In Search Of --

It felt like a treadling day yesterday.

I was feeling a bit restless.  You know how it is when your mind goes a hundred different directions and you can’t seem to quiet your thoughts?

Around and around and around they go, from one thing to another until the circle begins again.

I’m making a good ditch effort at this relaxation thing, but for a girl that’s always thrived on hyper-drive, and deadlines and go go go, sometimes relaxation feels like the equivalent of SLACKING and slacking is just something I do not do.

And I start over, telling myself – you need to relax, you need to do less, you need to enjoy life and not just pound through it.


And this is why I settled in to treadle.  A bit slower pace, a bit closer to the family room area so I could watch some interesting documentaries while the feet rocked in a repetetive motion, causing me to let the machine set an easy pace.  And perhaps, just perhaps – the brain will slow down just enough to let that relaxation set in.

And this girl watched on.

I should take relaxation lessons from Sadie.  She’s got it down pat.

Around 2pm I knew I just HAD to get out of the cabin.  I needed some fresh air, a breather.  Sadie and I took a SHORT walk – VERY SHORT.  The temp was only about 28 degrees, it barely got above 30 all day long yesterday.  After putting her back in the cabin with a treat, I grabbed my purse and headed to town.

Some groceries were needed, and if I went to West Jefferson, I could hit my favorite antique mall as well as picking up the supplies I needed for the weekend.

This greeted me at the front door!

I LOVE the artistry of detail.

They certainly don't make them like this anymore.

$125.00 and it didn’t need to come home.  In fact, I think I’ve really reached saturation level, and there isn’t anything I am really looking for or need.  My stable is full.  I’ve got more machines than I can sew on, but I still love “setting them free” by lifting up the lids and leaving them out in the air.

Bonnie strikes again!  HA!

I wish I had a place for this cabinet.

Maybe in the NEXT cabin?

This was inside.

1,000 Pyramids, circa 1940.

Tried letting this one out --

But the lifting mechanism was broken -

Gorgeous decals though, and a round bobbin.

Oh dear.  A hammered Singer 15

Tiffany decals almost gone and loads of rust.

Still $125.00?  Are people nuts?

Bowties surrounded by more bowties!

And bowties of a sweeter nature!

There weren’t many quilts to be seen, and I was digging.  But I certainly can tell you that THIS is the kind of activity that WILL relax me.  I even found myself humming and singing along to the holiday music that was playing throughout the mall.

Oh my, this has been loved until it is completely shredded.

Close up.

When I see quilts like this I am completely humbled.  THIS was all that the maker’s scrap bag contained.  I imagine a Christmas with this family, a house warm and cozy, full of family and yummy smells even if the fabric supply was meager and mainly used for making clothing and household items.  Maybe less is where it is at?

And I found some Christmas to bring home.

This little tree was in a booth that incorporated every day vintage items with a bit of holiday flair.  The little tree is decorated with rose hips, pine cones and twinkle lights and it sits in a vintage lard bucket, a bit rusty and worn.  And I knew what I needed.  A tree for the cabin.  This came home!

And a few other goodies were found as well -

A beautiful footed depression glass dish

It has Christmas tree motifs.

An iron trivet for my collection.

A couple of vintage irons.

I bought the small travel iron to replace the one I dropped and broke the Bakelite handle on.   The 3/4 size iron?  EVEN BETTER!  It’s a bit heavier, and it gets hot hot hot.  Most importantly, the cords are good and flexible on both of these.

And NO STEAM HOLES!

It passed the test run test!

and I finished up the last few string blocks feeling so much better!

Trimmed, sliced and de-papered!

These are the large string triangles for my Dawn’s Early Light blocks.  Next up will be half square triangles.

But that’s going to wait for later as this morning The Hubster and I are heading out to see a couple of cabins – one in Virginia, one in West Jefferson.  Let the cabin hunt for the next Quilt Villa begin for real.

Quiltville Quote of the Day!

There is an awful lot of hustle and bustle out there. My wander through the antique mall was just what I needed!

Have a lovely Saturday, everyone!

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