Like a Rolling Stone!

Things Bonnie does while waiting!

I got a message on my phone that my dad’s flight from Phoenix had been delayed by 1/2 hour.

And there I sat with a van full of groceries and everything I needed for almost-a-week at the cabin.  I was ready to head to the airport when the message came in –

What does a resourceful quilter do when faced with a bonus of time on her hands?

Head to the antique mall that is not too far from the airport exit!

I titled this post Like a Rolling Stone because there were quilts from two different eras with this block pattern.

Here you see it big and bold in shades of navy and burgundy, a tell-tale sign that this quilt is from around 1900.

Rolling Stone, small center square.

I took several close ups!

I love the stripes on this one..let them go whichever way they may! 

Loads of stripes!  And crisp shirtings.

Check out the background on THIS block!

While all of the other prints were predictable, this one was not!  What is the story behind this one piece of corner background fabric?  Had it been left from a special dress?

These are the kinds of things I love to see in a scrap bag quilt.

Another rolling stone:

Rolling Stone, Large center square.

Looks Pennsylvania Dutch to me! 

Circa 1870 –or is it?

Close up

While the top definitely looks 1800s, the whole quilt didn’t feel “old” to me.  I turned it over to find new muslin as the backing, with the same muslin as the binding, put on in a double french fold by machine, just as we would do it, with folded miters at the corners.

While the top had been washed in the past, probably to prepare it for quilting, the muslin backing never had been.  It just has a TODAY feel, not a yester-year feel.

No where on the exorbitant price tag did it say “Old top, newly quilted”  But it of course was. 

Is quilting an old top a problem? 

Not really.  But it should be disclosed on any labels, tags or other documentation.  This quilt was priced close to $500.00.  And folks needed to know that it was newly quilted because that changes the history of the piece.  It adds to the story of the life of this quilt.

This is an interesting block!

Also kind of Rolling Stone-esque!

And this is an absolute classic basket!

This was NOT newly quilted!

You can tell from the backing, the binding, and how the backing was brought to the front.

Thick batting, cotton or wool I didn’t check closely, and larger stitches to get through it all in the quilting process –love that diagonal quilting across the sashings!

The red background on top…

LOVE IT!

Stuffed into a corner, poor thing!

Hen & Chicks, Circa 1880 (?)

Love that streak of lightning setting!

And the double pink setting fabric!

Loads of classic small prints in here.

I’m guessing on the age of this one, though I believe it to be 1800s…I just don’t know if it is pre-civil war, or after.  Scrap bags can survive decades and still be used in quilts.  But this one is classic!

And it was well loved and well used and has shredded blocks and places on the binding where things are disintegrating.

And that makes me HAPPY!  Because this quilt did its job of keeping many loved ones warm and safe over its lifetime.

Soft pink.  I’m feeling the need for pink in a future quilt!

I waved hello and patted this machine on my way down the aisle!

Beautiful 15-91, nice cabinet.  Already have a couple – great machines!  Someone will adopt it for the not-too-bad price of $125.00 in the cabinet.  But not me.  No not me!  My house is full!

And the great find of the day?

Oh, honey! LOL!!

I thought for about 10 seconds –of getting this for The Hubster to wear for Thanksgiving dinner at the cabin – and then thought  NO.  But I was tempted, yes I was tempted! 

He actually lucked out because it is too small!

But it sure gave me a good giggle while I made my way to the airport to pick up my precious cargo:

Dad and Sadie!

Yesterday was total laziness as we talked, rested, went through Peru Photos by hooking my lap top up to the TV so everyone could view.

We headed out to an afternoon matinee movie and saw “Meet the Coopers.”  Gotta love the schmaltzy Christmas themed seasonal releases with a lot of heart behind them.

Grilled salmon and roasted butternut squash for dinner.

Friends Irene and Dave Hafer arrived close to midnight from Kentucky and we had a late night visiting with them until all went to bed.

And that brings me to now – the day before Thanksgiving with the anticipation of my boys arriving tonight to join our little band of merry makers.

Let the Farkle tournament begin!


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