Debbie of DebBee’s Designs wrote a thought provoking blog post recently about what happens to your finished projects and your stash when you either have to downsize or (gulp) you pass on. I know I already worry about this a bit. I don’t have a family member or a close friend who enjoys crafting like I do and I have a LOT of stash on hand at any time from fabric to floss and a lot of completed pieces that my family members may not necessarily want to inherit. I really need to designate someone to deal with all this stuff when the time comes that it has to be done, or even better, I need to go ahead and start down sizing myself. Read Debbie’s thoughts and experiences on the matter, but first, leave a comment below about your own thoughts. Have you designated someone to deal with your own stash? Have you already assigned who inherits all your finished projects whether they be quilts, afghans, or stitched pieces?
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I have been thinking of this lately. While I am only 60, I quilt weekly with two women in their 80s, one of whom has early Alzheimer’s. I do wonder about their stash and whether they have made provisions for it. My children will get my completed works (my eldest son has already spoken for one piece) and I’m fairly certain that my daughters will know what to do with the stash. Two of them at least know how to sew.
Dave, my husband, died very suddenly in 11/11 and I’ve thought about all this a lot and started a blog to help others prepare because there is SO much to do. It’s amazing really. I’m still purging, giving away, selling and deciding what to keep in the hopes I can sell the farm in the spring. Until then…totally overwhelming!
I completely understand what everyone is saying here. I am the last of three generations of seamstress/crafter/quilters. My daughter, 31, is not interested. I lost my Mother this year and have inherited a storage unit full of fabric, patterns, notions etc… Plus, having lost my Dad several years ago, my Mom couldn’t part with his tools. All of this leaves me feeling grateful I have tools to sell to help financially, but I cannot part with the sewing and have no idea when I’ll get to sew again. Losing both of them and having so much to sort through makes me determined to get it done so my daughter will never have to do this. But what to do with the sewing when I die? I guess I’ll read the article now and see what she suggests. And yes, it’s completely overwhelming! I hope we all figure out what we need to do and find peace in our decision.
After watching what has happened to the craft and fabric collections of my friend’s mothers as they have no longer been able live on their own, I have begun to downsize my own collection. I gave away all the craft supplies I no longer am interested in and downsizing as quickly as I can my very large fabric supply. All the fabric I bought for quilts or sewing projects I am either making them or giving the fabric away. I am giving my quilt group first choice and then donating to other quilters (for charity quilts) all unused fabric. I have kept only what I will be able to realistically use in the next few months. I have finally made those Halloween quilts, pillowcases for Christmas, table runners, and now will work on the throw pillows before I finish the quilts for Christmas. I still have some fabric I really like that I do not have a project in mind, but that pile is much, much smaller. Yarn I bought but haven’t used in the last two years was donated. All my quilts have homes. The amazing thing about having less fabric and craft supplies is I have accomplished so much more in a few weeks than I have in years. I am no longer overwhelmed when I look at my sewing/craft room. As I finish the last of the Christmas quilts in the next few weeks, I will finally be able to let go of the fabrics I haven’t used. Downsizing is a process but one I am happy I am doing in my way and not leaving it for anyone else to do.
You can always arrange to have your things donated. For 10 years I worked for an inner city ministry as a jewelry instructor. I taught women (mostly low income and disabled) to make jewelry so they could earn a supplemental income. The ministry also had a quilt and sewing program.
The center was new, but when the city newspaper did a major article on our group, we started getting donations from all over the area. Most of the donations came from people who knew me, but some came from strangers.
We got beads, books, wire, a giant filing cabinet filled with quilting fabric. A guy who had one of the first wire jewelry sites in the late 90s sent us a box full of donated supplies. A local art school– my former metalwork teacher– gave us two grocery bags of beads and findings. A bead shop donated boxes of unsold findings.
The bottom line is that if your family doesn’t need or want your craft supplies, there are probably nonprofit groups that can use them. There are far more now than when I taught a decade or more ago.
I am in the process of downsizing for a variety of reasons. I’m trying to sell some of it at yard sales for some much needed cash but also know it may not sell well. I do have friends that quilt – I don’t belong to a guild so it looks like I will give the rest away. Didn’t realize how much I had until I started going through it. :-/
When my grandmother passed my mother donated all of her sewing supplies to nonprofits. I do knitting, crocheting, counted cross stitch, scrapbooking and artwork. If I don’t use my supplies I give them to people who can! My kids will likely donate supplies when I am gone. The completed scrapbooks and samplers…..who knows!?! I either give away or use all the knitting and crocheting I do. My artwork will likely end up in the trash! It’s OK….I’m not that good!
There are two organizations, outside of the Salvation Army, which are dedicated to providing NEW school clothes for children in September. They have a core of people SEWING the clothes year around: MEND – Meeting Every Need With Dignity and Jordan Ministries in Los Angeles.
I belong to a quilt guild who would no doubt end up with the lion’s share, but my hubby knows which two women to contact who would be given first dibs. If he had the gumption, he could make a boat-load of money on my stash, much of which came from other past quilters, either from sales or donations. I’m definitely a SABLE (stash acquired beyond life expectancy), but I am doing what I can to get my daughters and grandkids involved and hooked – ideally they would want at least a portion of the stash before it heads out.
My husband and I don’t have children, nor does my sister. My husband’s sister’s daughters aren’t interested in “homemade stuff” aka my quilts. There have been plenty of Christmas announcements that “homemade stuff” will not be gifted. So I’m sure my stuff will end up in Goodwill or the Salvation Army.