got the fabric kit and plan to start as soon as I finish my Brother-in-Law's River Cross banner quilt that I just finished all the quilting on last weekend and only have to bind it now.

I am stepping outside the box...my art quilt box...to make the x's and o's applique BOM. Imagine that. I figured I'd enjoy it and it would look great in my bedroom and maybe help me improve my quilting. I astonish myself.

I make what people want me to make. And, it has helped me to grow as a quilter. One of my non-favorite colors has always been olive, as I grew up in the army. When I volunteered to make a wedding quilt of my son, and asked if he had any ideas for it, he gave me a box of a lot of fabric and many quilt blocks that he had made and never finished. All various OLIVE prints! I did make it, and included signiature blocks from everyone at the wedding. Then my daughter requested I make her some coasters for her new dining room table, and sent a sample of her placemats. There was that olive again! Last Christmas I made another daughter placemats for her new home. They were a really cool green, but when I went looking for a backing fabric, I found an OLIVE one that looked better than any other I could find. And then, recently, I made some wonderful scandinavian print, wedge placemats, and, you've probably guessed by now, I bound them in olive, which was the main leave color, and it made all of the other colors look very rich. Had I always only made quilts with colors that I like, I would have missed out on seeing how an ugly color can really punch up the others!

I do make quilts for shows as well as home deco, I don't revisit older projects, and I will still make what others want, knowing I will learn something new from it.

Y'all are funny!! Actually....just a few minutes ago my DH said that he thought that Carolyn and Linda would be offended to be offered my least favorite quilts, so I will probably keep them in the closet for a while longer. I certainly don't want to offend them!

And he is somewhat protective of my quilt closet! I must say that almost all of my quilts are used regularly by rotating them on my MIL's bed at the assisted living facility where she has lived for the last 6-1/2 years. The nurses and aids as well as the other residents really seem to enjoy the changes!

Margo wrote:
Dear Margo,

I have never met a quilt that I didn't like, but obviously some I like more than others. I like yours more than many others and would certainly love for any of your quilts to come live with me. Storage is not an issue and I'd love to help you downsize your quilt collection.

Sincerely,
Your TQS friend, Nancy

Margo, I think we all want to be your friend and visit you!

My quilting friend makes projects because she likes something about it. . .the pattern, the colors, etc. Me, I make a quilt with someone or some purpose in mind. I'm thinking about the quilting as I'm selecting the pattern and the fabrics and then refine my quilting as I construct the top. Over the last couple years, my quilting has improved and I seem to continue to choose patterns that are intricate; but, I'm also working on finishing projects too so I have eclectic bunch of projects. I don't quilt to enter into a show although I do enter some shows and fairs. If I have a quilt that has been hanging around a while, it usually tells me where it wants to live so I don't have many finished quilts in my house. Since my car accident, quilting is difficult (I've had to change my life so much) so it takes me a long time to finish a quilt. . .I just try to do a little every day so I see progress.

Lorchen wrote:
I totally feel like that too! I need to just make a bunch and have them for gifting.

Lorchen, I absolutely agree with your reasoning, and pretty much do the same thing. I have a couple of childhood friends are coming to visit me this month, and I have a feeling that they are both going to go home with quilts that are taking up too much room in my storage closet!

If a quilt has to be made to order, it's more like a commission than a gift. Not my cup of tea!

I quite often make a quilt because I like the fabrics or the pattern or I just feel like playing with my fabrics. The finished quilts then live stacked on the spare bed. Some of them for weeks, some for months or years until the time comes when I just feel like giving a particular quilt to a particular person. It's almost as if a quilt is picking its future owner. And often there isn't even a proper reason for it. I gave a quilt to a friend a little while back because she was having a tough time and needed cheering up. I tossed it to her and said: 'Happy 60th Birthday!' ......... Her 60th birthday is in October 2012.

I find it very difficult to make quilts 'to order'. It then suddenly becomes a job and hard work so a lot of the fun is gone.

I have mostly just made quilts for my nephews' new babies. I will ask the Grandma (my sister or sister-in-law) what colors they have done the baby's room and choose fabrics accordingly.

The hardest was when the boy's room was done in brown & turquoise but I found a great turtle print with those colors at my usual LQS!! Another was doing the baby's room with Cubs fan decor but I refused to buy Cubs fabric at the big box store to use. Ugh!! So I made them a red and blue quilt.

For the first great-nephew I made a quilt with airplanes and found out later that the other Grandpa (not my brother) flies planes as a hobby! For the next baby, the mom asked for green with cars instead of planes. I did focus on greens but this is a "gift" you aren't being picky!!!

For now, all the married ones say they are "done". I need to finish my projects before the next batch gets married!

I think I can safely say that I would never make a gift for someone unless they would absolutely love it! And the other part of that thought is that I don't do a very good job finishing something unless I absolutely love it. So the end result is that I don't make a lot of quilts to be gifted at this point. I do several baby quilts as gifts, but other than that, I guess, at this time in my life, I'm just content with learning new techniques, trying new styles, and using this wonderful world of quilting to fulfill my desire to express myself.

I would only make and gift a quilt that I liked. However, I think every gift should be made or selected specifically for the recipient. I want the giftee to like and enjoy the gift that I give. What's the point of giving a gift that you like, but the recipient does not?

Well Anna you've given me something to think about today. The giftee has always had a big effect on my quilt decisions. Thinking about it now, that is where I get bogged down in making what should have been a quick fun quilt. I get so worked up trying to do the perfect color and pattern for that person and get crazy. It's not like they have to display it or design their whole house around it, so I should, and will, try to just make what I think is nice and FINISH it from now on.

I don't think my style of quilts has changed too much. I like to try all different things out.

I never quilt for shows. Can you imagine? I can't even quilt for gifts without going into a spin of indecision!

If I get inspired to do a quilt it is usually something not quilt related that inspires me.

How does the giftee effect your style of quilting? If I know that the quilt is going to be used up and loved to death, I make sure it is sturdy and will withstand the wear and tear.

Do you quilt your style or do you take into account the person you are giving the quilt to? I don't like to get any more guidance from the giftee than two or three favorite colors and a general size. Large enough for one person, or for the top of a bed. I don't do king size quilts.

Has your style of quilts changed in recent years? Absolutely. I'm not much interested in quickie quilts any longer. I need something that will keep me busy for a while, and that usually means lots of piecing or appliqué.

Do you quilt for shows or do you quilt for home dec ? Sometimes for shows, but usually because I just love to watch a top come together, and when it's done, I'm on to the next project. I often don't know who will receive the quilt until long after it's finished.

What infludences the style of quilts you quilt? When I see a quilt (or photo of one) that makes my heart go pitty-pat, I try to analyze exactly what it is about that piece that is speaking to me. Then I make an effort to use it in a future project. Gathered photos are a huge source of inspiration.

Good topic, Anna! Looking forward to seeing other responses!