DEAR ABBY: I make embroidered tablecloths as wedding gifts for my nieces and nephews. Some of their marriages have failed. Would it be tacky of me to request these gifts be returned to the family member for whom I made them? I put a lot of time and love into those tablecloths, and I'd like to see them stay in the family. -- TALENTED STITCHER
DEAR TALENTED STITCHER: You could try asking nicely. Often wedding gifts are divided according to which side of the family -- the bride's or the groom's -- gave the gift in the first place. However, when the divorce is a bitter one, the division of property sometimes must be decided by a judge. The time to get something like this settled would be before matters go that far, if possible.