AIBU unwanted craft

[StillYummy]

I am not arty as such but I use my home and my cloths to express myself. My mil is a prolific crafter- cross stitch, knitting, scrap books, needle craft, felting. Since my little boy was born and see retired a few years ago she has made hundreds of gifts. First Christmas decorations, quilted advent calendar, scrap book of his first year, cross stitch of birth details (framed a3 size designed to be hung on the wall). She tried to decorate his bedroom (with craft) but I put my foot down as I wanted to, because I was excited too!

The things she makes and very nice if you like that kind of thing. The problem is I don't! They are far more fussy than anything I would pick myself and they don't go with my colour schemes.

I told her it wasn't really my thing so now she tells everyone I am not crafty (not true as I make things like cushion covers when I want them) and not into craft. Yet, she hasn't got the message and is still filling my house with stuff. I don't want to display this stuff, I don't have room to store it. I am starting to dread land mark events...

Am I being unreasonable? And if not- what can I do that won't cause her massive offence?

If only I had a loft, or a skip

Does she know that you saw the one that she is working on?

Can you be all excited about the one you're doing and how you've spent ages researching it and you've had to be really careful as you've seen some really dreadful and old fashioned ones online (and describe a few, including her sort of one in the middle of them) and then add 'can you imagine anybody wanting to do it like that these days when there are so many more wonderful and fantastic and more modern designs around, why would anybody want to do anything that was stuck in the seventies when that was so long ago' and carry on blabbing about how excited you are to be doing your project, emphasising all the key words that are important to you - and that don't apply to her project?

If she says something about she's doing one, just do a 'oh never mind, I expect you'll have fun doing it, and then I'm sure it would look lovely in your spare room/[somewhere in her house]...

What would happen if you said you were 'redoing' a room and so you're giving her back the xyz that doesn't really fit into the new room. You don't even really need to do much to the room - buy a new cushion or slap a new rug down - just something to give you an excuse, room by room, to give her things back that aren't to your taste 'as I'm sure you'd prefer me to give it back to you than stick it in a cupboard or ebay it after all your hard work'.

Maybe she would eventually get the message...

Alternatively, stick it all in a big bag in the loft?

Oops, didn't see your post about the loft!

Ask for a skip for Christmas (from her, or someone else)? I know some people who would LOVE it!

Ok. Get a lidded stacker box. Remove the picture from the frame (he can reframe for a few £s when he is an adult if he wants). Put all of the stuff made for your son in the box. If there is more than 1 box chose significant items (those bespoke to him). Thats it. No more. Ask her to store the box.

Get the rest. Explain to Mil that you are redesigning your house as your tastes have changed. Explain that you intend to donate a lot of stuff to charity. Ask if she would like her items back (for her wider family maybe) instead or is she happy for them to go. tell her about the box for your son- explain that it is now sealed until he has his own house etc . No other option- she gets the item back or they go to charity.

Realised I am seriously contemplating devorse or burning the house down.

It was easier for me, MIL's terrible knitting and taste were not the only strain in the M/DIL relationship. I asked her to look after for the next DC returned 10 white jumpers/cardigans as none of them had been worn and we didn't have room. I had asked for baby gifts not to be white, she knits very loosely (this gives the affect of being twice as wide as they should be), drops sticthes and is generally careless in their making. I did suggest a long list of things, mittens, hats, etc. all suggestions were rejected as taking to complicated. I picked wool out with her and next trip she showed me what she has made with it for another family! Lack of sleep and poor relationship meant that on several occasions when I was presented with an inappropriate gift I handed it straight back with a brief explanation. For example I don't want to fill a dark dreary advent calender with pound coins for a toddler or there is a week left to return this to the shop and I can't. You have my sympathy.