My gosh! We could be related. At least in the comic book sense. My DH has been collecting comic books for years and my house is loaded with them as well. Over the last few years I have lost several very close quilting friends from Cancer or Heart Attacks and it made me think long and hard. I told my DH that if he were to go before me he'd better have a plan for his comic books. He said our 3 sons would get first pick and then I have a person to call about buying the rest. He has his all cataloged. Since I belong to a guild I thought about giving to them but instead I called my sister who lives on the East Coast and asked her if she was interested, knowing full well that she would have to come and get it. I introduced her to quilting about 6 years agoand she's hooked. She said she would love to have first pick as she hasn't accummulated much of a stash and I have quite a lot. So she will do that and then call my closest friends who will go through the remaining stuff to take what they want. There is a catch... each must make at least a few for charity.

One of my very first mentors had a fabulous hand made quilt that literally had appliqued hands of all the members of her family on it with signatures. It was so beautiful and very close to her heart and she asked that when she passed she wanted to be wrapped up in it. And that's what her family did. Sad to see this piece of history go but so happy her wishes were fulfilled by her family.

I think I will do what Willferg suggested - I have gotten so many of my items at yard sales (fabric, machines, rulers, etc) it is only fitting that they go that route

Great idea.........will put that in the "will"

Judy

I have three girls, two of them might want a thing or two. My DIL will probably get most of it, she is Olivia's mom so that will be a doubly good thing. Olivia is our only granddaugter. Also, most of my friends sew and I belong to ASG. I am not worried, I trust all my things will go to a new home.

Several years ago DH happened upon a yard sale where the woman had died. He filled our garage with everything sewing related. What fun and saddness it was going through all the sewing things.

Your story was sad to me. It brought back so many memories about me going through my grandmother's things after she passed away. She didn't have my love for quilting, but she had a lot of pretty things she had collected over the years, especially dishes. I was her only grandchild, so I inherited it all. I have 4 grandaughters, 3 in the state of Utah, and one here with me in Ohio. She does start quilting projects, but she never finishes them. She will be 20 years old in March, my husband and I adopted her when she was a baby. She works and goes to college full time, so she doesn't have much time for sewing. She and my daughter-in-law will be the ones going through my stash of fabric, a lot I inherited from a friend when she passed away, she was the one who taught me to quilt and the love of it. I often wonder why her daughter sent it all to me. Boxes of it arrived from the state of Washington. I had a ball going through it all. I wish I would find a yard sale like that. I would have a ball. I have been married to my dear husband 43 years, and over the years he has helped me plan my quilts and choose the colors. He always encourages me to make all that I want. I have given a lot away. I make one for every pastor who comes to our church to be our pastor. Deanie

I often think of this also...I have no kids, and being sixty, by time I get closer to end of life, I don't know who I will have left in my family to leave it to. None of my three sisters sew, and none of them have kids either...so I will probably leave it to charity, as will the rest of what we own.

I have been down-sizing all but a few hobbies (quilting, knitting), because I came to the realization that I can't possibly do it all! Especially, after going to estate sales and watching the families struggle to liquidate items that only a few understand the value. On the other side, those who do understand the value will apreciate and use these items, and carry on the traditions. When I buy quilting items from an estate, it makes me feel like the new caretaker, and am very reverent of the gifts.

I have 7 daughters and 1 daughter in law and 5 grandaughters 2 of my girls sew no grandaughters so far do. I told them to take what they want and give the rest away but they can't do this until I am gone We laugh about this subject alot when we are all together

Learn from my Mom about which fabrics to buy and which one not to buy while I'm working at the quilt shop.Trying to soak up all the knowledge I can from her so I can pass it on my daughter.I go to the fabric shop with her and everybody teaches me so much about quilting and the tools and the tools I need and the tools I don't need. She says that there's no hurry and to take my time to learn but then she turns around and tells me that I need to know all the steps of quilting in time to teach Ssmmi.Kinda worries me.

This is a thought-provoking post. I have a list of instructions for some things in case something happens but hadn't really thought about the machines and the fabric stash. My daughters all love what I make but they don't do much themselves and the granddaughters are too young yet....I like the idea of donating all the fabric to some kind of charity quilt group. Definitely something to think about.

I am teaching my 3 grandaughters how to sew. they have already made little quilts. so I would want them to have my sewing things. Hopefully they will want it....... :) :)