dunster

Every time this topic comes up it prompts me to stop and think about my stash. It's huge. But I am lucky to have a large quilting room, and all the fabric lives on shelves or a few drawers in that room, not in totes in closets or under beds. The room definitely needs more organization, which I tackle from time to time. I just turned 80, but I'm in good health and still actively quilting. Yes, my children will inherit a lot of fabric, tools, machines, and a longarm. But I'll leave them with written options of what to do with those things, from holding garage sales to just calling the guilds to "come and get it." I think dealing with my quilting stash will be easier than dealing with all the other household things. So no, I'm not going to try to whittle down my stash, at least not now. But I am going to try to get it more organized, so that I can use it more effectively.

Austinite

we are helping my dear MIL move to a nice apartment in a senior facility and it's been so very stressful! stressful for her because it's years of her life and her things and stressful for us cause we don't want to wait for a crisis. it's clearly a burden for her to have so much stuff but who wants to spend their life in a bare home?? i certainly don't. but y'all...i just took 7 suitcases to the thrift store... i found a home for the other 4. and that's only one thing. the furniture i have asked dozens of people about but nobody wants it. i have furniture in my own home that is super high quality that is no longer needed and cannot find a taker. it makes me sad but it is very heavy and people live in tiny 3rd floor walkups.

i was super lucky to be able to "shop" for fabric & supplies when a friend's mom passed a few years ago and i kept a good bit and also payed forward a good bit to other quilters/fabric artists. someone mentioned a tight budget and we had that for forever it seemed, so i try to remember what i have and shop very mindfully and not just grab things that are on sale. most likely i will die with fabric and things but hopefully not a houseful LOL

joe'smom

This worries me a little; will you wonder what you gave away? I totally agree that no bins is a great goal!

bearisgray

After a while - some blessings may become burdens.

LI_diva

We’re looking at downsizing in the next five years or so, and I probably won’t be able to bring most of my sewing stuff with me.
So for now, I’m actively NOT increasing my stash, and even trying to decrease it a bit.

I started to learn to paint, so I’ll still have something creative to do in a smaller space, but then, you know, you need paint, and brushes, and cleaners, and a really good easel, and those canvases start to pile up ;-)

Hubs is starting to wonder why he keeps me around!

Butterfli19

Well, I think instead of calling ourselves "old" we should think of ourselves as "ripening with age"

I whittled a lot of things a few years back, and now have fabrics that I love in two bins. Mostly small yardages because I make small things. I will sometimes buy new fabric for a project, but I try to not overfill those bins. Sometimes I buy fabric because I love it and never use it because when I look at it it makes me happy. So I keep those happy fabrics around because like sunny days and hot coffee and hearing the birds singing and that photo that makes me smile and linger a bit longer, happy is healthy.

I wouldn't worry about what happens to your stuff when you leave because it's your stuff for you to enjoy. So keep what you enjoy and donate the rest. Who knows? Maybe whoever has to take care of it then may actually keep some as a reminder of what made you happy, and that will give them a nice memory.

Onebyone

will you wonder what you gave away?

I know it is fabric that I won't use because I haven't used it in years. Honestly I fell okay giving it away. I still have a large stash left.

b.zang

I understand and appreciate all the comments about wanting to organize stash and deal with it now rather than leave it behind. For the person dealing with left-behind stuff, it is more likely to be a burden than memories enjoyed. A lot of stuff is then just bundled up and chucked - at a donation center or a landfill. This is what happens when a grieving family member is overwhelmed with stuff.

Years ago, someone here said they are putting together kits and labelling each one separately with the name of the person they have in mind as they assemble the kit. The idea is to make distribution of inherited fabric easier.

GingerK

We are about to leave on vacation. DD and family were home last weekend. One thing she wanted to talk about was the dreaded 'what if', because they had been going through stuff with DSIL's parents, and she realized that she did not know what and where the important papers etc. were.

We were down in my sewing room and as she looked around, I could see her eyes glazing over. I had never really thought about 'what if' in context with my sewing stuff. So, I wrote down a list of contacts and a couple of 'do this, not that' suggestions. I think it made us both feel more comfortable.

But!! When we get home, there will be some significant sorting and passing along from my stash.

bearisgray

How many of you try to sell off your excess goodies?

Do people say "give the stamp collection away? Give the extra cars away? Give the extra cash away?"

There is value to what we have. Is it worth the effort to try to recover any of it? And, if so, how?