So I went to this, early this morning:

http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/art/2167969724.html

The woman who passed had to have been some sort of hoarder; just tons and tons of crafting stuff that had never been opened -- of every imaginable kind (and covered in dust). There was yarn for knitting, cross stitch patterns, quilt patterns and kits, scrapbooking stuff, paper making stuff -- seriously, every kind of craft you could think of was represented. I even saw a woodworking kit.

I found about 15 yards of decent fabric, some rulers, and a couple of quilting books that looked interesting. Unfortunately, most of the quilting fabric had already been sold to a local quilt shop, so there wasn't a ton of that left; the daughter that was there at the house was selling it at $1 a yard; and she gave me a ton of fat quarters for free, because she wanted to just get the stuff out of there.

My husband said, "Boy, I hope this house isn't a preview of what you're going to be like someday!" I assured him that I was completely in control of my fabric purchases, and that he had nothing to worry about! But the whole thing made me a little sad, though -- all those items that she had bought and never even opened...

glad you got some cool things and yes that is sad that she bought stuff and never used it

Glad you were able to find a few things. I hope all the other stuff finds a good home. I worked at a small yarn shop years ago and when one of our elderly customers died her family actually had the nerve to bring in some of her stuff and ask for a refund. She didn't have that much so I couldn't figure why they didn't just donate it.

glad you found some nice stuff!

I could be me when my time comes ... but I will have had a happy life.

I have been looking at my stash and thinking it is more than one person needs or could use and that I need to go through it and share. I became even more convinced when someone on here posted a link to someone who had "organized" their stash. OMG, I dont ever want that much fabric or have to have my family dispose of it. I am not criticizing her, just convicting myself. I think it is hard on the families to have to see the waste and have the work of disposing of everything.

I completely agree!!

It is sad...I'm determined to clean a lot out of this house this year. DH passed a year ago and I need to reorganize everything but my sewing room. A girl has to have something.

It is sad. Maybe she was a lot like my mil and couldn't throw anything out. I have received material from her but she said the rest isn't for quilting. I said that maybe I could do something else with it. Not yet! I hope thats not me!

I went to a sale like this nearby a couple of years ago and it did make me sad. This woman had filled every room with fabric. It was all very orderly but even the garage had shelves with fabric. It was all quilt shop quality. My friends and I were so awestruck, we only bought a few pieces and some books and walked out of there in silence. We thought the same thing you did, we felt bad for the lady who lived there and had been put in a home by her children. She passed away a short time after that.

Did that woman make quilts to sell or donate or did she have a buying problem?

Its sad to see things like this. I went to an auction that had items from a 3ooo sq ft home it was in a large building the lady had ever type of plastic container available tupperware pieces by the thousand but they were all Brand new never used still in the plastic from the seller

I am trying to be careful with my purchases, I had to go through my mothers things a few years ago and it is a sad time.

I don't think it is sad that she had all that stuff...I like to shop for fabric...do I use all that I by? Not even close! But I truly enjoy the hunt and the time spent planning and coordinating is as satisfying as the actual sewing (which I hardly have time for right now) ...Maybe she got great pleasure out of buying the fabric and craft stuff and had dreams of some day making something with it all....
When I die, I hope that my family looks at the piles of stuff I leave behind and say "I remember when she got this - she really liked it at the time"....instead of feeling bad for me.

If she could afford it and enjoyed it then no, it wasn't a problem.
I had a uncle that looked at all of my fabric and quilting supplies and told me that I had a problem. He shut up real fast when I told him that my quilting sales fixed my house repairs,bought christmas gifts and birthdays, medical emergencies,home insurance, and had not cost one dime out of my disability check, but he's the kind of uncle who is the expert of everything.Does everyone have a relivative like that? If you don't ,you're lucky.

Wow! This really is sad.If you have a passion for something,then that's where your joy is. When your joy is gone you gone. It doesn't matter what it is!!!

Kind of reminds me of myself. When I moved to WV four yrs. ago, I moved every single piece of my many and varied crafts that I had started and accumulated over the years. When getting ready to move to my new place here, I realized, finally, that most of these things that I thought I had to have were still boxed and never touched. Knowing I had to downsize, I ruthlessly donated to Boy Scout yard sales, local charity organizations, Goodwill and Salvation Army. I even donated some unused and unopened craft items to a little local craft shop that had recently been bought and I knew the new owners were probably struggling to make a go of it. I still have some to go yet, but am mostly down to my quilting stash and my painting supplies, and boy, does it feel like a load off my back.

You wouldn't ask that question if you'd priced a funeral lately.

I have a hoarder who lives across the street from me. She can't even get her car in the garage anymore and won't let anyone in. I'm wondering if there's any quilting things.......... hmmm

We have a woman in our guild (older) who is going to be in the same boat...when she moved from down below she had to wrap her dishes in the fabric so her husband wouldn't know how much she had...

It's not really sad if she enjoyed purchasing these items and I'm sure she was happy knowing it was there when she wanted it. Hopefully she could enjoy that! It is hard for the family though, when they see no value in the items. That is the sad part. :(

It is sad. I know buying fabric is fun, much easier than buying clothes as you don't have to worry if it fits!

My sewing room is also a guest bedroom. Since I'm expecting family to visit this weekend I was putting my quilting projects into the closet when I realized I have so many tote bags of incomplete quilts projects as well as plastic totes of special fabrics, like orientals, kids, flannels, scraps to keep my busy all year. Also have a big standing cabinet will fabric yardage so being on the No Buy List for 2011 really is a must for me. May in Jersey

Yes, it is sad, but put yourself in that place, you are gone, and your children don't sew or do crafts, just like mine, I would want all my stuff to go somewhere to be used up, and not just tossed. Why not make someone else happy with it and a little bit of "you" along with it.

I have told my two daughters, sell it, give it away to my friends or someone who really needs or wants it. Let it live on!!!!!

the words that are sad, to me, are "had never been opened" and "covered with dust". She just had the stuff and didn't know what was there. Each year I vow to use my stash and each year I add more. My daughter will love it - eventually.
This thread is an eye opener, though. I'm 70 and better get busy making quilts to give away and even give away some of the fabric I have. Thanks for sharing.

I thought that this was the status of half of all Americans...

It is very sad because her family, if like most families, would have no idea of the value or the why of her purchases. I, too, had many things that I cherished, that had good memories for me and that I wanted to do "sometime." But, when I had to move here, I gave away, literally, ten pick up loads of goods, not all crafts, to a relief agency and then two more loads to a garage sale being held to support the local cemetery. And, now, I am still condensing, selling off, giving away because I need to fit into one room by the end of the year. It is sad to me because I miss those things, will not buy more, and can now only work on what I have supplies for.

Please, folks, take the time to understand your family and why they do the things they do. Cherish the gifts they make, even if you think you don't like them. There is love behind it. That is the message I would like to pass on ... but not to this board .... you all know that already!

Thank you for being so supportive to each other! Have a Blessed Day!

I have told the quilt group that when I go to my "great reward" they are to buy a large bottle of champagne and come and toast me and say nice things and then take it all home and love/use/donate the stash and tools. My daughter is included in the process of sharing. She has her own stash and we think a party is the way to go.

I couldn't agree more! Before my DH passed last summer, he gave instructions that we weren't to mope around feeling sad, or spend a lot of money on a funeral. "Give (my stuff, or the $$ you would have spent) to (or do something nice for) a friend, a stranger, a kid down the street....just don't let it go to waste, and don't just keep it around for sentimental reasons unless you are going to really enjoy it or use it." Still have some of his 'stash' (tools, hunting equipment, etc) around but most has been given away to friends with the same interests, or donated. We will have the party this spring, outside where he loved to be.

that is so sad...and the family should be ashamed !!!!

Awe, bless her heart.

Like everyone else I also have a large stash which worries me at times.

I don't think that's the status of most Americans at all. If you look around this board, there are many quilters wondering how they are going to afford fabric at $10 a yard. There are many people out of work or retired, and more concerned about not being able to afford mortgage or rent, plus their food and their medicine.

I know that many quilters like me are very lucky to have a LOT of fabric, much more than we need for the current or next few projects.

But I don't know anyone personally who has tons and tons of unopened craft items, or clothes with tags still on, or mountains of garbage, or cats or bunny rabbits taking over the house, like we see on the show "Hoarders."

And I agree, it's very sad. Too much or not enough is always sad.

Did you see the post last week from the lady in Michigan? She was handling her mother's estate also, and the stast was fenominal. I've never seen a quilt shop with that much fabric and notions. It was just unreal. And like you, it made me feel sort of sad that someone could focus all of their attention to "Things" that they could not possibly ever use up in a lifetime.

I saw a statement recently about our stashes. If you go into your work space and there's too much "stuff", your work space has become storage space. Not that I would have an out-of-control stash! About 10 years ago, I did run into a situation where a woman was selling out her shop because she had medical problems. She was selling the fabric for $1 a yard. I walked away with 150 yards of fabric but I have also used or donated every bit of it. I think of my stash as preparation for my upcoming retirement.

happened to someone I was acquainted with. all the things that had been given to her over the years, crafty thikngs she had gotten, gifts, pretty nightwear. she died unexpectedly and when her things were gone through to sort out, all this things were unused, unworn. she appreciated them I am sure, but would have meant more to us if she had used them then and there. worn them to death, got stains and wear spots all over them. this past two years I have worked from my stash to make, finish, give away or even keep. very hard for me to wear my "nice" clothes to work (home office) because they might get stained, but life is too short.

As I have gotten older ( I am 56) I have actually had "the urge to purge" I have gotten rid of tons of stuff, but I still can't part with my books ( I am an avid reader) or my craft stuff. Since I have started to quilt ( about 1 and 1/2 years) I have not used any of my other craft stuff. I am almost ready to part with the craft stuff but the books are another matter. :)

I'll remember that for when I move. LOL

I know that someone will have to clean up our hobbies when we pass away, but that is just the way it has been forever. At least if you have something to show for it, your family has a choice of selling it or donating it. During his/her lifetime the money was theirs to use the way they wanted to. Our hobbies are what keep us sane during the living years.

I truly believe this. When my doctor weaned me off my depression medicine before I could change to a different kind, it took me 2 weeks. Just before that she weaned me off of my hormones. That took a month. So for 1 1/2 months I suffered from PMS symptoms and then depression. It took two weeks for the new depression medication to kick in all the way. If it hadn't been for my continuous quilting during this time, I don’t know that I could have kept myself from doing grievous harm to my husband. Of course, we both look at it differently: he feels that he deserved a medal for putting up with me and I felt I deserved a metal for not killing him. LOL :lol:

I don't have a very large stash but I have deal with my sister in law. She will come get all my stuff if I die suddenly. Then she can do whatever she wants to with it and my husband won't have to deal with it.

Lynmccoy, I have a brother like that and he is a hoarder.

Shades of things to come...

Friends helped me move about 10 years ago... and could not believe all the "STUFF" that went to my "WORKROOM"... candle making materials, rubber stamping things, all sorts of paint, wood crafting and dollhouse/furniture materials, paper crafting and framing materials, sewing machines (3 at the time), and fabric, fabric and more fabric and books and printouts for everything. I believe there is a use or second use for everything... but they drew the line at the bags of torn panty hose (clean... for stuffing) and shoulder pads (from shirts and jackets galore). Can you believe, they made me leave those behind?!?!?!?!?