A little cheese with my whine, please!
 

Have you ever had a process that you loved and purchased a lot of the items needed to do your quilting using that process, whether it is sewing/basting/notions/ruler quilting/fabric, etc. I guess the reason I started doing this, is because usually when I find something I like and at the time use a lot, that it is an item that is all of the sudden no longer sold. So, I've gotten to the point that I buy extras. But, hangs head, here I stand wanting to clear out some shelves.

What do you do with the items that you no longer need to do that type of process with, when you found a new way that you like better? Or, items that you know you no longer like or would use?

I know I can donate it to Goodwill, however our Goodwill in my area has turned into a dollar store type. They buy old lots from stores and sell them. I haven't seen any 'donated' items on the shelves at my Goodwill in ages. So I really wonder what they are doing with the items that people are still donating to them.

I could list the items and sell them, especially the rulers I guess, but to mail them is so expensive, and I would never get out of them even half of what I paid for them to begin with. Plus, I really don't have the inclination to buy or get a box to send something that might break or get lost in transit and drive multi miles to drop it off at the post office. But in the same token, leaving it sit on my shelf isn't doing me any good, other than taking up room. It makes my head hurt to think about it.

I guess I just want the items I no longer want to go to someone who can use them, without the work to get them to the person/or people. I've tried churches/independent living places/the local schools, but nope, thanks but no thanks are the answers I get without the places even looking at what I want to freely give them. I could put them on craigslist for free, but I don't want people at my house, nor do I want to haul it to a meeting area.

I know I must sound like a lazy whiner. I'll make some decisions soon, I know, and probably just donate somewhere, somehow. But, in the meantime I feel like just putting them all in a thick garbage bag and putting the bag out with the trash. Sigh...

I can so relate to your dilemma -- -

I think I would be fairly comfortable having a quilter person come to my house.

How bout contacting a local guild or 4H group. They may be able to use some of the sewing and/or craft items. Or possibly a church sewing group.

I have been in your shoes, I pondered on where and how to donate my items. I got a box and put the rulers, rotary cutters, and anything else quilt related. I put it in the car and donated it to my local thrift store. I have no idea what they did with it nor do I care, it's out of my house. My goal was met and I feel good about the extra space I now have. You just have to let it go, you don't want it, don't waste your time fretting about where it ends up.

when living in Colorado, my ARC thrift store had a large truck at their back door and someone was tossing bags into the back which was already over 3/4 full of bags that had flattened under the weight. I turned around and went to Good Will. Hopefully some of the items I've given away help people here!! not to be shipped and then dumped on to a poor countries shores as I've seen in the news. I hate waste!

Good advice! This is just what I think I needed to hear! Thank you!

Oh how I understand what you mean. It is liberating to let go of items cluttering up your sewing space. I have decided to let go of a few things myself. Luckily, I have a sewing bee that I can take things to and put on the free table. I try not to worry if they will use it or not. I like to think that it will be used and not put in their accumulating stashes.

Contact a local guild.
Check local prisons. Some do have sewing programs, both for men and for women.
Check local children's camps. Some offer sewing classes (although summer camps are over for this year)
There are 3 "local" (under an hour away) recycle/upcycle shops that I know of that take specifically craft/sewing items to be resold at great prices for those looking.
Local free/trade groups on facebook
Or, just donate wherever you can. While it might not end up at the local thrift shop, hopefully they will end up in one of their other locations. Not sure how they decide what gets sent where.

when I go, my son and granddtrs are to call the local guilds and offer all my things to them. Not Good Will, although I use them for things I give away now.

Our large church has 2 quilting groups. We get donations and make use of all we can for quilts of all ages and genders. We make sofa pillows with heavier donated fabric stuffed with batting scraps. We make bags, potholders and with a serger we make dish cloths. Any church quilting group would welcome your unused and unwanted donations.