I started with the books.
Previously I wrote about my journey with my mother who has Alzheimer’s and inheriting her large fabric stash. I have spent many months working on a solution for de-stashing and have had lots of great ideas from many of you. Thank you for that, I love hearing your stories and suggestions.
As well as a large amount of fabric, my mother had a huge collection of books. Deciding to part with these was easier for me as my mother and I did very different work so I had little attachment to most of them. I donated 3 large bins to my local quilt guild library. The rest I took to a re-use centre in town. Great! That’s one part of the de-stashing dealt with. But really it was a drop in the bucket.
What did I decide to do with it?
Landing on a bit of selling, keeping and giving away helped to move things along, but I needed to start with seeing what I had. So I decided to dedicate a few hours each week to sorting. I take out one bin at a time, some of the fabric is marked or faded and cut strangely – what did she do with some of those pieces?! Then I trim and sort into scrap bags for give aways, pressing the larger pieces. (I love ironing, which I realize is controversial but what can I say? We all have our quirks.)
I was moving along well, but a few weeks ago found myself little stuck again. How can I remember and know what I have? I needed a way to organize it all so I could see it. Off to Pinterest, Facebook, fellow fabric hoarders and Instagram for inspiration and got lots of really great de-stashing and storage ideas.
I decided to roll my fabric on cardboard. I have lots of boxes in my life, so I started cutting them up 3” x 5” for small pieces, 5” x 7” for less than a meter and 5” x 12” for larger yardage. It’s going to take a while and there will be tears still, but I finally feel ready to take this mountain on.
Taking de-stashing to the next level.
For now my plan is to sell some through classified groups on Facebook and de-stashing sales in my studio or online. I will donate some to a few worthy causes. I will make a few quilts to practise my long-arm quilting. These I will likely give to my kids and my mother’s grandchildren, and maybe to a few cousins, too. As I wade my way through the fabrics and memories, I am feeling better about it all. It feels like the right time finally to clear the space and let go.
Anyone want some fabric?
If you missed this first blog you can click here to read all about it.
A great Website in support of Alzheimer’s research is Hilarity for Charity click here to find out ways you can help the cause.