Originally Posted by kittenquilts
I totally understand what you mean. I got some fabric and quilt tops at an estate sale. I can't help but think of the person who did all the lovely work on them. They are just tops - not quilted yet. I did complete one recently - added borders and did the quilting on my long arm. I think of the person who put all those hours into this quilt top and hope I have done her justice in the completion.
See this is what is good about estate sales. If the person has passed, the people having the estate sales are usually the new owners of the items. But they are items they don't have room for or want. I imagine the the person who they had belonged to would have loved the very idea that you "wanted" her items. Let alone that you "finished" one. Look at it this way. If people don't go to estate sales, all of that persons things could just end up in the trash. I would rather think I may be helping out by giving them money for the items, that could maybe have been needed to pay for the services. Or for the money to help with the fees for caring for the person.