I did my second favorite thing today, I went to yard sales. Perhaps I guess I should correct that and say yard sale. I passed a small freshly painted sign this morning in an older area where I don’t usually see many sales. Since I’m always looking for new places and new faces I followed the route and arrived at a tidy little house at the end of the street. There were cars everywhere. A sign on the garage said simply “Estate Sale.” I could hardly wait to rummage around for what I knew would be treasures.

I couldn’t believe my eyes as I entered the garage. It was a complete quilt studio. There were rows of fabrics on bolts, books and patterns in huge storage bins, an entire tub of thread . There was a Horn cutting table and a Horn sewing table to match. The cutting table had a 6 foot cutting mat to fit. Ott lights were at the machine, beside a rocker, and at every table. An entire wall was covered by peg board and hooks held rulers, new scissors in packages, new needles, smaller cutting mats and every imaginable notion sewing notion. Everything was for sale!

People were grabbing bolts of fabric and arms full of everything they could hold, while struggling to grab more. A large sign on a table said, “make us an offer.” A lady next to me said, “they’re giving this stuff away.”

I picked up some rulers and scissors and a few other small items. One of the sellers was nearby so I asked about the Horn tables, he said, “no one has asked about those. What do you think they’re worth?” I responded by saying, “I know what they’re worth and I probably can’t afford them.” He quickly said, “How about $75.00 for the both of them”. Two ladies nearby overheard and shouted, “I’ll take them.” He said to me, I offered them to you first, do you want them? Of course I did!

Not believing my good fortune, I had to ask the man why everything was being sold so cheaply.
He responded, “My Mother just passed away. She loved to fool with this stuff but I only have brothers and we have no use for any of it. She made a lot of things and gave them all away. All of her friends are gone now, so we just want to get rid of it.”

On the way home, I thought long about this lady. She and I had a lot in common, we both had a sanctuary for our treasures and like her I make and give away a lot of my work. I’ve collected and organized, sewn and gifted, just as she had, I can’t imagine my “things” being offered “just to get rid of it.”

Most of us (at least those of us with a few years on us) have already prepared a will to help dispose of our most treasured possessions. Somehow, I never gave much thought to the thousands of dollars I have tied up in my hobby. Multiple machines, fabrics and supplies, all the accoutrements of my sewing room that make it comfy, would account for a large sum of money. What a shame for it to be sold for pennies on the dollar.


I decided that I will add an addendum to my will stating who I want to have my bounty. If my DD doesn’t need or want it, I’ll have a long list to offer it to. Who do you want to have yours?

My daughter gets it all. She has a passion for sewing and quilting (thankfully) and has already said she would put it to good use...so that's easy for me.

My oldest Daughter is a quilt maker also, 2 Granddaughters and Granddaughter in law don't sew and have no interest in learning. Daughter has plenty of fabrics, etc., we don't have the same taste as to colors. I've told her to see about giving it to a quilt group.

This post definitely put me to thinking! I have all sons, and no grandbabies yet. I don't have a lot, but would like to think someone would value the items I do have, as I do now. Kind of a sad story, but at least her tables went to someone who will value them as I am sure she did!

My sister (executor) knows to give it all to the local quilt guild. Now if only she outlives me..
If anyone throws anything out I will come back and haunt them!!

This is something I have thought about. no one in my entire family quilts. Although daughter just recently asked me about teaching her. My granddaughter has a flair for color all of her own. I am hoping she may get interested. Daughter real desire is to start a foundation in memory of her son who passed 10 years ago. She is finally stepping out a little in this area so I do not think quilting will be her things. Outside of granddaughter :( However when I'm gone if I could bring as much happiness to someone in a sell as you received in your horn table then glory be, let it make someone who doesn't have and really enjoys quilting have. :)

If all goes as planned. LOL. I will distribute when the time comes when I know I have to downsize as I age. If not going as planned then my DDs can do what is most convenient for them with it. DH is clueless and will be clueless. I don't see how it matters where it goes, I won't know anything about it anyway.

It all goes to local quilt guild.

Already planned....a "wake" here in my studio with dearest close quilty friends, wine, edibles, jokes, and ribald stories about our doings over the years. They are to take what they want, after my DD who sews has her pick, only if they get into the joyful mood of the event. Leftovers go to the guild.

I look forward to "being" there! :-D

Jan in VA

My Granddaughter will get all my goodies, she loves to design, sew. So she gets it all, for my three girls can careless.

I think I'd be okay with my stuff going in a yard sale...I'd be happy for someone like you to come along, appreciate the bargain, think a little about me, and then go home excited to start quilting!

It give one time to ponder. What will happen to my stuff. we have only son's . Guess I should give some serious thought to this. Glad you brought it up.

All of my sewing machines, supplie,s and fabric goes to my DD. She is an excellent seamstress, who at the moment is a busy Mother of three, wife, and teacher. No time for sewing. My hope is by the time I am finished with everything she will be ready for it. She has promised to share whith another granddaughter!

This is the best idea I have heard. What a great plan. I think the way we handle death in this country is not good. I will start planning my "wake" now. I think it would be a good idea to write it down so my boys will get it right, LOL.

I have many quilters in my family and hubby's family so I've made a list of who gets first pick, second pick, etc. I've no doubt it will go fast. In the event I live to be 100 I will downsize as I go.:)

What a fabulous question! It's one I've never given any thought to - but must.

Thank you to everyone who has posted so far, and thanks, in advance, to all who will be posting. I am following this thread with great interest!

Sushi

I told my daughters to make sure everything goes to someone who will use it. I don't think I care if they sell everything and make a lot of money. I'm more concerned about it all going to good use.
Sue

My wonderful daughter-in-law will get first option and then whatever is left over will go to the Linus Foundation.

I am sure that the lady would be happy to know you were that excited about acquiring her treasures. I would be. The boys may have wanted to "get rid of it" but the happiness the attendees obviously found was a bonus for all of you.

I am sure my stuff would end up in a yard sale :oops: I have one son :roll: sewing not in his live time :-(

My first husband had a passion for comic books. THOUSANDS of them. So speaking for someone on the receiving end, one who has to dispose of the stuff, I would have preferred not to have had that task. As it is, guess what, I've still got them!! Not out of sentimentality, but the fact that I couldn't get anyone to come to the house to look at and buy. They all wanted me to tote it all to them. THOUSANDS of books in DOZENS of comic boxes. I know enough about them to know not to stick them on a table in a garage sale - quite a few are worth far more than that.

As fate would have it, my current husbands son is 16, just got interested in comics AND is coming here for a visit in May. I made him an offer, sort them, catalog them, and he can 1/2 of whatever we sold them for. He jumped at it. I'll even let him "cherry pick" it ... to an extent.

So thanks for the post, as I would hate to saddle my husband with the chore of sorting out and finding a home for all my sewing stuff. Nobody in my family quilts, and I only have one friend in another state who might be interested. Knowing my husband, I suspect he'd chuck it all!!

I tease that my son is going to call 1-800-GOT-JUNK the minute I take my last breath, but, if my granddaughter or nieces aren't interested, I'm going to make sure all my "stuff" goes to a good home or two. I too love garage/yard/estate sales and wonder how some of the things end up on a table for $1.00. If they could tell a story it would be pretty interesting, I'm thinking.

Hey - if I can't take it with me, I am NOT GOIN'!

I love this answer!

This is a thought-provoking subject, which I have thought of. One of my DDs is interested in sewing; the other one is not; neither is my DIL. I have told my younget DD to keep what she wants and to sell the rest, but not for pennies, lol. If I'm lucky enough to "know" when my time is limited, I'll give some away to who I choose.
Right now, I'm going thru the vintage fabrics from my mother's stash and selling on eBay. At least, she won't have to worry about that fabric, lol.

My daughters both know that they can have whatever they want and then they are to give the rest to my quilt guild who will use my fabric for Community Quilts and sell my notions and machines for guild funds.

My oldest daughter gets it all. She's the only one of my 3 girls that quilts.

I guess my granddaughter because she is the only one that sews. She just started to sew a couple yrs ago. I have three daughters and not one of them sews.

Not giving up hope yet that one of my daughters will decide that she would love to quilt. Otherwise it will go to a small sewing group I attend.

Never thought of who would get what I have when I go. My MIL likes to tease me and say that I'm "waiting" for her to pass so I can have all of her quilting things! I told her that's insane! If I wanted to use any of her items ie. notions or some coordinating fabric that I'm happy to ask to borrow or trade when we're quilting on Sundays or visiting. Yes, I might be then one to receive these if anything, God Forbid, should happen, but I'd rather have her here to quilt and chat and enjoy as we are great friends and very close!

I think about this when people talk about huge stashes. It is probably the reason I wont build one. As a rule, we arent the youngest demographic and I think it would be sad to practically give hundreds to thousands of yards of fabric away once somebody passed on. All that money spent on fabric would be like having closets of clothes with the tags still on.

I remember my secretary talking about trying to get rid of her mother's sewing stuff when she died suddenly. It was very sad.

So far, only my daughter.

My daughter gets first pick. Whatever she doesn't want I have left instuctins to box it all up and take it to a great bunch of gals that I go to retreat with every year in October. I like to think that each of them will take something away that will make them smile when they think of me. God bless em every one.

I told my DH to come onto the board and give everything away to whoever wants it.

I also have given this subject quite a bit of thought. Haven't come up with an answer yet. My DD and DIL's are not interested in any of it. My DGD would want it all, but her mother wouldn't allow it, because she fears she (DGD) wouldn't take care of the stuff properly. So I, like a lot of you, need to make some provisions in my will. Hopefully ( :lol: :lol: :lol: ) I can dispose of the bulk of it before that day comes. I'm working on it; I'm working on it.....


Hey, I just came up with my plan!!!! All you guys will be invited in to split up the stash and "adopt" the machines.

I was never interested in sewing at all...until in my late 40's. I also have Boys...but I will ask them to keep my sewing equipment for their future daughters. I am sure someday one will want to sew. My material...I will make sure one of my friends get it all. if they do not like the fabric they can make quilts and donate them.

I agree with this gal, its okay if its sold "just to get rid of it". That will make a lot of future quilters VERY happy!

No one in my family gives a flip for any of my stuff. So it is all being sold and the money is going to the humane society I voluteered for in GA. Emergencies and spay/neuter program

Salvation Army gets all mine. Our local chapter has an annual fabric sale and since most of my stash has come from there, it would only be fitting if I give back.

This is a serious thing to consider. I have a daughter and DIL and both consider it a major accomplishment to thread a needle and do something with it, I also have 6 grandsons so all I have is a dear niece who is a quilter (too busy working now to take it up again) but my daughter knows that my niece has first dibs so I hope that most of my stuff does not end up given away at a yard sale. I do not belong to a guild so that is the plan now. Life changes so we hope for the best.