Leiya had seen a picture of this quilt and had sent it to me saying that she really liked the colors and that the quilt matched her carpet... I thought that was a good enough reason to order the quilt kit and months ago I had the kit sent to her house and now I've brought it home to work on. It will be a good long term quilt again!
Leiya and Tetsu and I had an interesting discussion while we were together, about what to do with all my quilts. I've been a quilter for 40 years and I have a lot of quilts! On this trip to the States alone, I think I took eight quilts to be delivered to various people. The conversation sort of revolved around my quilts but I think the bigger picture is what are my kids going to do with our house and stuff in Japan when the time comes... The quilts are just the easiest way to start the conversation.
This topic is much more interesting to Tetsu than to Leiya and me, and he began it by pointing out that I have hundereds of quilts in boxes, on shelves, in closets, on quilt racks and of course on my walls. I'm rather embarrassed by what a pack rat I seem to be but unless I've been working on a quilt specifically for someone, the quilt sometimes claims my heart, and sometimes it just feels "rude" to give someone a quilt that I've just got laying around the house and that I didn't have in mind for them when I was making it... Some of my quilts are just so old now, they have stains or the fabric has worn away in places, or they are faded or the style and the fabrics are so old fashioned that I can't imagine anyone wanting them... but they are a part of the history of my quilting days... So they rest in boxes.
Leiya made the unsentimental remark that she certainly had enough of my quilts in her house already and though they were lovely, she didn't really need any more. Unless I had some quilt that I absolutely wanted to stay in the family for posterity or was going to make for family members. She suggested putting quilts up on ebay or mericari or some other online shopping site. Actually, Tetsu didn't take to that suggestion well...
"You don't know how much time and effort your mother puts into her quilts! They are very special!"
"I DO realize how precious they are, but there is a limit as to how many Takumi and I can take, and I can't honestly say I'll treasure ALL of them as much as you do. You could just put aside some that you really like and label others as "do as you like"."
This reminds me of my mother who went through her photo albums and papers and sorted them into boxes which she mostly labeled "Stuff to throw away after I'm gone. No need to open the boxes." There are some things I guess we just can't bear to part with ourselves.
Leiya asked me what I wanted done with my quilts (she could see that Tetsu was getting touchy) and I said I have envisioned that at my funeral, the quilts would be laid out on tables and all guests would be welcome to take home anything they wanted, first come, first served. After that anything left over can be tossed. I can see that, if a farewell reception is in the near future, but not really if I'm going to be around another 20 years and most of the people who admire my quilts now will already be gone or certainly not need anything more in their homes... Am I becoming morose now?
So my question is... what do we quilters do with all our old quilts? I can try to make certain I make new quilts for specific people but the ones languishing in my home...? They haven't even been relegated as dog and cat bed appropriate yet.
As an aside, I also wonder what going to happen to all this fabric and the quilting supplies but hopefully that stash will be of use to a younger quilter someday...
That is a dilemma. I have told my daughters to get one of my quilting friends to help distribute my quilting stash and tools. As for my quilts, I give most of them away so I don't have too many that will need to be dealt with.
ReplyDeleteRecently in a weekly edition of "The New Zealand Listener" was an article about STUFF left when a parent dies or goes into care. There were some very interesting views, from " What do we do with all this" to " Which or what would each family member want to keep" . The main thing was, if some of it seems to be worthless, the one left needs to know it was very much a huge part of their parent's life. I Guess each of our family will get one, when they are finally finished, and for a while I have been so careful to use up what fabric I have, only buying absolute necessity for a particular project. The kit you brought home is so beautiful.Maybe that one will definitely be a keeper.
ReplyDeleteI have asked myself this question many times. As I have no children to take care of my belongings I have already started to scale down on clothes, books and china. Sorting out unwanted things has become very popular in Sweden, there is even a book by Margareta Magnusson called 'The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning'.
ReplyDeleteQuilts, however, are much more difficult to get rid of...
There is another aspect, OLD, I mean really OLD quilts have become desirable antique quilts and are valuable, even if they are torn, soiled, and very simple.
So if there could be a storage space for quilts to 'mature and age' until they are worth showing in a museum or will fetch high prices at auctions, wouldn't that be good. If the quilts are labelled, which I know yours are, Tanya, and if there was a brief documentation and history for the quilts they would become even more attractive.
Queenie
Interesting conversation! I just finished cleaning out my mother's house - tons of fabric! We were able to donate a lot of it to the veterans. I took what I thought I "might" use but, of course, that added to MY stash. What struck me afterwards was that my mother had no quilts even though she quilted. She made mostly small things like table runners and gave them as gifts. She also worked on large quilts with a group so it was usually raffled off or donated. I have some of her handiwork but as a quilter I would have liked one from my Mom.
ReplyDeleteHaving said that, I understand your dilemma. I continue to make quilts and some I can't part with. I do make some for family and those go to them. Since I just love to quilt, I have started making smaller baby quilts that I can machine quilt myself and there is a local home for unwed mothers that it so happy to get something new for the new babies. So currently, that is where my energy currently goes. In the states, there are also places like Covenant House which is a shelter for the homeless where I'm sure they would appreciate a warm quilt.
Selling quilts on etsy or whatever website is also an option.
Good luck with your decision!
your decision does not have to be all at once!!! bit by bit will move the project forward.
DeleteI don't have any good ideas of what to do with the quilts that are already made. But as I HAVE to sew and use up stash, I make quilts that will be sent to those in need around the world, via Mennonite Central Committee. They send 60x80 tied comforters to people in need.
ReplyDeleteI do plan to make baby quilts for future grandchildren, born after I am gone.
Also, the worn, stained quilts can be used for cutter quilts.
If they are old and stained, you could donate them to an animal shelter for use with the animals. I regularly donate quilts to homeless shelters or for refugees etc. Find a cause that you believe in and donate there. I never feel sad to let go of my quilts when I know they are going to a good cause. My daughter has also said "enough" to me, and my son's wife-to-be is a quilter herself (!) so....
ReplyDeleteI share your quandry!
ReplyDeleteSeveral years ago, I went to a "Quilter's Yard Sale" held by the family of a quilter who had died. There were no finished wuilts for sale, but there were unfinished quilts plus the matching fabric in zip-loc bags and each had a price. Likewise, all yardage was in individual bags with stickers noting amount of fabric, m and selvage information. It was a monumental amount of work to prepare it all ahead of time, but the sale went smoothly and there were few questions about ehat was being offereed.
Hugs - Barbara Anne
An interesting question, because it's not only quilts and wall hangings, but books and magazines. There are also two drawers of bags I've made and no longer use. Today I put a sleeve on a reproduction Dutch chintz, tulip wall hanging. I've started an Australian fabric quilt, in spite of saying no more bed quilts. However, at the back of my mind is the thought that it won't be my problem, which sounds selfish until you realise that the main thing is to be happy and creative, which is less of a burden on your family now. Does that make sense?
ReplyDeleteI have been going thru my quilt books and getting rid of "the pattern" ones...... saving the state ones and historical ones. As far a magazines goes I have 32 ft of magazines at least stacked between book shelves. Stopped buying years ago but still.........
DeleteThis has been a topic with our sons too. They all have plenty of quilts and don't need or really want more. What do I do with 'special ones' that I hand quilted?! I finished the 'Dear Jane' quilt and hand pieced and quilted it. There are 2 hexagon quilts that are hand pieced and hand quilted using feed sacks from the 1920s to 1940s. I've said I hope they keep those but there are really too many for anyone to want to store. I gave 15 (!!) trash bags full of fabric to friends last year. My stash of fabric is down to favorites only and fill a large cabinet. My final decision is for our sons to put the quilts they don't want on ebay. That way someone that wants that particular quilt will buy it and the sons will get a little money. Once I'm gone, I won't care what is done with the quilts all made with love. I'm sure most life time quilters face this problem and I'd like to hear what is their plan.
ReplyDeleteThere are groups around where I live that make quilts for different charities. I've started to downsize my stash by giving fabric and quilt tops to them. Most of the quilts they make go to shelters, homeless, those to have lost their homes and belongings due to natural disasters.
ReplyDeleteGood question to ponder.
ReplyDeleteI think most of us quilters think about this. Fabric and supplies can be given or sold to others in quilt guilds or groups. I'd like to have some sold to people that will love them. When we think of our old quilts being ugly does not mean everyone will think they are ugly. We do have a lot of time, love and money in our quilts but making those quilts gave us an outlet for our creativity. In the long run we each need to say to our families what we hope they will do with our quilts. I have a friend who has a room of amazing antiques and her children have told her they are not interested in keeping any of the pieces. I guess we will be gone so we will not know what happens. We do need to declutter things that we don't really care for so that our children don't have to spend so much time and energy trying to clean up after us. Good luck to all of us as we make these difficult decisions!!
ReplyDeleteWe have had the same discussions about my knit and crochet creations. As you know, I have an Etsy shop so most of my items are sold as they are made except for those items that I make and give as gifts, of course. Still, there is a tremendous amount of yarn and supplies, some of which was my Mom's. I've told everyone I can't die until I use it all up while I continue to buy more. Ha!
ReplyDeleteMy goodness, you've struck a nerve! Yes, it's a question - and not just for quilters. My uncle has been making films as a hobbyist since the Seventies, and when it comes to it, I won't know a good piece of his equipment from the rubbish!
ReplyDeleteI have been wondering the same, what will my daughter do with my quilts as she dislikes patchwork. Sadly our friend passed away and 3 of us were asked by her family to clear her extensive quilting room of fabrics, etc. The other sad thing was several others were unhappy that they weren't asked to help, they caused a lot of nasty trouble and the 3 of us left our quilting group. I have discussed with my husband that he can pack the room up and donate it all to a charity shop, school etc.
ReplyDeleteHere, we have several worthy recipient programs, although it may be far different in Japan, or in your neck of the woods. Our Emergency Shelter houses singles and families who have been rendered recently homeless. They are transitioned as soon as possible to affordable housing, which may not include much than the bare essentials. A beautiful quilt would make these families feel something other than abject loss. Too, we have a shelter for women and children, for those who seek shelter from abusive relationships. These women (and kids) sometimes have to flee in mere minutes, and leave everything behind. And finally, there are 2-3 programs here that offer mentoring to people who have perhaps never had the teaching/training/home economics of living anything more than hand-to-mouth, paycheck-to-paycheck. These programs will often request household items for the "graduation" of their clients moving into their new homes, with employment and mentors to walk alongside them.
ReplyDeleteThis is such an interesting topic and conundrum. It's good that your kids are being straightforward about it! Other people have some good ideas in their comments. I have started to feel like I have "too many" quilts.... I guess some of them will survive for years but it depends on them being passed down to quilt lovers... and we know that there aren't that many quilt lovers.... and tastes vary so widely!
ReplyDeleteMy friend has the same problem - namely, too many. While helping her, she gifted me with several which l) she thought ugly and 2) didn’t want. She made my day because I thought they were absolutely beautiful and though I had not known she had them, I wanted them. Her thoughtfulness was gracious to me and I urge any one to be generous. Someone else gave a quilt to everyone who passed her door. This included tradesmen, friends, acquaintances - everyone - children included. She found such joy in sharing.
ReplyDelete