Time Out in Boone!

Boone, NC is a busy little place, especially on a 3 day holiday weekend when the weather is glorious.

Of course there is hiking up Grandfather Mountain, or fishing on one of the many beautiful streams in the area. There is white water rafting and bicycle riding. We saw lots of couples on Harleys just out enjoying the beautiful Blue Ridge mountains ---and there were shoppers and browsers galore!

Some places were closed on Sunday, but some were in full swing. There was an antique mall that we passed on our way through Boone, and I had mentioned that I’d like to stop on our way back just in case – just for a “look see” ---

I was afraid I was going to hear moaning and grumbling from the driver’s seat, but miracle of all miracles, I did NOT!

You see, DH has never wandered an antique mall with me before, not ever. And I can understand why ----on the flip side, it would be like me having to spend gobs of time being completely bored in a bicycle shop, or a golf shop. I completely get it, really I do!

Mention to me that we are stopping at "Dicks Sporting Goods" for just a minute, and you will hear ME moan and groan from the passenger seat!

As soon as we entered the mall, THIS was displayed in the entry! There were oodles of people, and it was hung on this big rustic branch ((They do a LOT of stick/branch furnishings in Boone!)) and I couldn’t get it down….but oh, it’s a “Cut Glass Dish” pattern!

Looks like it’s had quite a bit of sun fading – that is the SAME sashing fabric throughout – it’s just really faded in parts. Maybe the deep dark red area was up against a wall or tucked under or something? Love the primitive fan quilting on this one! I’m guessing it’s from right around 1900. Mourning prints. Yummy! ((I bet the words “mourning” and “yummy” really are not supposed to be used together…LOL!))

We rounded a corner to find this poly double-knit beauty. The piecing on it was very nice! But MAN, this puppy is HEAVY! It makes me think of all the poly pant suits that my step-grandma wore ---

A beautiful drunkard’s path in solid aqua and cream. Beautifully done. See the cable quilting in the border? Oh, I LOVE cables! It’s very hard to guess the era on a quilt made with solids, but I do know this color of aqua ((It’s not the Nile green of the 1930s)) was popular in the 1950s. Any other guessers out there?

A very stringy star with a HUGE table cloth check as alternate diamonds…..doesn’t it make you want to pack up a picnic and go enjoy the day down by the creek?

I spied this folded quilt on a shelf and got all excited!

Not only was there ONE on the shelf, but a matched pair! I couldn’t see breaking up a matched pair of quilts – so I left them both

1960s and early 1970s calicoes! And I so love that bright green path!

How many of us remember having school dresses made out of these prints?!

Amidst all the planned ones, are some very fun, über scrappy ones! I love that hex on the upper left with the purple and green in it.

The fabrics were just SO SO great! Hello to my early childhood memories!

Some quilts were just simply very humble….blue feedsacks, and melon/green square in a square blocks. Thick batting, big fans, quilted quickly for winter warmth --

And some quilts…OH BOY!

Some quilts just have such BIG problems that it will NEVER QUILT OUT! LOL!!!! The fabrics in this one were great --- left overs from skirts and dresses and other household sewing – see all the gingham checks? LOVE THOSE!

BUNCHES of PROBLEMS!! LOL!!

I love seeing these ---they make my worst mistakes look not so bad ;c)

THIS one was my favorite of all. Carpenters star in 1950s fabrics – oh, this was so cool! But the price was more than I was willing to pay, so I’ll have to make my own. I loved how some of the prints resembled grandpas pajamas or boxer shorts…and I do love how the red/gold center stars tie everything together. There WILL be one of these in my future..

There were some primitive woolie things too ---I wish I knew the history behind this one! And no, that cat is NOT real --- ;c)

What also amazed me is this:

This is like my bridal shower from 1981 on those shelves!

I remember all those orange, avacado, brown containers! And that pickle keeper on the far left middle shelf. Was your wedding sponsored by tupperware too? LOL!

((Once you put pickles in there, you could never get the pickle smell out of the plastic!))

Loved the old cards of buttons….

And no, this beautiful 301 did not come home with me – already have 2 of them ;c)

((Besides, DH was in tow, remember?!))

The most precious of all…was watching DH with this stack of books, and remembering that HE had these as a child. His mom has been gone since December 1983. And all of those memories of her reading to him when he was little came flooding back.

Childhood memories are priceless.

And he will probably shoot me for posting this…..if you don’t hear from me after this, send a search party!

All in all it was a fabulous day to getaway to the mountains. I hope we do it again soon!

Today Lisa is coming over to load her Tshirt quilt on the machine – we plan to get up to a lot of fun over here in the Basement – it’s been too long since she has been over ----

Happy Memorial Day, Everyone!