What to do with old stuff.

Chuck it all away ...

Collectors might want them. Have you got a local auction house you could contact? Auctions of have small interesting job lots towards the end. You might not get much, but someone would still get the pleasure of owning them.

I would imagine charity shops would want them. DD has been doing one of these feature walls in her living room and she has been buying water colours like those yoy descibenfrom chairty shops. The pillow cases should be very acceptable.

Stamps - contact a reputable stamp dealer and sell them.

Little box - off to the charity shop

Suzieque66 Certainly not.

Shops selling vintage items might want the embroidered items if you have one locally.
You could ask the charity shop if they want the paintings, but ask the family first before you dispose of them.

First day covers, not sure, I have a collection from my MIL but yours are more personal so I'd keep those to pass on to family.

Allocate a nice box for each child, fill it with their stuff and things they might want, label it then, when they're full, add no more.

I'd be shredding my school reports!

then, when they're full, add no more.
🙄 I mean, don't start filling another box!

The stamps, linen and watercolours should go to auction.

Bin the rest.

I would send most of that to auction.

Give the DC their school reports. Burn your own. That's what I've done. DH's s screws will at some point come in useful according to my DH. They are probably safely in the shed or garage. I would leave them to whoever clears out.

I burned all my school reports and certificates. I put my DDs into a box each for them to dispose of as they wish.
My problem now is lots of photos from my parents and MILs houses. I must just sort them this winter into those I want to keep and then offer the rest to both extended families.so many people we dont know in them. I must just get on and do a box a day.

If you do offer specific items to family put a timeframe on collection or you’ll still be used as a convenient storage facility.

Sorry OP didn't answer your question. Auction house for the nicer things? Charity shop for the rest. I had a meal yesterday in a cafe which had loads of paintings on their walls. Would yours be suitable to offer to a similar place...or care home, hospital, doctors waiting room if you dont want to sell them.

Allira: 'Allocate a nice box for each child, fill it with their stuff and things they might want, label it then, when they're full, add no more.'
Yes I have done this already. The brownie badges, football team tops and hilarious 'News' jotters from their P1 days are in there. I know they don't want them now, but they will in time.
I also have one for me with my matric card(s), old passport, Youth Hostel card...did I mention I am definitely not a hoarder?

For me this is a timely reminder that my children will not be in the least interested in my treasure or the stuff I have valued all my life for no reason whatsoever.

I intend to leave hardly anything for them to sort or let them have it now- otherwise what's the point in keeping it?

You can't take this stuff with you...

Thanks for your responses. Most people seem to be in the 'get rid somehow' camp.
What if I decide to hang on to these things though 'for posterity'? After all, lots of people on programmes like the Antiques Roadshow seem to have held onto less significant items.
I guess a labelled box, one only, with the significance of the items labelled as well, stored with the others is as good a solution as any.

I am not in the "get rid of somehow" camp. These things are significant in the history of your family. How many of us (or of the general population) can say that they have in their possession items made or designed by their ancestors? Perhaps your immediate family have no interest in them, but with each generation the artefacts become more antique and more valuable, both in money and in illustrating the lives and work of people living in a bygone age.

Jaxjacky

If you do offer specific items to family put a timeframe on collection or you’ll still be used as a convenient storage facility.

😁
The answer was "not until ..... . Unless you move house and we'll come and help"

Just label the boxes clearly.

DotScot

Thanks for your responses. Most people seem to be in the 'get rid somehow' camp.
What if I decide to hang on to these things though 'for posterity'? After all, lots of people on programmes like the Antiques Roadshow seem to have held onto less significant items.
I guess a labelled box, one only, with the significance of the items labelled as well, stored with the others is as good a solution as any.

I agree. One of my children is very interested in our ancestors and the other one isn’t. As I have got older I have a real interest in family history which I didn’t have when I was younger.

As I have got older I have a real interest in family history which I didn’t have when I was younger.

I think that happens, Skydancer.

I gave a box of items to our local museum maybe 10 years ago.
They liked that everything came from the same person.

It's worth a phone call.

Oh please please don’t chuck them away as the first answering post suggests that’s awful the poor lady sounds very very talented with very artistic leanings if any have local interest (paintings etc) try a local museum maybe or art group
If her designs were used commercially maybe the company who commissioned them would like them
We are not talking about a bit of old tat your mother in law sounds very artistic and clever
Please don’t just chuck until you ve looked into alternatives

BlueBelle

Oh please please don’t chuck them away as the first answering post suggests that’s awful the poor lady sounds very very talented with very artistic leanings if any have local interest (paintings etc) try a local museum maybe or art group
If her designs were used commercially maybe the company who commissioned them would like them
We are not talking about a bit of old tat your mother in law sounds very artistic and clever
Please don’t just chuck until you ve looked into alternatives

Yes, she was BlueBelle. And throughout her sometimes challenging life, she constantly reinvented herself to adapt to where she found herself.
Imagine, taking up badminton for the first time in your 60s, learning tap dancing (and competing in competitions) in your 70s, becoming a Toastmaster in your 80s. But all the while she maintained her arty side.
She lived on the other side of the world, so I only met her once, I'm sorry to say. It would seem to me a shame if the evidence of her accomplishments was lost.

Would you consider contacting the Lisburn Museum and the Irish Linen Guild who safeguard the quality and history of Irish Linen making.

I think they might be very interested in your artefacts that relate directly to them. It would have to be a donation from you but if you were thinking of taking the items to a charity shop anywayI expect you wouldn’t mind.

Lathyrus3 good idea. Thank you for the suggestion.

Were the items related to the area she lived in would that be worth a thought …contacting someone local or maybe a local newspaper or someone she was familiar with it was she well known in her area just seems such a shame to not share her talent although I understand you don’t want to continue storing them

We've just had a good laugh at some old school reports. One son got D in everything and remarks that he made absolutely no effort. He is now a senior manager in his company.