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Wednesday, November 25, 2015

Like a Rolling Stone!

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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.

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Rolling Stone, small center square.

I took several close ups!

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

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Loads of stripes!  And crisp shirtings.

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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:

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Rolling Stone, Large center square.
Looks Pennsylvania Dutch to me! 
Circa 1870 –or is it?

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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.

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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.

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This is an interesting block!

Also kind of Rolling Stone-esque!

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And this is an absolute classic basket!

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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!

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The red background on top…

LOVE IT!

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Stuffed into a corner, poor thing!

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Hen & Chicks, Circa 1880 (?)

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Love that streak of lightning setting!

And the double pink setting fabric!

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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!

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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?

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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:

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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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23 comments:

  1. Enjoy your holiday with family and friends around. Friday brings the start of the MQ and I am sure there will be a million questions!! :)

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  2. Your Dad and Sadie look really happy. Have a great Thanksgiving. I bring to mind your post while you were in Peru about being grateful for all we have. Happy Farkleing.

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  3. Anonymous8:52 AM EST

    Hi Bonnie - Glad to see you are enjoying a break. It is nice to have family and friends close at hand to celebrate holidays!

    Marilyn Longden

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  4. Happy Thanksgiving Bonnie. Do tell how does your Dad like this year's mystery? Ready to hang it off the railing? I can hardly wait.

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  5. Anonymous9:27 AM EST

    Love farkle! Great no Brainer game so lots of good visiting happening. Enjoy your holiday.
    Susan from OK

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  6. I Love your Antique store visits!
    Wishing you a safe & Happy Thanksgiving with your Loved ones! Enjoy.
    kisses for Sadie Girl.

    Debra in Ma.

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  7. Happy Thankgiving, Bonnie! Enjoy your time with family.

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  8. It's Up the River Down the River here or maybe Train! We love Thanksgiving food and games too. Have a wonderful holiday Bonnie with your dear ones.thanks for all you do.

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  9. Thanks for sharing your antique mall trip. I learn something every time you share. Have a wonderful time with your friends and family. So glad you have a place and a way to decompress. Happy Thanksgiving.

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  10. Happy Thanksgiving, Bonnie. Thanks for all that you do for us quilters!! Have a wonderful time with your family.

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  11. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving. Enjoy family and friends to the fullest.

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  12. I always wonder how you get the quilts all laid out to take pictures. I'm a little hesitant to mess with the displays and there isn't much floor space to do it in most Antique shops I've been in. Glad there was a place to bide the extra time~ Farkle, Friends and family- enjoy it ALL!

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  13. Happy Thansgiving to you and your family!

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  14. Hi Bonnie, May you have a truly blessed Thanksgiving. I really enjoyed seeing the antique quilts and reading your comments. Every day is a time to learn something new about quilts and quilting including how to evaluate what we are seeing when we look at an old quilt - not just in a monetary sense - but also in an aesthetic sense. Thank you for helping us to see the "old ones" with new eyes.

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  15. I know someone who would love to have that jacket! He is in acting school in Bristol, England, and is already the talk of the town with his aqua fake fur jacket, tiger fake fur swing coat, wild print silk blazer, and many other finds from the back of my closet. Oh to live in North Carolina...........or at least have a daughter still there. There are no great antique malls in my neck of the woods...actually no antique malls at all. Sad but true. Count that as another blessing! Love following your travels and projects. I moved into a bigger, older house this summer and opened a real quilt shop on the main floor and live upstairs. I am spreading the word about you to anyone and everyone with scraps!.........Linda in Kenora, Ontario

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  16. Rest and Thanksgiving! Special combo. I am happy to hear that for the rest of the year, you are at home/cabin. everyone needs time off...enjoy. Give Sadie a special warm hug from JulieinTN -
    Smiles

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  17. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving Bonnie. Regards to all your family. Love the antique quilts, it something you find very rarely in England so it's great to read your explanations on their construction.
    Linda Hodges

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  18. Thanks for sharing Bonnie- this post and all you do. I am thankful for you and all the quilty fun. I am loving pink lately too. I have 2 old tops basted with pink backgrounds. Waiting for El Nino to hit San Diego and keep me housebound for a change. Meanwhile I will be joining the throng of Mystery quilters...

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  19. To you and those you love a very joyous Thanksgiving.

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  20. I just got that exact same sewing machine from a Thrift Store. The clerks knew NOTHING about it other than to plug it in. When we stepped on the foot it just hummed. I said to my husband 'Do you suppose oiling it will make it work?'. I guess it was there for years and they were anxious to get it out of there - I took it home for $5.00. Cleaned it up, oiled it and no luck. Getting ready to take it to the trash and I thought - that's what it sounds like when filling a bobbin. Sure enough!!!! Now I have a great little machine. LOL Guess we just never know.

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  21. Love all the quilts. Thanks for the lesson on how to determine what is going non with them, new backings, new quilting, etc. What did you mean by the "double Pink" ? Curious. I like the way that one was quilted.

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  22. Happy Thanksgiving to you Bonie & family & friends....but that looks like a 66 to me. Tension faces the operator not off to the left.

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  23. Hope your Thanksgiving was lovely! Loved all the quilts and how you described their differences. Always an education when I read your posts. Just an FYI the machine you found and shared is a coveted 201-3; a UK made machine with the external motor and belt. Not the dreaded potted motor which I only seem to find for 201s. Model 15s have their tensioner off to the left on the face plate. Enjoy your time with your family and friends. The cabin is filled to capacity!! Hugs, Allison in Plano, TX USA

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