Along the lines of museum-esque parlours in homes.
Don’t get me wrong—there are quilts that are made purely to hang on a wall, or at a show, or as some other sort of decor and to never be used otherwise, but I do not make those. I make ones to cuddle up with.
I made my mom a very simple, quick (in so much as a quilt can be made—it took me maybe 10 hours to cut, piece front and back, and quilt) for Mother’s day one year, because she doesn’t really have any bedding or blankets of her own and is always cold. I know she uses it all the time—which makes me really happy. But every time I visit, she talks about how she knows she should just fold it up and use it for display so she doesn’t ruin it.
She had a house fire just before thanksgiving and one of her church members gave her a quilt—still not incredibly intricate, but certainly more complex than the one I made—which she has no problem using all the time or wearing out, since her daughter didn’t make it for her, I guess?
No amount of "Mom, please use it. I made it for you to use. If it gets ruined, I’ll make you a new one." will get through to her that I want her to use it and not set it aside for display. It’s not like it’s some crazy snail trail piecing with additional intricate applique and quilting—it really is just a utility quilt made of some nice coordinating fabrics.
I give up. At least she does actually use it the 358 days a year I’m not around.