Road Trippin’ on a Monday -

The JC Fields’ Store!

I made 200 mile round trip drive to Wallburg, NC and back yesterday -

The main intent? To pick up a van load of vintage quilts and sewing machines from the Wallburg house.

It's time once again to thin the herd.

And it was a beautiful day for driving – crystal clear with just a few clouds.

It’s also the kind of trip where if you find yourself putzing along behind a slow moving diesel truck, it’s best to pull over and let that guy get WAY ahead of you while you take some photo ops of interesting local landmarks.

1888-1944

When we first moved to the area I was enamored with all of the little country churches and cemeteries – but this store has remained hidden for decades in the woods that had taken over.

Someone at some point over the last many months has clear cut the trees around the store leaving it visible once again.

And yes – that is the same Fields family – relatives of the folks who built the Old Fields' Mansion, now known as Quiltville Inn, owned the mill, the old general store on our property in Mouth of Wilson, as well as what used to be the old Ford dealership across the street.

Everyone in these parts knows the name Fields!

I was parked here – at Elk Creek Church across the street.

Next to the Fields’ store is the Elk Creek Cemetery.

My inner history fanatic envisions so many scenes of folks stopping by the general store to gather supplies, share news and friendship.  And I am wondering what the plans for this building are.

Oh the stories this store could tell!

Bringing home the 1885 Singer Improved Family.

You can see the spots where decals have worn away.

I decided that this sweet machine needs to come live at the cabin.

It's one of the first class 15 machines out there with its ingenious round bobbin mechanism.

I acquired this machine in 2013 – and it has spent the last 7 years living in the dining room at the Wallburg house.  I wrote about finding the machine HERE.

Various other machines dating from the 1950s on forward also came back with me and I am hoping to find adoptive families for them through the 3 retreats happening at Quiltville Inn this month. (No, no featherweights or 301s!)

Eventually (But not soon) the Wallburg house will be sold and there is just way too much vintage sewing love and fabric pack-ratting to move it all at once.  

I am the vintage sewing machine version of the crazy cat lady.  And I know I am not alone in the fabric department either.

My plan is to start working on slimming down that house a little bit at a time.

It will do just fine right here!

Welcome home, little machine.

Of course I remembered the stack of hexie stars!

I will have 55 total blocks – if I make one more to make it 56 I can set the quilt 7 X 8 and it will make a good couch size once I get borders on.

I could go bigger – but that means making more stars and I think I feel done with them, you know?

I loved English paper piecing with hexagons.  Diamonds with dog ears? Not so much.  But I got this far, and setting them on the string blocks will see me through.

Today’s agenda? 

It’s already been a busy one -

I can never say no to pancakes on the porch!

And, Oh Zoey!

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On the agenda today is a podcast I’m recording with Quiltmaker Magazine, and around that all of the usuals that keep things going here.

My cleaning gal comes today to start the sanitation on the inn for the next round of retreaters that arrive on Thursday.

I hope to find time to prep some more string blocks for some hand stitching tonight!

How is Tuesday shaping up for you?

Quiltville Quote of the Day -

Feelings aren't facts, and they can play tricks on you.

Be willing to dig deeper, to find reasons, to do some research on your own.

We can't help what we feel, but knowing some real answers helps put things in better perspective.

And EVERYTHING looks better with bright yellow sashings!

Have a lovely Tuesday, friends!