Outside of Knoxville TN lies the sleepy little town of Clinton, TN.
Twice a year, Clinton is the home of the Clinch River Antiques Festival – held in October and in May of every year.
DANG! I was early! This year the festival is May 3rd, 2014 -- Over 100 Antique Dealers come to Clinton’s Historic Downtown to present a fantastic Antiques and Collectibles Show.
Since I wasn’t there on the right weekend, I still took time to walk through the stores on main street – MANY of them!
Of course you know the tile entry to this old shop caught my eye…hexies in the center with that great Grecian key border ---LOVE tile entries and floors!
The following are a smattering of things I found on my wander through town:
1930s carpenters wheel!
Isn’t that blue vibrant against the red?
This quilt was hand pieced and hand quilted in baptist fans. I love that there is no bottom border…it’s just bound where it ended. Must be an Appalachian thing – I see that a lot in North Carolina quilts too.
Hooray for quilt ladders with vintage string quilts!
Top of the ladder – 30s prints galore!
Who can resist an old pine cupboard filled with pottery and a wooly tied one-patch quilt hanging on the door? I love the simplicity and comfort this image brings to mind!
A pretty ratty “Kansas Dugout!”
An AMAZING “Chips & Whetstone” Very closely quilted in fans!
Scrappy Lone Star hung over a cupboard door in soft colors.
This one was really interesting!
The blocks are definitely early 1900s..but the setting fabric? 1920s? 1930s? INTERESTING to imagine the story of how this quilt was finally set together. I love quilts that leave me wondering –this one definitely does!
Quilt spread out ---
My hand to give an idea of the piecing scale --
Who wouldn't love a big chunky crazy patch? Possibly 1920s.
Another sweet and simple quilt of squares, this time a 9 patch, tied.
Oh look! A machine! ((No, it didn’t come home!))
Another cupboard straight out of Country Living ---
Love the Dresden Plate quilt folded on the top shelf for a bit of color.
Baskets – without handles?!
No handle found here!
Sweet fabrics, and doesn’t it make you wonder why she chose to do no handles? Maybe this is fruit BOWL instead of BASKET? This one has had a lovely life keeping folks warm and comfy while they dreamed. There is a story to this quilt ---what stories could it tell us?
And this…my favorite of all. with only ONE block going the “other” way!
FUN colors and fabrics!
Things I noticed right away about this quilt, besides the one tree turned the “other” direction ((Notice that I did NOT say WRONG!!)) : The green sashing doesn’t go around the whole quilt to act as an inner border…it just divides the blocks, but does not frame. Several of the trees are dark colors on a light background, but many are the opposite – light trees on dark grounds. I really like that effect.
It was a great day to wander before finally winding my way to Oliver Springs, TN and checking in for my weekend of fun there.
If you are anywhere near Knoxville and have a chance, make a stop in Clinton, TN --- you will be charmed by the town’s main street and who knows what treasures you will find!
6 comments:
I am so glad you got to stop in Clinton TN. We go to the festivals every year and the antiques are stunning. Lots of sewing machines, spinning wheels, baskets and assorted everything there as well as some good food and lots of people. I hope you are not too tired to enjoy your time in Pigeon Forge.
I wonder if the quilts without a border on one side were meant to be placed on a bed with that side near the top, and tucked over and around the pillows. Just a thought....
My thoughts on the no borders quilt.... borders take more fabric. The Appalachian people were pretty poor, so they just had to use whatever was on hand. The fabric that went into borders would be saved for another quilt. Just my opinion.
Years ago, the beds had metal head and tail boards and therefore the quilts were tucked around the bottom of the mattress which would negate the need to waste extra fabric. Read this in a book someplace. The quilts were lovely.
Linda
I love Clinton, Tenn. too. I took of picture of Wender's too. Thanks for the reminder. Love the way you take pictures of quilts. What camera do you use?
I forgot you were coming. A friend wanted me to look at her picture on your blog, and I scrolled backward through some of your posts. You were about 15 miles from my house when you were looking at quilts in Clinton! That area is part of my ward and stake, too. Sorry I missed you this time - maybe next time.
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