I must admit I used to love going to the stitching and textile shows in the USA when I was a professional Cross Stitch Designer. I even taught classes at the one I went to in Riverside California, and went twice to Des Moines in Iowa, and a stitching show in New York. All these shows had an element of Quilting too, but that wasn’t my main focus then, so although I enjoyed looking at all the Quilts and booths with supplies, I did not bring suitcases of material back with me. In the UK I used to exhibit at Harrogate, Alexandra Palace, Manchester, Birmingham and Olympia to sell my Cross Stitch Kits and Patterns. My focus is now Quilting, but mobility issues make going to shows difficult both from the point of getting there and also being able to get round the halls, but I still enjoy going to Quilting shops and fabric stores when away on holiday.

Oi no animals on quilts! lol x

That is a really lovely piece if work. I have some of this fabric, so now I am inspired!

Very nice !

Beautiful coloured quilts

Thank you to everyone who submitted a title! The competition is now closed and the judges will deliberate, and probably dither a bit too….

I remember you posting about this baby delivery when it happened. Didn’t know about the full time job or where the first quilt ended up. Always enjoy your posts and blogs. You have the story telling gene. More please.

She was meant to have that quilt, lucky her, it is lovely. I do love a happy ending!

That’s great. Although not a quilt my daughter had seen a mini plush (a large BMW logo made one) and she wanted to win it. It was labelled I think prize seven or eight in the raffle. We were at a mini (as in cars) event and at that time that’s all she talked about (Aspergers). Well. The raffle was drawn, we won first prize (a very large hamper, it was lovely). One look at Kira knew I had to ask to swap that prize for the mini. The guy behind the stall said he could not but another guy who had been manning the stall all day had said Kira had kept going back to it, just like the lady. And said as we were giving up the first prize for a lower prize there was no problem. One happy little girl. We then went one to win a later price. A meal for a family of four at a pub. A good day round. Don’t you just love fate.

Love it Ami

What fun fabric and such an innovative use for them! Visiting relatives in Hannover in May, might need to make them a London based present as a memory of a great visit to London last year.

I agree with your ethic – if you are gifting then that’s fine, but they are gifting at your expense then that’s altogether different. In the least they should pay for the materials and a contribution to your time, or if not the time make a gesture!

I’m with you all the way. If you’re asked to make a quilt by someone then you charge. Family member/friend or customer you charge.

I agree Ami, I have made double quilts & baby mats for family, including my parents, step daughters and grand-children. I have also made for my personal friends having children or new grandchildren as a totally surprise gift. As a purely surprise gift I was then under no pressure, as there was no expectation & if I chose to spend my money & my fabric & time that was my choice. I have on a few occasions made quilts for other incoming babies of friends of friends on request, and a sensible discussion about actual costs & timescales has always happened first. They have always been delighted, and often paid far more than actually requested, more often as a personal gift of lunch out, plants for the garden, or a nice bottle of wine in appreciation. I am now making quilts for the Quilts for Care Leavers project, again totally my choice if I want donate my materials and time.

I think you have done well to stand firm on this, and let family and friends know why. I wonder if they even realised that what they were doing was the same as asking you to buy a present (the value of your labour) to give to someone you didn’t know. I personally don’t sell quilts, or even take money for materials, but then I have decided I will not make to someone else’s requirements. I make what I want to make, from fabric that has come from my “hobby budget”, and as I end up with surplus quilts there will be some unexpected lucky recipients or charities.

This happens to my students a lot – they make something for themselves, then get an approach along the lines of “you enjoy this, why not make something for my second cousin’s third wife’s stepson” with no offer of payment. They usually have the common-sense to say no, or at least to ask my advice, at which point they get given a standard “costs” document. Mostly, at this point the requester gets the idea that this is not a favour one should ask quite so freely..
A full bed quilt, from new fabrics, can cost upwards of £600 in materials alone, plus hundreds of hours of work. Yes, I give quilts, quite often to complete strangers, but they are my quilts, in my style, and at my leisure.. So, don’t do it, folks, you will hate the colours, they will buy nasty cheap fabric, you will lose sleep…

Very soft and subtle Ami.

Lovely soft colours, looks great

Very pretty bag, ideal for summer time.

Smashing bag in such delightful fabric.