Many of you knew Elizabeth’s mother through our blog and
Facebook page.
She was a lifelong
seamstress, embroiderer, and quilter.
But beyond that she was very supportive of the creative endeavors of
others, especially her daughters and their creative friends.
As a Girl Scout leader, her troop went
camping and did all the outdoor activities that girl scouts do but she also
focused on the handicraft and sewing badges, teaching scores of young people
how to sew as well as many other crafting skills.
She taught The Bishop Method of Clothing
Construction through an adult education program and must have used miles of
sewing thread in her long life.
Here she
is in the summer of 2015 teaching Elizabeth’s friend, Joni, how to use a rotary
cutter.
Barbara died a year ago today and it just happens that this
week is also Elizabeth’s spring break from her job as a public school
teacher.
So, she joined her sister at
Barbara’s house in Mississippi to continue the task of clearing out the
physical objects left in the house.
Barbara never had to move from her home of the last 40 years as some do
and they tend to downsize as they step down from one home to the next
home.
That means the house is full of
stuff!!
Not only that, but she also has
a summer home on Lake Winnipesaukee which many of you are more familiar with
since that is where we go for our “quilt camps”. In one day of tackling clearing out the sewing room
yesterday, Elizabeth bagged up over 30 unfinished projects and you can hardly
tell she worked in there!
Elizabeth also loves to sew but finishing projects was more common for
Barbara than it is for Elizabeth so there is no way she will ever get to these.
Naturally, there is also loads of scraps and
yardage, threads, embellishments and craft books!
My, quilters do also like books!
Now, the question is, “what to do with them”? Well, here's an opportunity!
What do you think will happen to your crafting and sewing
supplies once you are gone? Leave a
comment here on the blog and/or on the Facebook page and we will select a random
winner who will receive a package containing yardage, a book, some embellishments
and thread-nothing old and all quite usable!
Who knows what might be in it, think of it as a grab bag surprise!
Sounds like a lot to go through.
ReplyDeleteDonate to the Girl Scouts, find Scout Leaders that are interested.
24Tangent@gmail.com
I was thinking the same thing, that Elizabeth's mother would be pleased if her stash went to projects helping the GSs learn to sew.
ReplyDeleteMy fabric is going to Project Linus, books are to be divided between our small Quilt Museum and Public Library for their book sales, all the rest will be donated to the local SCRAP group. No one in my family sews, so all instructions are in the will. I'd call the local Red Cross. They would know of any groups that make things for the needy here and abroad and might appreciate the supplies. Good luck! I don't envy you. I cleaned out my Dad's shop. He was a wood worker all his life and accumulated just like I have, but with wood working supplies. The local high school's wood shop is now filled with tools and supplies.
ReplyDeleteI am sure my fabric will go to my guild, as other woman have requested before me. There is also Sew Green in Rochester and in Ithaca, NY that takes craft donations and resells/repurposes them to raise money to teach sewing, so my stuff could end up there.
ReplyDeleteClearing out belongings after someone passes is an arduous task.It is also an opportunity to feel like you have spent some more time with them.
ReplyDeleteI agree with donating them to the Girl Scouts.
I'm hoping my stuff will go to Cotswold Care - our local cancer charity!
ReplyDeleteMy kids and grandkids will get first pick of my art and supplies, after that, my Quilter's Anonymous Art Quilters group will have the opportunity to build their stash of yarns, fibers, fabric, threads, etc. Our local library will be given leftover books and if there is anything left after that (doubtful), Goodwill will receive the rest.
ReplyDelete