Time Out in the Afternoon!

Look closely and you will see MY shadow across the front of this wonderful robins egg blue vintage GMC pickup truck.

Wednesday afternoon had me dropping mail off at 4pm, and realizing that the Antique shops in Thomasville NC didn’t close until 6pm –and that the beautiful February sunshine and warmth (72!!) was encouraging me to spend a bit of time out and about, putting the computer work on the back burner for just a bit. 

I obeyed.

Thomasville is only about 9 miles south of Wallburg, but I never go that direction.  Everything that it has is duplicated in closer locations nearer to me and it is the path “least traveled.” It’s been a couple of years at least since I felt the pull to wander.

But how could you NOT want to poke around in here?

This small shop is SO inviting!

The Mercantile is a block down from the antique mall, and is full of wonderful things like walls of antique clocks in all varieties, all ticking away….and going off with a clamor of bongs and dings and bells as the minutes give over to the next hour, on the hour.  A cacophony of clocks!  And it was during the chorus of clock chimes that I spotted this:

19th century “Serpentine” hand crank.

I was most impressed that it was threaded, and that it sewed!  And in the crate underneath were these:

String blocks with paper!

I searched and searched for dates on the papers underneath, but couldn’t find any.  It’s safe to say that these are from right around the turn of the century with these mourning prints, shirtings, reds and blues.  Sometimes it feels like I’m doing an archaeological dig, uncovering bits and pieces from ages past.

I left.  Empty handed.  The machine was expensive, and seems to be missing a bobbin winder, which could be a problem.  If it isn’t working, or is missing parts, I won’t be sewing on it.  And it’s too much to pay just for a display piece.  But I loved it! 

Time to go back up the block and spend the rest of the time wandering around the antique mall.

And right there, near the front entrance,

I stopped in my tracks!

Oh my.  A Minnesota A!

Poor thing…the chrome is all rusted off the hand wheel.

I was trying to quickly find out if this model is one that takes the long needles like my Davis.  Would it even sew?

The take up lever is bent at a weird angle.

Could it be straightened? Or would it break off?

The whole machine is pretty gummy, really.

BUT THESE DRAWERS!

Rams Head drawer pulls.  Oh, it’s wonderful.

This is the most beautiful cabinet.  And my mind is whirling.  The machine isn’t worth the price they are asking, and yet the cabinet without machine shouldn’t be this much either.  And do I have room for another cabinet?  Not likely.  But it would FIT my 2 Davis machines, the Vertical Feed, and the older Davis machine head which was the 2nd treadle I ever purchased “back in the 90’s.”  I do have a parlor cabinet that fits those heads, but it sits too short for me to sew at comfortably…..and I went round and round arguing with myself in my mind over the possibilities and drawbacks.

Answers came back via facebook that yes, this model A takes the long needles – the Boye #10.  Harder to get, but not impossible.  Would I really sew on it much if needles are a rarity?  

And I wandered.

I don’t need more furniture!!

And I wandered.

But it is so GORGEOUS!.

Yes….but the machine is not in great shape.

And I wandered.

And then I ran into someone who said “Hey! I know you!”

BUSTED!!! LOL!

I had a great visit with Tonia and found she had taken one of my workshops before and was still quilting, and going on retreat this weekend with her group from Asheboro.  Have an AWESOME time, Tonia!  So fun to run into you in an unexpected place.

This sweetie was found in my wanderings.

Heavily used and mightily loved, it’s worn to shreds along the edges.  I loved the embroidery stitching around each of the "Sues":

Sweet!

And this humble mess!

There is something just simply joyful about a basic 9 patch set in single Irish chain fashion with plain alternating blocks.  I just loved this.  The aqua has been added to each end, and machine stitched in place, either to make it longer, or to preserve the shredding edges, or both.

I just LOVE this.  The colors, the texture of the quilting, the simplicity, the everything.

And yet the only thing that came home with me were photos, and two melmac serving dishes that I spent a whopping $2.00 on, but they reminded me of the dishes I grew up with.

A $2.00 afternoon, and worth every penny!

Unfurling from the machine!

Dawn’s Early Light is now quilted!  There is something that I just love about removing a completed quilt from the machine.  For as long as it took to quilt it, you are only looking at narrow sections between the rollers as the quilt is advanced and advanced again until complete.  And then some unpinning, and unrolling and there before you is the completed quilt, ready for trimming and binding.

Binding went on last night!

Ahahahahaha!

And yes, that is “Raining Cats & Dogs” as one of the backing fabrics, and a blue and a bit sparkly Y2K Millennium fabric as the hanging sleeve. It's blue, it's funky, and it doesn't become obsolete until the next century! #noexpirationdate #donttrashmystash #equalopportunityfabricuser

It’s a hanging sleeve, for cryin’ out loud – not a home dec item.  All fabric will be outdated at some point, this way I’m ahead of the game!

There is a white Millennium fabric with silver 2000s on it in the string blocks on the front, so why not?

And that brings me to now.  The SALE on all digital patterns in the Quiltville Store is ongoing until my return home from Texas on the 9th!  If you didn’t hear about it, head over to yesterday’s post for all of the info.  All patterns, including the newly released En Provence and Garlic Knots are 25% off.

And that's not all! MAJOR MARKDOWNS on many book titles in the new SALE section of the store, including those by other authors and a couple of my own titles. Take advantage of these while supplies last. When they are gone, they are gone!

Remember: There is FREE shipping on orders of $75 or more within the USA using coupon code FREE75 at checkout. Code must be used at time of purchase. Not available for international shipping. International shipping rates apply.

The book sale will run until “Further Notice.”  It’s limited to stock on hand, so we’ll see how long that goes.

The drawing of the March/April 2017 Quiltmaker Bundle happens TONIGHT! Enter to win on THAT POST.

I’m headed to Houston in the morning.  Today is a packing day.  And maybe some time for binding tonight.  The THING on my face?  What Thing?!  It’s nearly gone and I’m staying the course with the antibiotics to make sure it stays that way.  Hallelujah.

Quiltville Quote of the Day!

Start the daily practice of not letting the little things bother you. If the little things ruin your day, what's going to happen when the big things come along?

So happy that the BIG THING on my face is now a LITTLE THING, and not bothering me anymore!

Happy Friday, everyone!

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