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I learned a big lesson this year about owning 'stuff'. My life demanded that I downsize from a big 4-bedroom house to a studio with living quarters. I organized every thing into 3 piles, 1 for trash, 1 for yard sales and 1 pile I wanted to keep. I learned that people collect way too much 'stuff' whether it is fabric, dishes, or whatever. I have now had 4-yard sales and they have been liberating. I'm so happy to own as little as I do. We all face passing at some point and I never want to put the burden of disposing of my quilting stash or any thing else I might own on a relative or a friend. I will now challenge a series of scrap quilts to downsize my own fabric stash. A good lesson learned.
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Yes...it's sad, but others don't think so.Maybe just having all her "stuff" was what it was about.She may never have planned on using it. I had a freind who was the same with clothes,with closets full of unworn clothes,shoes etc.
At my age, it's past time,someday is now.Cutting way way back on buying works best for me, & I've also started using fabrics for backings,to use as a base for strip quilting etc.I even used a couple yds to make a kitchen curtain.This is my yr to use it up or do without!
Originally Posted by mimee4
the words that are sad, to me, are "had never been opened" and "covered with dust". She just had the stuff and didn't know what was there. Each year I vow to use my stash and each year I add more. My daughter will love it - eventually.
This thread is an eye opener, though. I'm 70 and better get busy making quilts to give away and even give away some of the fabric I have. Thanks for sharing. |
Well, I hope this old lady got joy out of HAVING these things. Personally, I have to USE them to enjoy them. Glad you found yourself a few things.
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I don't have a lot, and I'm going through things now, WANTING granddaughter to take an interest in sewing lol. I do feel sorry for those who have money to buy and don't use what they have. Guess we are all different. Who knows maybe I would be like her if I had the money. :)
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I used to stockpile all sorts of craft stuff for "when I retire." Then I was diagnosed biipolar and put on meds that control it. Now I stockpile just quilt stuff. I made a pact with my DDs that my craft plans are just down to 3 things and I am sticking to it. The rest of the retirement stuff went bye-bye in yard sales. I'm not saying I'm perfect yet, but I am much, much better--and my children don't mind being around me now. the pity is that it took until I was 50 yrs old to get diagnosed. I can never undo the h---I put my family through before that.
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None of us can make up for yrs gone by, but sounds like you're doing great now.Good for you.
Originally Posted by Rann
I used to stockpile all sorts of craft stuff for "when I retire." Then I was diagnosed biipolar and put on meds that control it. Now I stockpile just quilt stuff. I made a pact with my DDs that my craft plans are just down to 3 things and I am sticking to it. The rest of the retirement stuff went bye-bye in yard sales. I'm not saying I'm perfect yet, but I am much, much better--and my children don't mind being around me now. the pity is that it took until I was 50 yrs old to get diagnosed. I can never undo the h---I put my family through before that.
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I jokingly told friends that when I pass away, my stash will be delivered to the funeral home, and there will be a cutting table at my wake. No one will go home empty handed. Bet there will be a great turnout.
Really though, I told my dh to let my guild friends come in and handle the workroom stash. they know what it is, what it's worth, and they will put it to good use. |
Originally Posted by rivka
So I went to this, early this morning:
http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/art/2167969724.html The woman who passed had to have been some sort of hoarder; just tons and tons of crafting stuff that had never been opened -- of every imaginable kind (and covered in dust). There was yarn for knitting, cross stitch patterns, quilt patterns and kits, scrapbooking stuff, paper making stuff -- seriously, every kind of craft you could think of was represented. I even saw a woodworking kit. I found about 15 yards of decent fabric, some rulers, and a couple of quilting books that looked interesting. Unfortunately, most of the quilting fabric had already been sold to a local quilt shop, so there wasn't a ton of that left; the daughter that was there at the house was selling it at $1 a yard; and she gave me a ton of fat quarters for free, because she wanted to just get the stuff out of there. My husband said, "Boy, I hope this house isn't a preview of what you're going to be like someday!" I assured him that I was completely in control of my fabric purchases, and that he had nothing to worry about! But the whole thing made me a little sad, though -- all those items that she had bought and never even opened... |
Told my DH and when I go my sister Carol gets my Pfaff and her and my best quilting pal Elaine get first choice of my stash and supplies, rest should be donated to my quild that has a big stash room. May in Jersey
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