I can relate to Donnajeans story. I had to clean my mothers house out, and it was overwhelming, and I was in the same town. I think for me the issue would be that I really just wanted to go through the things,to make sure there wasn't a GRAND treasure that was going to be dicscarded and then I would be able to donate and share. I guess that is the "treasure hunter" side of my personality.
My problem would be wantong to go through EVERYTHING, not just craft and quilting supplies.

With that being said, I could only see fit to keep what I absolutly loved and would use... and be able to fit in to my storage system or closet. I would be pretty picky about older fabrics. That is just me.

Hmmm...good questions QnC...I'm more like you..the mess drives me crazy! I have to be organized and I like to have adequate room to do just that. I have a smallish corner of the guest bedroom..a few plastic stacking thingies full and then some in boxes at the end of a bed. I'd love to be able to do it differently..but no room to do that. Outside storage is not for me, we have only 2 closets in the entire house! I don't want anymore fabric because I don't have room to put it away...that is unless...its that reaallllly pretttyyyy oneeee over there.... :wink:

Please take what you want and what you don't, give to a local quilt group to make charity quilts.

I had to take out the bed in my spare room also so I'd have more room for my stash and just getting around in general. There's plenty of organizations that would love to have donations. Send it my way for our group that makes everything the cancer patient needs: gowns, catherter bags, hats, pillows, lap robes, walker bags just to name a few things we make. We rely on all supplies to be donated to make these things for all of Pinellas county in Florida. There's only 8 of us ladies doing this. Some have been at it for 15 yrs. and others just when they have time. We range in age from 85yrs. young to 54 yrs. old. We can make arrangements for postage if this is what you decide. Just pm me. Thanks for considering this option.

Let me assure you that I use EVERY space. I even had to get bins for under MY bed last year. But I'm using it up little by little now, as evidenced in the pictures of my sewing room, so I'm envious of those with the ability to replenish and restock. :thumbup: :thumbup:

If I get too much that it starts over flowing from my sewing room, it's time to down size.
my sewing room used to be a small bedroom and I store all my fabric in the double wide closet. If it doesn't fit in the closet, it doesn't stay in my stash.

I have a 14' wall lined with cabinets and filled with fabric so I guess I'm not a good judge of enough is enough! I do like everyone's idea of keeping what you like and paying forward what you don't. Good luck!

You can keep the stuff you like, and donate the other stuff to some group that makes quilts for charity.

I worked at Hancocks for years. Every once in awhile the manager would go through and sell the fabric at $1.00 a yard to get rid of it. I couldn't resist, $1.00 a yard. After awhile I had no place to store it so gave some for charity for their quilts. My name got around and I had about 6 different charity organizations asking for fabric donations about twice a year. Just give fabric to one and your name will get around. Keep the pieces you really like and put what you don't like in some kind of plastic bags and start giving away. You'll be surprised at the phone calls you receive.

Here are the questions I would ask myself....How much space do I have? Do I want to expand from that space? If so, How much???
I agree you should take anything he gives you and sort our what you want. Then immediately pack up the rest and send it out. If things keep coming and you find something you can't live without pick out something from your stash and out it goes. Sounds like a lot of work, but it will keep you manageable.