On a Driving Trip to Georgia…

Hello from Cumming, Georgia!

Yes, Georgia’s been on my mind for quite a while – there is so much to LOVE about Georgia.

This morning’s love about Georgia was listening to the lady working the breakfast area at the Hampton Inn where I spent the night.

Oh, that sweet southern drawl gets sweeter the further south you go.  It is music to my soul!

I’ve lived in the South from Texas to South Carolina to North Carolina and into Virginia since 1999, and the dialect does change from area to area – but I know when I’ve been on a West Coast trip, or far North East that things are different the moment I step off the plane.

Here in the South, it’s home.  It’s comforting.  I know I’ll never sound like this – we tend to speak the way we learned to speak our vowels, wherever we learned them.  My Minnesota twang will never leave me, but I know what I hear and how it makes me feel.

Georgia is for sweet peach tea and front porch rockers and long talks about nothing, and everything.  I’m so happy to be here!

Rest Stop Number One!

There are 2 Culvers in the Charlotte, NC area – one next to IKEA (Now THAT was a match made in heaven!) and one just at the NC/SC state line near Carowinds Amusement Park.  I’d been driving for more than 2 hours and it was time for a rest break.  If I can pick up a small peanut butter cup concrete mixer to thank them for the use of their facilities, all the better!

It was a few miles before I hit this junction that I called my son Jason to wish him a safe trip today – he is heading off to Croatia on vacation with some friends.  His first trip overseas.  I’m so excited for him, but as a mom, I wanted to let him know I was thinking of him and to CHECK IN! (Yes, he is 34.  But he is still my baby!)

The response came in the form of “Hi mom, I’m at work – what do you need?”  “Oh, nothing – just wanted to wish you a good and safe trip.”  “Okay, thanks, I’ll call you later –“

As he hung up I knew which direction I was going, and it would only take me an hour out of my way.  I was headed south to I-20 and Columbia SC – a straight shot to Atlanta from there instead of going down I-85.  Yes, That means I missed a Mary Jo’s opportunity, but sometimes sons trump all.

And In walks mom…..

I just had to.  He works at Olive Garden, and lunch rush was over by the time I arrived.  we had a good short IN PERSON visit and then I was on my way again.

Next  pit-stop!

Greensboro, GA!

Any of those brown signs bearing the words “Historic Downtown (Fill in the blank)” Will have me pulling off at the next exit.  Especially if I had never been there before.

And especially if they have shops with windows like this!

I knew this was my last  (and only) chance to stop for antique shops on this journey, I had used all of my available time stopping to see Jason, and once 5pm rolls around all the shops close.  And it was a Sunday – some places weren’t open at all.

But this one I have to giggle at.  There was a Singer 27, electric in a cabinet that was not originally Singer.  Missing bobbin shuttle, missing bobbin slide plate.  And next to it is a picture from an ad on EBay for nearly the same machine (though in “MINT” condition the ad sates) for $500.00.

Always beware the words RARE!  The owner of the shop saw me looking and came right over on how this was such a RARE machine, and worth every penny.

“Really? What makes it rare?” I ask.

“There just weren’t that many made!  This is the EGYPTIAN machine, see the Sphynx?”  He looked at me like I just wasn’t understanding.

And I wasn’t. I took a look at the serial number.  It was a G.  They made these in the 10s of thousands, and I have had 3 of them come through my life, never paying more than $75.00 for them – and that includes the treadle cabinet and all of the accessories.

I thanked him for the information, wished him well, and headed across the street before they closed at 5pm:

Ooooh!

I’ll take just a quick wander in here!

This machine was more rare than the 127 Sphynx across the street!

They wanted $125.00 and I’m not in need of it, but this is a Singer 115, with a full rotary bobbin, and the tiffany decals were in great shape.  This machine has a motor, but one screw holds that motor on and it can easily be placed in a standard Singer treadle cabinet.  I LOVE that big chrome spoked hand wheel.  Someone at some point had a pin rag wrapped around the neck, the G in SINGER is almost gone. 

The lets me know that this machine was loved and used – and I began wondering just what was made on this machine.  Beautiful dresses?  Perhaps a wedding gown?  Children’s clothes?  Maybe a quilt or two?  The wear and tear doesn’t bother me, it becomes part of the story.

401 or 403? I didn’t check – didn't need one.

But fun to see as well!

ONE quilt.  But a fun one!

Scrappy 16 patches on point with alternating indigo squares.  Some fold line fading….I’m wondering if it sat atop a blanket chest where the sunlight from a window peeked in to say good morning.

Take a look at the bottom right corner.

Evidently the pinky-red of the other blocks ran out….and our quilter has used a red/black plaid to make up for where the other fell short.  LOVE LOVE LOVE!

What’s this?

Oh goodness!

A hand made spool box!

MINE, MINE, MINE!

I snatched this up immediately. 

I can hardly wait to place vintage machines – both treadle and electric as Quiltville Inn décor.  This thread box will become part of those little quilty vignettes.  Oh, I have such ideas!

What a fun visit to beautiful historic Greensboro, GA!

I want to thank you for the wonderful wonderful supportive comments after yesterday’s reveal post.  I’m so excited.  I’m nervous.  I’m scared.  I’m hopeful.

I want to tell you that there is no waiting list to add anyone to.  My inbox was flooded with 100 emails that I do not have time to answer right now.  I don’t have the answers. 

Please join my email list to be kept up to date as when bookings will begin.  That’s the only way to know.

If you don’t see the pop-up to join my mailing list when you visit the blog, disengage your ad blocker or pop-up blocker.  I will see about adding a stationary side bar link to join the mailing list in due time, but not today.

One thing I will be sure we will never run out of:

Hahaha!

I want my mom to paint me this sign!

We are at LEAST a year from opening.  I hope you will enjoy seeing this wonderful place come together through my posts.

I’m off to meet with the Piecemakers Quilt Guild in Cumming this morning.  A Wonky Wishes  workshop day is about to begin!

After the workshop I’m high-tailing it back to Oconee, GA for a couple of days with the Oconee Quilters.

Quiltville Quote of the Day!

Make sure your message today is a positive one!

And know that you can change the direction your message is going at any given time.

Happy Monday, folks!