Due to the economy Ive seen alot of auctions for families that need to sell because they cant afford to live there anymore.. So where will they go I always ask myself. It saddens me that they worked hard all their life to see their hard work go to the highest bidder and sometimes its pennies on the dollar..

Then again ive been to auctions where the family of the deceased do not want anything but would rather put it all up for auction...

I agree with you completely. I feel as if I am invading the privacy of someone I have never met, and it makes me uncomfortable.

It is not unlike having to settle my in-laws estate when my MIl passed away. I remember bringing home her purse and clothes from the hospital. At one point, I went through her purse and even said to my husband that I felt I shouldn't violate her in that way.

Clearing their home of their 50+ years of collecting was so difficult. All of us chose something in remembrance with the rest going to charity. I thought to myself...is that it?..the sum total of our lives is our stuff?, and when it is disposed of it is as if the person never existed.

Oh boy, I shouldn't have started this. I am a bit emotional right now because my Mom is dying. She has Alzheimer's and in the last week has taken a turn for the worse. My sister and I have tried to prepare ourselves for this, but now that it seems very close, I'm finding it very difficult.

kittenquilts,

THanks for the reminder. I suppose the one thing I feel least uneasy about is my quilting stash and UFOs, etc. Knowing by example, the people on this board, I hope someone like you finds my leftovers and makes something of them.

I wonder if anyone has done any research into the person who left behind their quilt tops? (That's another area of my life: genealogy.) A historical society recently shared with me a sampler made in the 1820s; the sampler included a family tree. With the information on it, I tracked the family from about 1785 to 1930. Wasn't able to find any living descendants, but I was able to paint something of a picture of the woman who made the sampler and document her family.

I've never been to one.

I went to an estate sale last week and bought a handmade (by the deceased) cabinet to use as a pantry for $22. The Family thought it was junk.... I silently thanked the person that made it and assured them that I would make good use of it. I know that may seem silly but it makes me feel better about buying (stealing) it. As for my stuff. It will be given/thrown away for a pittance and my sons will run thru the money like water, Makes me want to leave it all to the local school system for a school to be built on for this end of the county instead of the kids having to ride the bus for an hour...It would be better appreciated.

I've been to one estate sale. The pjs and robes were still hanging on the back of the bathroom door. Can you say weird? It was like they had just stepped out for a trip to the grocery store.

It doesn't bother me if it is run by a company, but the ones done by the family members are just creepy.

I have never been to an estate sale and wouldn't know what to expect....until now. Thank you for sharing your experiences and thoughts with us. I think it would feel sad and strange to go into someone's home and purchase pieces of their life. It sure gives you a lot to think about.

I had the same feelings you did , somehow feeing irreverent by meandering through the possesions.... Never really feeling all that good about my purchases as if the favorable price to me is somehow a dishonor to the deceased or owner.
It has given me the strenght to use some of my prized fabrics more often since I reconginzed in the emotions after the estate sale part of my sadness or less than happy feeings came from the realization that yes someday that will happen to my "stuff".
I also made a resolution to stop saving stuff for "good" or the right occasion.
I guess it all comes down to that a quilters fabric can be profoundly personal as it relects the hopes and dreams of what it will become.

That really bothers me too. I have expressed to my husband that my sewing room should be open to my quilting friends to help themselves. At least a quilter can appreciate your quilting tools and will use them. Like you I still go tothem & look for quilting and sewing items.