Processing Stash

Is it really worth your time to cut charms?

How about doing coordinated FQ bundles instead? That's kind of in between charms and giving it all away :-)

Hanne in DK

I'd say sell it as is- only cut smallish scraps (smaller than a FQ???) into charms. I know I find and buy fabric on eBay all the time- especially when I run short in the middle of a project. If the buyer wants charms they can cut up a larger piece. But sewing 5 in. squares together to try to get a 3 in. strip or 12 in. square doesn't work very well. ;-)

I'm sorry you are burned out on quilting- your work is so beautiful. I wonder if you take a break if you might find you are ready to jump in again and re-find your joy?

Leslie & The Furbabies in MO.

The larger the charm square the less of them to cut out of a particular fabric ;)

Maybe fat quarter or skinny quarters? Send a box to Jill of Critter Comforts? Check with local reputable charities and see if they would like some [and garner the tax write-off doing it]? Maybe someone here on this ng lives close to you in Pennsylvania and would buy some/all of it? Contact you local guild and offer a one day sale?

Ginger in CA no, I don't need anything more but heck if we lived closer....

How about a yard/garage sale? Last year a local lady bundled her stash (she used plastic bags) into yardage, 1/2 yards, fat quarters, and scraps/charms. I don't remember the exact pricing, but she charged about $2 a yard across the board, and the fabric was flying out the door. She did have some left over, and I believe she donated that to a charity group. The advantage was she didn't have to add the time and cost for shipping that would be required on etsy or eBay.

All that being said, I think 5" charms seems to be the standard, and that's what I'd go with.

Good luck!

I'm sure Quilts for Kids

Your question breaks my heart. I understand divorce. Heck, I even understand the need for an axe murder now and then but your not quilting is a tragedy! A quilt magazine came in yesterday and with every page turn, I looked for something special from you. I guess it's time for you to aim your magnificent talent in a different direction but couldn't you consider competing or teaching or making quilts to wrap babies in Haiti. Something? Have you prayed about this? Never mind.

Hoo!

If you do this sing out and I will put kiri on a leash and make her drive me down! Providing of course that I actually have money at the time.

Seems we have several people here within a few hours drive of you. We could descend like locusts, buy all your stash, infect you with our enthusiasm, and then you could go out and buy brand new stash. Sound like a plan?

Seriously sweetie, it seems to me that you have spent an awful lot of time making quilts to other people's specs. When was the last time you made a quilt just because it was one that _you_ wanted to make?

Take some time off. Make some bears, do some scrapbooking, read poetry, write a song, bake, learn to tat. Whatever you do when you aren't quilting. Then after a few weeks or months rethink quilting.

NightMist

I'm sorry to hear your story Mickie. I am sure many here will be. I hope you are able to find somewhere that your creativity can grow that will work for you. My first reccomendation is to just let it sit for maybe 6 months and see if you can renew your interest. If you are really determined to move it all on I would suggest finding a good charity group. Lots of quilts are made for hospice and cancer patients in addition to kids. Veterans are also one of the groups that lots of folks quilt for. I don't think I would bother to cut them up if you aren't worried about the money angle. Is there a local guild that does a lot of charity work? You could have them get together for a day where members cut up the fabric into kits and then have another meed up where they put them together. Might be fun for you to actually see the outcome of something like this. I am mourning the loss of your interest. Hugs, Taria

I'm really sorry you are having this crisis, Mickie. I have never seen the point of 5" squares, but they sell a lot, so some people must like them. If I were looking to buy (rather than to sell), I would prefer to buy something like 12" squares, when there would be much more flexibility in how to use them (it would be less cutting too!) . In message , Mickie Swall writes

Oh yes! They are the ones who hand out the kits aren't they? . In message , mary writes

Mickie:

When I downsized during my divorce, I donated bags and bags of fabric to Project Linus. I kept only two 18-gallon Rubbermaid tubs of my very favorites (and my BB-swap squares, of course) and gave them much of the rest. I also donated a lot to the Salvation Army ladies' auxiliary for Fabric Fair. Both of these are here in the Pittsburgh area.

Someone else mentioned taking the tax deduction, but I'm not sure the IRS would allow it unless you had all the receipts from purchasing it in the first place.

Frances

Alas, I also understand divorce and understand being burned out on quilting. I have invested so much money (and space in my home!) I keep hoping the burn-out will only be temporary.

Trixie

Hi Mickey--the thought that I had was, it's an awful lot of work for you to do all that cutting, especially if you've already got a case of burnout. I really think you could briefly describe your situation on the auction site, leave the fabric intact and just divide it into lots (of coordinating fabrics, maybe?) and you'll still get response. Other folks had some great ideas, too.

Sherry

Like you, Trixie, I'm hoping this burn-out finds its way out. Been there with the divorce, moving, selling buying, working.

One thing I have learned is to never make a big major decision in my life when I was under duress. I don't think there's to many of us who can make the best choices when we're just not feeling well.

Donna in WA

It's 6.5" for me, makes up into disappearing 9 patch, and I spy quilts real fast. Or, even simple squares, light/dark or color/plain or white. Smaller than 6.5 drives me crazy, my charity group had a bunch of squares donated, 2.5" or 2.75" I re cut and sewed them together, what a pain. Bonnie, in Middletown, VA

So sorry to hear of your decision. After my last divorce, I packed up all my stash and tools, placed the boxes/bins in my attic and stepped back for a while. The "while" ended up being almost 2 years. I did go back to quilting, however, I don't do ANY consignment or pre-orders. I only do what I want, when I want, and for who I want.

I did the same thing when the wedding gown orders got to be too much. I never went back to garment making (so far).

I hope you can "step away" for a few months atleast, so you can get your bearings and get rejuvenated.

amy in CNY

My favorite size is 6". I like that for charm swaps and I like the 6" by half WOF that my group swaps. If you donate stuff to charity, I'd like to point you towards the Quilts of Valor Foundation web site that will probably be able to point you to quilters who are making QOV in your area. I hope this doesn't mean you will quit quilting totally!! I know you work hard at the business of quilting. Maybe you will just take a break and come back as a hobby quilter. That's fun and not stressful. Take care. Pat in Virginia