IMHO you are at a perfect point with your personal stash:) How nice of you to spend time with your elderly friend.
I must admit that I was blown away by your description of your friend's collection.IMHO -- again -- your friend is warehousing fabrics. Until you arrived on the scene to help to organize the collection, the material was limiting the use of her home. Perhaps, she can now appreciate the visible collection and even pet it lovingly.Bravo to you as you continue this archeological dig!