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Tuesday, August 22, 2017

"What do you do with all those quilts?"

I get asked fairly often what I do with all the quilts I make - do you? In fact, I got asked twice this last weekend. There's really a very simple answer.
  • I USE THEM - In my home, they hang on walls, cover beds, stack on dressers, lay over couches, pile in closets and dresser drawers. I keep one in my car. I have several at my office.





  • I GIFT THEM - Parents, kids, grandgirl, sibs, nieces, nephews. They all have them. Some have several. Sometimes they go to friends too.





  • I DONATE THEM - I belong to a charity bee and work with my local guild specifically to make quilts to give away. These result in group-made quilts of course, but I also occasionally give my own quilts to local charities that I like to support.





  • I SHOW THEM - I have a collection that have been in quilt shows, or I intend to enter in shows. 





  • I SHARE THEM - Whether in classes, lectures, or trunk shows, depending on the topic, I need samples. So quilts that may be used in that way, again, I hang onto.





  • I STORE THEM - There are a few that just don't find themselves in the above categories, so they wait until the right time or the right person. Or I just can't bear to give them away but they don't have an active purpose right now. Or I like to use them during specific seasons.





  • I SELL THEM - OK, this just happened once. 


I'm sure to non-quilters, it's hard to understand how I can just keep making. But as YOU all know, makers gotta make! I'm not always thinking of the end result or the destination when I start a new project. I really do try to use them well and share them generously. But sometimes, often, I just need to make one more.

44 comments:

  1. I absolutely love all your quilts!

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  2. wow! what a fantastic show of quilts. Thank you for the display.

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  3. Exactly!
    I need to have my sister read this. She just fdoesn't get it like you & all our maker friends do!

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  4. I love that you addresseed this! It seems impossible that I haven't seen anyone else address something that is actually a routine question for "us", but I don't recall ever seeing anyone else do so! This is so wonderfully simple! Thank you!!!!

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  5. Oh WOW WOW WOW! Your quilts are amazing. I wish you were my sister lol.

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  6. Oh WOW WOW WOW! Your quilts are amazing. I wish you were my sister lol.

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  7. What a wonderful variety of colors, styles and themes in your quilts. Plus, you have a variety of uses/purposes for your quilts.

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  8. All beautiful makes. I was going to ask you about all your mini quilts because you seem to make several each year. Now I know you hang them on walls.

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  9. Fantastic display of quilts! You perfectly answered to the question. It is in France even more frequent to be asked so because we don't have the historical background.
    We could answer by another question: "Would you ask to a painter what does he/she do with all the paintings?" but it would be rude, wouldn't it?

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  10. Beautiful collection. I mostly donate these days. Everyone in my family and all of my friends have multiple quilted pieces. From King size to lap, to table runners and placemats down to pouches, ornaments and pin cushions. My sister could open a gallery of my work that she has offed with over the years.

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  11. I enjoyed seeing the parade of so many of your quilts all in one place. What would you say is an average size for most of your quilts? It seems you often make smaller sized work. Mine are mostly lap size but I've been thinking I should make a few even smaller so I can experiment more.

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  12. I LOVED THIS POST! ALSO LOVED SEEING ALL YOUR STUNNING QUILTS!!! THANKS FOR MAKING MY DAY!!!
    You also responded well to that question every quilter gets asked by very puzzled non Quilters!!๐Ÿ˜‹

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  13. I feel quilts are something that should be used so I give them away. There is always someone in need

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  14. Well said Debbie! Love your quilt show too!

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  15. A lovely display of your quilts! I've been asked this question so many times too!

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  16. totally understand! Sometimes I just can't give something away.

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  17. You donate them to an auction and I buy them. ;)

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  18. I agree, 'Well said, Debbie!'
    Thanks for sharing, I get so inspired every time I visit here.

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  19. I love how you answered that question! I would expect that lots of us would answer it in much the same way. I love having my quilts (of all different sizes) decorating my home. I also love giving them away and donating them. I, too, just love the making!

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  20. what a lovely selection of quilts so pleased to have found your blog very inspiring and a delight to see the quilts

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  21. I believe this is one of my favorite blog read in some time. Do not be ashamed of selling your art. It gives you capital to create more quilts. But really thanks for sharing your quilts. You are very creative, I wish my mind would develops patterns like you. The truest (?) statement is that only makers understand why, why we have lots of Fabric and why we need to make "another one".
    replies:robinsbusiness@hotmail.com

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  22. I love your quilting on the modern quilts...beautiful work! I agree with you when you get the quilting bug it's hard to stop making beautiful quilts!! It will find its way to the right person or cause....

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  23. I always find it fascinating to get asked this question. I feel like it is more telling of the person asking than my response (which is pretty much identical to what you listed here). There are those who genuinely have no idea what might be done with quilts and those who are needling to be gifted one.

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  24. Can I be your friend? Love all of your quilts.

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  25. Sometimes it isn't about what you do with a quilt, it's about making and creating. When I design and quilt it makes me feel alive and whole...its become a safe haven where I can be and do what I want. No rules, just a lot of quilts on hand!

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  26. I love your categories! I love all my quilts. :)

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  27. You are like fine wine ....you get better and better! I love all your creations and can't wait to see the new one based on your August calendar! Keep on making!

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  28. Fantastic showcase of some of your quilts Deb. Wonder if I can throw one on the back of my chair at work for when the airconditioning cranks up too high? It's great that they all get used.

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  29. I have been asked the same thing multiple times recently and my answer is the same as yours (except the show thing) mainly it is for samples of my patterns for trunk shows and lectures.... when I am making just to make, it is usually minis or pillows since I don't enjoy quilting the larger quilts myself.

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  30. What a great collection of quilts and what a great answer to the question. It's good you have plenty of places for your quilts as you are quite prolific. :D

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  31. I understand completely. Just keep on making, keep up the good work.
    KATRIN W.

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  32. I loved reading your post Debbie ! It's a great show of quilts. And I completely agree with you. I rarely think at the final use or recipient when I'm starting a new project. I just need to make ... ;-) I hope you'll keep going !

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  33. what a beautiful show of inspirational quilts! so many ideas running through my mind again.....

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  34. I think many of us (=quilters, makers) get asked that or similar. Most of the time I just make because I HAVE TO. To express myself, to try out an idea, to use that fabric... And when I'm done it will be used, too! To keep warm, to comfort, to look at, to remember, to share... Thanks for sharing your wonderful quilts with us all here, and keep making. Though I think, like me and many of us, you couldn't stop making if you tried...

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  35. What an impressive gallery!! I love all your work, especially the improv quilts. They are all so beautiful.

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  36. Thank you for this blog post. It's so nice to hear this coming from another quilter. Yes, I get asked this question all the time. Your work is so inspiring!!!

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  37. LOVE this post: its message, its little bit of protest, its images - yum! I wrote one very similar (gosh how can it be 3 years ago?!) and, as my darling grandson would say, "searched it up". I do not feel one smidgeon of guilt for the money and time I spend making quilts. Much like you, I don't always have a recipient or reason in mind when I start one; sometimes the opportunity to give it presents itself, other times nope, that quilt lives with me. I like to quip that quilting keeps me from killing people, but it DOES keep me a happier person. Here is my post if you want to read some of my thoughts on this very subject. Thank you for writing this! And for reminding me of why creative people gotta create, especially today in our hurricane on many levels of a planet.
    http://www.mmmquilts.com/2014/06/sandras-soapbox.html

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  38. WOW! How exceptional! Loving these designs. Thanks a lot for sharing

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  39. I don't think anyone ever asks a painter what they do with all their work.. just saying!

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  40. A fabulous collection! Inspirational! Thank you for showing such an array of wonderful quilts.

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