In the making or the giving?

While i do have several quilts that i've purposely made just for me, most of them have been intended as gifts. The fabrics and design have been especially selected for the person or occasion. Looking back, and looking ahead, i wonder if it is the making of the quilted gift or the giving of the gift itself that is the best part of the quilting process. For most of the quilt gifts i've made, it has been extra special to be able to bless someone with something so personal and something handmade. In an era when it's so easy to purchase something off the shelf and there are occasions which encourage super consumerism (i'm thinking here especially of Christmas in Australia!), i reckon there's nothing better than a handmade gift.

I do know that some of the people i've given quilts to, probably don't know how much effort and expense went into making them, but i reckon that's okay too, because i have enjoyed so much making them and knowing they are going to someone special. I can remember giving one of my good bloke friends, who had just had a little baby girl, a cot quilt i'd just made fo her and he said 'thanks heaps for the blanket'........hehehe, it made me laugh....classic!

I recently have had the privilege of giving some quilted gifts to my family here in Portugal and it has been very special. Rosa Maria and Ze Carlos like their Dreaming of Jacarandas quilt very much and have decided to use it on their bed in their house in the north of Portugal.

Dreaming of Jacarandas, here on the granite pillars that are common here in the Minho region in northern Portugal, mostly used to support grape vines.

Ze Carlos and Rosa Maria with their Dreaming of Jacarandas quilt

To my aunts i have given some quilted placemats (placemats here and here also) that i made especially for them and it was so nice to give them something i made, like a little piece of me.

Giving quilt placemats to our Aunt Silvia (R) and Milu (L)

But, i'm still not sure. Which is it for you...the making or the giving that is the best reward?

Linking up with Lorna for Lets Bee Social