MERRY CHRISTMAS! I was just going to post a holiday greeting, but lately there has been a lot of discussion in the various needlework newsletters and boards I subscribe to, about stash - what to do with it, and how much is too much, LOL.

The first thing that came up was that our aging stitching population has concerns about what will happen to their lovingly collected stash once they're gone. Here were some of the thoughts presented - a couple by myself, in response to the article... Number one was to make sure, either by telling, or in writing, that your family is aware of your wishes. If you want your best friends, or family members who stitch, to have first crack at what you've accumulated, be sure that is well-known, so your hard-earned stash doesn't end up in a garage sale, or worse, out on the curb!

If there's no one you want to leave your stash to - or if you're just wanting to clean house, so you have room for NEW stash, why not consider donating? Groups like the Girl Guides, or women's shelters, any volunteer group really, that works with children or seniors and could use crafting materials. Another option is something we do in my area, and that's donate unwanted items to your local guild! My guild has a 'sale table' at each meeting, where donated items are offered to others in the group. If there's something you want from the table, you make a donation (we're on the honor system, to ensure it's a reasonable amount). This has paid for several months rent on our meeting place!

But other articles - particularly the most recent one from Ann Rippin - have looked at WHY we stash, and the ways different generations look at it. Some feel guilty buying things they aren't going to use (or not immediately), so only buy for each project, while others compare their shopping to their spouses (equating the money they spend on their hobbies with an equivalent amount spent by a mate - for example, this fabric cost about the same as that new golf club, LOL). I actually know a woman who does this... when her DH asks what she spent, she replies "about a power drill", (GBG).

Ann listed some great quotes throughout her blog, and since they were aimed mostly at quilters, I've taken the liberty of adjusting as necessary, for us needleworkers (wink). You may have heard some of them before, I know there were a few I knew, but here are my favorites:
"The Repository for Textile Accumulation and Investment, sounds much more impressive than Fabric Stash!"
"If someone sez you have too much stash, stop talking to them immediately. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life!"
This one I definitely have to make into a chart, LOL: "Don't question the size of my stash - unless you think it needs to be BIGGER!"

Click HERE https://annjrippin.wordpress.com/2016/11/16/thinking-about-the-stash/ to read the rest of Ann's fun blog.... have a great Christmas, and I'll talk to you next year! Happy stitching!!