I asked my husband to only let my quilting friends in my sewing room if I die! I have also told my children this! :)

I have 2 daughters-1 will probably not want anything or not very much.I gave her a sewing machine and she never uses it.The other daughter will be all over yelling mine,mine,mine-woo hoo it is all mine.The grand daughters may get some too.No fabric/ufo burning will go on here-well there may be a few uglies hiding yet.

My husband has a collection of kerosene lamps and I have the sewing room full of material. I've told my friends, if he goes before me, anyone that comes to the funeral or wake leaves with a lamp. If I should go before him, everyone gets a pack of fat quarters. Either that or our children will get a dumpster ready.

Put your wishes in writing and give a copy to whomever you feel needs one. I have told my husband my two quilting buddies get first pick and anything left goes to the group of ladies at church who do such great work and deeds. I think "in writing" is the most important part. But keep a stash - we can't die til our stashes are gone :)

Funny --------

I have two daughters who will want most of my stuff. The other two wouldn't be interested. So, I have given instructions that the two who want it must share as equally as possible and enjoy everything they take. If they find out they don't like it or can't use it, they are to donate it to a quilt guild, church, or charity organization that can use it.

My whole family had this talk and we decided my husband's going to die first. He saved me from the car accident, so it's his turn.
So I told the kids, pick whatever they want, and then let whatever's left go in the way I enjoyed my life - have a big auction! Let it go to whoever bids the highest, knowing that at some auctions, things were grouped together until someone wanted to bid something!
The auctioneers will do all the work, carrying things.

My girls will get the first pick of all my sewing stuff. Any residue will go to the charity bee that I sew with. The sewing machines will be given to various shelters. My mother can no longer sew and my two sisters, barely threads a needle so mother told me to take all of her sewing stuff. I brought home 8 black bags of fabric, buttons, thread, etc. I have gone through the miscellaneous stuff and have started distributing to various chariites sewing supplies. I will do the same to fabric that I will not use. There are many churches that make quilts and assorted things for their missions. What is not something I would use, can find a good use with other groups. The quilts that I have made for my next generation of grandchildren are ready for them when they get here. I have 14 grandchildren and so far I have completed 10 quilts for the next generation.

This was an issue I had to deal with when my sister lost her battle with Colon Cancer in 2001. She had over 2,500 quilt books & a 7 bedrrom house & 2 storage facilities filled with fabric & notions. She also lived 300 miles from me & I was still working as a teacher. As I had only been quilting a few years at that time, I did not know the value of some of the quilt books. If you have a quilt book selection, I suggest getting them listed & include the retail price as well as what you paid for them. Indicate those that are collector's sought after titles. This will help anyone who is given the task of selling them or even claiming them as a charitable tax deduction.

That's a very good question, and good answers.
My quilt guild has been "assigned" the task of receiving fabric, etc. from a friend who passed. We are going to sell the items to guild members and other guilds, and the proceeds will go to a charity.
But I better think of what I'd like done with all my stash and machines too.