Before you get into a fight about scraps, etc., ask yourself whether any of this stuff makes an eternal difference. The fight might--losing a bunch of fabric crumbs doesn't. froggyintexas

OK, it's the morning...did you call her and find out where she put your crumb blocks?

I would put a lock on my sewing room door AND a "NO Trespassing" sign as well. Your DH needs to be with you on giving boundries to HIS mother.

I am so blessed that my dear MIL also quilts and knows it would be difficult to do so without hands, so she would never dream of invading my sewing room and throwing things away. Of course, I have come home to find the kitchen table AWOL because it fit the kitchen in their new home :roll:

my former MIL quilts so my sewing room was safe but the kitchen wasn't, Call your MIL and ask her what she done with the blocks for the quilt you were working on.This will gently let her know she messed up.And before her next visit install a lock and put a Do Not Enter sign on the door

Where do these people get off? First of all, I do not care who they are, they have no rights in my house, except as a guest.

I had an aunt who would visit me periodically and every time she would ask me, "When are you going to hang drapes?"

You may find my response rude, but it is no ruder than her question. My response was "Probably never."

Trust me, if I found someone going through my things or cleaning my house, they would be escorted to the door and I would thank them for coming. I would never take those liberties in their home when visiting.

if its your personal space put a lock on the door

Someone else cleaning up after me (even if they do it with love in their heart) is an invasion of privacy IMHO. I could send you more crumbs but that wouldn't take the feeling of being violated somehow away. I do hear ya, but have no advice to offer. I'll be watching this thread for ideas how to deal with it.

omg, that's terrible! I sure hope you are joking (because I have to admit, it made me LOL)!

its not about the crumbs, its not about even coming into your home and "helping", its about someone who is so controlling they feel they have the right and duty to run your home as THEY see fit. These are not "poor dears", these are iron women who need to be in charge. They may come off as sweet and helpless, or be as tough as nails. They will bully and charge or they can be very passive-agressive, either way, they run the show.
It's very hard to be a spouse (male or female) when there are inlaws like this. If your spouse is afraid of their parent, or think you must defer cus "they know better and are trying to help", seriously, stop the discussions (aka arguements) and key the door and you have the only key. Its your space. sharet

My husband of 31 years loves to introduce me as his "first wife." We are both still in our only marriage, so I fail to see the humor. But everyone else laughs.

My Sister in law, mother in law and I cleaned out a huge room filled with canned goods and other cooking stuff while the Grandmother and Aunt (they lived together in this house) were at the hair salon. My husband and father in law made three trips with black trash bags full to the local landfill (pick up truck) We found burst cans of food, peanut oil that was ten years old and smelled like it....we reorganized the entire area of good canned food and mounds of new kitchen towels and wash cloths. It looked great.....OH MY GOSH WHEN THEY GOT HOME. You would have thought we had thrown away the crown jewels...and the worst part, we had no idea that they kept their food seaparate!!!!!!!!!!! Yes, separate, even though they cooked and ate the same meals everyday TOGETHER. The Aunt had her food in paper bags and the Grandmother had hers in bags and stacked....who knew....They screamed and cried for hours. We left for TX the next morning...They didn't speak to us for several years. The Family still remembers that fiasco and jokes about it. To each his own.
I did learn, never help anyone unless they ask for it.