Showing posts with label Antiques. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Antiques. Show all posts

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Vintage Quilt Blocks








My parents visited Brimfield, Massachusetts, back in September for the massive antique fair that takes place there 3 times yearly. Luckily for me, their trip to Brimfield happened to be en route to my house! I say luckily for me, because my mom brought goodies!!

One of the treasures she arrived with was a stack of vintage quilt blocks - some finished, and some not quite. I can't wait to get down to finishing them, and creating whatever sized blanket they may cover. From what I have read about using vintage quilt blocks, you are better to wash them as a whole when they are already completed in a quilt. The strength of the backing material (which should not be vintage, as the vintage blocks need the support of new fabric), and finishing, will help to keep them together. I suppose though, that it may be worth knowing, before you venture to spend the time on quilting them, if they will completely fall apart!

Just look in the last photo at the hand stitching. This is a pretty big pile of pieced quilt blocks. That makes for an incredible amount of time spent stitching by hand. Just amazing...

XO

Saturday, May 7, 2011

Antiques and Children



In theory, it was a good plan... no it was a great plan. Levi was going to sit in the wagon the whole time with his good friend Nami, and he was going to love it.
We were going to peruse antiques, and I would arrive back home with my arms loaded down in beautiful vintage sewing goodies, and for some reason today, antique linens, potholders and the like. Ahhhhh, dreams...



Well, it all started with getting pooped on. Yes friends, I was pooped on this morning, and no it was not by one of my beautiful baby boys - which, I can totally handle (you kind of have to handle it after it happens a couple of times).
As I reached my unsuspecting arm in to my car to unfasten my littlest guy from his seat - BLAMMO! My hand and wrist were targeted in a fly-by, as were the side of my baby's car seat and the main seat back inside the car.
I didn't let it get me down though, because as all good people know it is fabulous luck to get shat on by a bird.

After that brief episode I was sure that I was in store to find the most wonderful surprise at the antique market today. hmmm..
Well, needless to say, though Owen snoozed away in the Ergo as usual, Levi was not okay with maxin' it out in the wagon no matter who was going to sit with him. His game was either throwing rocks or "mama, Up". It's not the easiest having 14 pounds in a front carrier, and 30 pounds on your hip. Good workout though. I did become an instant expert at the very quick neck snapping action required to keep an eye on your exploring, handsy little one, and all the antique goodies around. At one point as he tells me "ball, ball" I turned my head to spy him holding the "ball", which actually was a big, round, very breakable, orange ceramic basket.
I should get a medal for speed! :)



So, lesson learned you ask?? Well, I can only hope the littles learned that antiques are awesome, and are meant to be enjoyed. Next time these kids are gonna love it. That's the lesson we're talking about right?
Besides, despite spending the better part of the morning feeding, chasing, or changing little ones we did have sun and warmth, and I did enjoy a good chatty sit down with a coffee and friends.



I would like to add, Hooray for kind people who let you bud into the enormous line-up to buy your little fella a drink, for playgrounds at the antique market, and for good friends and their wagons who help to make these adventures a little bit possible, even if the wagon is only happily used accompanied with snack bribery.



In conclusion, to the unlucky soul who decided being pooped on by a bird was good luck:
I'm sorry that you clearly have had to suffer this fate enough times that you had to create this fiction but hey, whatever helps you sleep at night.


The boys, all wiped out from the excitement of the market.

xo

Sunday, September 26, 2010

"New" Old Goodies

Rain comes down, air becomes chilly. Sun pops out, air gets crazy warm. Coat comes off, and the rain comes down...
So it went throughout today.

I felt sorry for the vendors at the Aberfoyle Antique Market, as many probably spent half their day covering and uncovering their furniture with big plastic sheets.

It was a very pleasant day still. I love browsing antiques. Like thrifting, everything you see is different (for the most part), and it becomes a challenge, or a game to find that perfect item.

Two brilliant finds found their way back to my house today.
The first was an old wash board which I have wanted for quite a while to hang in my laundry room.



The second was an old school house coat rack. It is quite heavy, which worries me about actually attaching it to the wall.



I am quite happy with my day's finds, and am now looking forward to squeezing in at least a full hour of sewing!
Must go take advantage of every moment!
xo