Yesterday, I had an enlightening conversation with a gentleman who came to pick up his granddaughter from Quilt Camp. When he learned I retired last year, he specifically asked how the my first year of retirement had impacted my quilting. I told him that I have truly enjoyed having the luxury of time to develop my skills and explore my interests. I’ve taken a number of different classes (in person and online). I shared about the Baravelle spiral class I took last week at Mountain QuiltFest. It was a class I took out of curiosity and to challenge myself. I did enjoy the class, but realized I have absolutely no desire to make an entire quilt using this technique. And that’s okay. He smiled knowingly and remarked, “That’s the beauty of retirement. Time to explore things that interest you and do the things YOU enjoy. Remember – always be true to yourself.”

Very wise words.

Hope you’re spending some quality time today with your favorite sewing machine! Showered my 1956 301A LBOW with some TLC – cleaned out the dust bunnies under her needle plate, changed the needle and gave her a drink of oil. Miss Carmella and I are knocking out the final 10 FPP Kite blocks needed for a special project.

I figured out the answer at an estate sale today – when your 2300 square foot house, including a 2.5 car garage, is stuffed to the gills with sewing and crafting stuff!!

I went to look at a Singer 28k hand crank sewing machine that was posted in an ad on estatesales.net. The estate sale was located in one of those 55 & up active adult communities about 30 minutes away from me. I was floored when I walked up to the sale. There was sewing stuff EVERYWHERE. It was overwhelming.

As I walked through the house, I realized that items from other sewing folks must have been brought in for the sale. There were boxes upon boxes of unrelated stuff everywhere and the drapery workroom set-up in the garage didn’t mesh with the vintage vibe (heirloom sewing, tatting, lace and linens) found everywhere inside of the house.

I really wasn’t quite sure what to expect when I got to the sale, but what I saw made me realize the importance of ongoing stash management. I am truly grateful my mother is selling off her “treasures” on eBay now. She has additional income for her golden years and I have less to deal with later on.

Sewing and crafting friends – unless crafting is your side hustle/business, do your best to limit your sewing/craft stuff to one room or closet in your home. If you are a vintage sewing machine and collectibles enthusiast who has amassed a collection over the years, make a detailed inventory of what you have and keep it with your estate planning documents. Also include contact information for anyone who could be relied upon to help divest your sewing items when you are no longer around or able to do it yourself. Your executor and heirs will appreciate it.

BTW, I left the estate sale empty-handed. Think I’ll spend this rainy Sunday afternoon clearing out some of my fabric bins.