jillaine

I have been so astounded by the wonderful collections so many of you have-- huge "stashes" of amazing fabrics, as well as quilts-- finished or not-- either made by you or others, as well as any number of quilting-related items.

We've also read posts on this board about amazing findings at estate sales and yard sales and in Goodwill and thrift stores. And many of us have commented on the apparent ignorance some people have towards the value of the stashes left behind by family and friends.

What do YOU want to happen to your stash/collection after you're gone? Is it part of your estate? Have you accounted for it in your will? If you don't have a will, or haven't accounted for it in your will, have you otherwise communicated to your family what you want done with it?

This is important to me because I am also a family historian. I have a cousin (I can't believe I'm related to him...) who when his parents died, basically put everything out on the curb in hefty bags for the trash people to pick up. Everything that wasn't large furniture. Everything. We lived across the country from each other then, and I didn't learn about his actions until long after they occurred. But I was appalled.

We can't control much once we've died, but we can make our wishes known.

Have you?

dakotamaid

I'm pleased to say I have, in writing, but need to update.:)

GirlieWhirlie

I have a friend who will be the executor of her friend's quilts, stash, sewing machines, and anything related to quilts. She is to find them a good home.

MTS

There is a Quilter's Will form out there (too early to search) where you can appoint your "Executor" and designate your wishes for the dispersal of your stash. While it's legal standing is questionable :wink: , I'm sure the family will respect your wishes.

I think the most important part is for them to realize it has some value and they just don't toss it out as a bunch of rags.

My friend actually included it when she recently redid her real legal papers, and I thought it was such a hoot I did it as well when I did mine a bit later. Her husband then pointed out the very possible likelihood that we'd both meet our ends on one of our quilting expeditions, and then he'd STILL be stuck with the fabric as I wouldn't be around to GET IT OUT OF HIS HOUSE (his emphasis). :wink:

Found it:
http://quiltville.com/quilterswill.shtml

dakotamaid

I'd still put it in writing somewhere someone will find it. Mine is with our wills in the safe and both kids know where to find stuff.

ptquilts

my sister and DH know what to do with my stash, but I plan to live long enough to us it all up. :wink:

Deborah12687

Gosh...never really thought about what would happen to my stash if something happened to me. I think I need to talk to my daughter and grandaughters to see if they would want it. It is a slim chance that they would want it. I tried to get the intrest in quilting last year but that fell thru. I am here now and will quilt as much as I can. What is left of my stash I would like it donated to a chruch that I know of that has a food shelf and they also use donated fabric to quilt for the needy. Will have to let my family know this.

charity-crafter

I've told my dh and my quilting group that I want all quilting/sewing supplies to go to the quilting group and let them sort it out. I probably should get it in writing. We don't have kids so we've not bothered getting wills done yet.

patchsamkim

My son's know to call one of my friends...they will take care of dispersing my stash...only thing that would change that is if one of them were to marry someone that knows how to quilt...then I would have to work them into the dispersement too.

clsurz

Yes all my craft toys are part of my estate. I have a son whose GF (mother of my GK's) who thinks that when hubby and I pass that she will get our house and all my toys in this house.

She is in for a surprise. If I survive hubby I'm selling the house and moving into an apartment. So she is not getting my house.

If hubby survives me he can do what he wants with the house however every little personal thing in this house that is mine from desk top computers, laptops, ipad, ereaders, several die cutting machines, embossing machines, fabrics, threads, and everything else associated with it is already going to appropriate charities that can make use of these toys such as schools, and other organizations that would make good use of it.

My son has no interest in those toys of mine and I'm sure he'd be happy with the house but he also is not getting it because he doesn't deserve it and he's my son.

Now one of my GD will be getting certain things because she asked for them and she's only 8 and hopefully I'll be around for a long, long time at least long enough to see my GK's grown and succeeding.

Son's GF was previously married and had two boys and I treat them like my own grandkids however they don't have much to do with hubby and I even though they were very young when they came upon the scene. Son and GF have two daughters together and only the 8 year old will visit and spend quite a bit of time with me. The 6 year old is just now starting to warm up to me.

I am considering leaving the girls something money wise however it will be an escrow account and a bank will be in charge of it and they won't be able to touch it until they are 25 years old and only if they make something out of there lives. Neither parents will be having control of anything I may choose to leave the girls and the boys.

Boys I can't blame much because they are just kids even if they are now 12 and 15. They were only 3 and 6 when I first got to know them and they are decent boys. Type of influence they learned is what they are. So is the 6 year old GD however the 8 year old is nothing like them however I have practically raised her first 3 years of her young life and some in the following years.

So I'm not going to punish the kids for the mess there parents are in.