Mom has been gone a year and eight months now and, as I have mentioned on here before, I inherited her stash as none of my three sisters have an interest in sewing.

Up to now I have had my containers of fabric and Mom's containers of fabric. Two things have emerged in the past few days that have cemented the fact that it's time to merge.

One is my New Year's resolution to organize my fabric and get it into ONE place, and the other is that I am starting Bonnie Hunter's mystery quilt and I have no idea what I really have in fabric to use.

So.....last night I filled a container with both mine and Mom's fabric in it. It made me tear up and miss her all the more, but I guess it's all a part of the process. :cry: :cry: :cry:

My mom has been gone two years now and I still miss her every day although now I remember the times we spend together with happier thoughts. Believe it or not it does get easier with time.

Won't it be nice to have a quilt that has fabrics from both stashes. I inherited both my mom's and my sister's--think of them every time I use one of their fabrics.

I am so sorry....It will never be easy thinking about...but it could be therapuetic to peice with her fabric and think about her during the process..as it is something you shared.

My mother passed away almost nine years ago and I still miss her. My mother taught me to sew and it was a bond that only she and I shared. I'm from a big family and I was the only one with an interest in sewing. The healing will come and you will have wonderful memories, yet there will always be moments when the tears flow.

My Mom has been gone 3 years & though I don't have any of her fabric, I do have her sewing machine & some threads & notions. I'm using them, but realize that I am still keeping them separate. Who know when, if ever, I will combine them. Or that I have to I guess?

I miss my Mom, too. Made a quilt top with long scraps from her stash. It turned out nice. Some day I'll get it quilted, but for now, it's a pleasant reminder of her.

My sister got the majority of Mom's stash. My 6 year old grand-nephew and I used some rectangular scraps. He designed a 4 patch. Didn't tell him that it's been done before, because it wasn't done before by him! He made (4) 4 patches, and then told me it was going to be a 'butt warmer' for his bird, Sparky, would I mind if Sparky pooped on it?

So my Mom's fabric led to a little more love and a laugh. Who could ask for more?

I've done the same, and Yes, it was hard to do, but the times you can use some of those pieces for someone special, you know you've added a little of her in the process. Not just the skill and craft but a little piece of her personality, not long ago made one for Mom's twin brother for his 70th birthday. For the granddaughter she never met.... OK now I'm weepy!!
Truely Great to put it to good use :)

My mom passed away in 1989 at the age of 57. She loved to buy fabric for me - she didn't sew much - and I still have some of the awful polyester fabric she purchased. I know I will probably never use it, but just having it to touch occasionally is soothing somehow.

I inherited 1/3 of mom's massive stash in 2003 (two of my sisters also quilt) and last summer while making stockings for the troops through Project Santa, was actually able to donate some her fabric to that cause. That was also very healing. I knew it was something that Mom would have done and would have wanted me to do. Yes, everytime I pull out one of Mom's fabrics it makes me miss her and we "talk" a while, but it also floods me with such warmth and fond memories. The 'tearing up' probably won't change even after you combine the stashes but you're right, it's part of the process. Your mother probably loved her stash as much as we do so just think of it as her love still being with you. Each time you use a piece of it you'll be passing some of your mother's love to whomever you give the quilt to and her love will live on.

My mother, Sally. passed away Sept "09...she is dearly missed, not a day goes by with out some reminder of her.. I have her small stash and several of her hand stitched tops.. working on one now to give to her newest grand baby due in March... this top is a real challenge as it is not her best work. but will be loved and appreciated by my niece, the mom to be.

I think merging the fabrics will be lovely: the first time you have to stop to think whether you acquired this piece or Mom did it will be a kind of magic, and every time you use some of her stash you'll be working on a joint project with her and that's a very good thing.

My grandma died in 1990 - over twenty years ago. But I think about her daily. I am blessed that she gave me her Featherweight before she died. And I feel like she is always with me when I am using it.

When you use a piece from your mom's stash, I am sure that you will feel her presence and guidance. Actually, you will probably really enjoy that aspect of it. I know that is how I feel when I use my Featherweight. And since you have her fabric, you will know that she would love the project that you are working on.

You can never replace someone that you have lost and you never lose your memories of them. Think of her stash as little reminders of her as you get on with your life. I am sure that that is what she would have wanted. Se would have wanted to stash to be used and enjoyed, not just sitting in boxes.

My Mom has been gone 5 years now and i still sometimes pick up the phone to call her. I would have loved to have fabric from her house to make a quilt but she gave up sewing many years ago. In time it will be easier to think of your Mom with happy thoughts. Making a quilt from both stashes is a special gift..she would be proud.

My mom died over 40 years ago, and I still missd her terribly. I have several pieces of fabric that she bought, and until this week, I never used it. There were two pieces of beautiful linen, and one piece was two yards, bought for $1.99!! The check out sticker was still attached! It gave me a "talk to mom" moment as I told her she would be shocked at what that would cost now.

My Mom's been gone for almost 50 yrs. and still I run across some of her sewing things that stop me in my tracks and I'm back watching her use them while she sewed. I find myself thinking of her so fondly when I'm doing a new technique and I ask her to help me figure this out. I'm so comforted by the presence of her belongings and her gifts to me. Whenever I sew I know she's watching and guiding me everyday.

In time I know this will also happen to you but for now just accept that it's Okay to feel what you are feeling now. it too will pass one day and ahppy memories will replace the sadness. You are surrounded by many loving and understanding hearts who love you right where you are now.God know what we need and provides you with it, all you need to do is ask for it...

Lovingly,
Andie

Thanks everyone for your words of encouragement and the sharing of your precious memories of your moms. SuziC mentioned still picking up the phone to call her mom after 5 years and that is something I do all the time - another reminder of how close we are to our Moms. God Bless everyone!

Glenda - my mother has been gone 5 years this past Christmas and she had more material than a JoAnn's store - I didn't take 1/10th of is and now whish I had - every now and then I come across something of hers I took and I think really hard before I cut it up.

I just did a scrap quilt to see if I could and my girls said - "Mom why did you cut up our baby dresses that Granny Peg made us". I started really looking at it and almost the entire thing was from left over fabric that she used to make all their baby and toddler clothes...I was going to donate it but now its on the end of my bed!

Amazing how much we incorporate them into our daily lives without realizing it!

I have already found fabric that I recognize as some of the kids clothes. Gosh, I've found fabric from when I was a kid. She sewed all her life and made lots of clothes. There were 4 girls and 2 boys - dresses for the girls and shirts for the boys.

My thoughts go out to you. Your Mum wanted the merge so go ahead and think of her smiling down on you.