Pleasantries & Otherwise -

Sometimes living rural isn't easy.  It's not always convenient.

Especially when it comes to health care appointments beyond the basics.

We have a little medical clinic here with a nurse, a PA and they can handle most things like my twice a year blood draws to check for things like my type 2 diabetes. 

They are good for an antibiotic if needed or basic prescriptions for cholesterol or whatever.

But when it comes to the REAL stuff, like yearly paps or macular specialists - It's an hour or more.

Which means we make a PLAN to do other things that are fun, making the unpleasantries a bit more worth it.

If it's the macular guy thing and I know they are going to dilate my eyes to oblivion and back, I plan for all of my fin things like lunching at my favorite bistro BEFORE my appointment.

I know dang well I will not be able to see anything afterward.

If it's like yesterday - for the female exam discomfort - I book my appointment early enough that I can have some time to wander around an antique mall or run some other errands before I head back home.

And that is what happened yesterday.  Antique mall time!

I was happy to visit with several double-knit quilts.

We had been talking about them over the weekend with the Quilt District gals as I have a double knit log cabin lounging on the old wooden pew bench beneath the kitchen window on the porch.

They don't fade.  They can't.  They will wear like iron and they were a whole thing in the 1970s. And they are hotter than hades to sleep under.

The ones hanging here are simple squares and rectangles - and oh, to be tied up with redheart yarn!  It was the era.

The most impressive one was the on point trip around the world shown in the top photo.

No matter how we feel about polyester now - it was what was available at the time.

And that maker did a fabulous job with planning their colorway and piecing the quilt from small double knit squares. No yarn ties.  It's hand quilted!

A similar quilt - Boston Commons.

This one was all solid cottons - small squares, perfect piecing - well before rotary cutters and fast piecing techniques were known.

Check out the striped backing!

It's hard to date solid fabrics, but this backing dates it to 1950=1960.  

And do you see the knife-edge finish? No binding.  The seam allowances are turned to the inside and blind stitch closed leaving the outside corners of the last round of squares intact.

It was hand quilted by stitching in the ditch between the patches...

Oh sweet GFG!

1930s - 1940s prints - and I love how she did partial blocks along the top and bottom edge - but the sides are still wavy following the outline of the full blocks.

I love the fabric combinations!  I bet she had fun choosing which fabric paired with what as she made her blocks.

I love seeing plaids paired with florals!

This traditional block is often called "Little Boy's Britches" but this time it's getting a girly updo in 1930s prints plus that lovely bubble gum pink solid paired with that iconic jade green solid in the borders to pull it all together.

I love that the blocks make a sort of lattice as they touch each other block-to-block.  And the dress print backgrounds are lovely.

I love these fabrics!

This is not a quilt!

It's a gorgeous handmade inlaid coffee table, and the Dresden design of crump pieces gives me ideas.

Do you get quilt inspiration from things that are n ot quilts, too?

I loved this.  But nowhere to put it.

If I had to pick the "thing" of the day it would be typewriters.  I had seen several throughout the whole antique mall and I wish I had taken photos of them all, but I didn't have time to double back and find them again.  Typewriters are right up there with vintage sewing machines.

Maybe it's because I love to think of the hands and wonder about the person who typed here?  What did they write?

In my mind I can hear the clack of the keys, the ding when the carriage reached its end point and the click of the return lever, spacing for the next paragraph to begin.

The only machine in the place!

I used to think that vintage meant older than me.  But I guess 1960s machines are now considered vintage. At least this one was older than the "touch and throw" models!

Odd thing of the day -

Or things that make you wonder at least -

Tbis whole booth was all soda fountain stuff.  SO MANY big huge tins of malted milk. (And yes, an Ovaltine tin.)

Did someone have a drug store soda fountain at one time?  They are all huge industrial sized times of malted milk.  All malted milk.  

And this was fun to see because our friend John really wanted a "Chocolate Malt" a couple of weeks ago and we had this whole discussion surrounding "Malted anything is not a thing anymore."  You can get a chocolate shake, but a chocolate malt doesn't exist in the present day.

And then we wondered why.

And then I came across a whole booth of huge industrial sized malted milk power tins.

The world may never know.

Did I bring home anything?  Why, yes!  Yes, I did!

This is not vintage, though it looks it.

It says FTD on the bottom.

My lilacs are just about to burst open!

My plan is to cut some stems of lilacs, put them in this vase, and bring them inside to enjoy.  That is - IF there are still blooms left when I return from my mom's.

Look! A sewing box cookie tin!

And it's two sided.

And when you remove the lid - you've got a tray.

Underside of the lid for the first tin photo -

Underside of the lid for the second photo

I don't know how old this one is - not that it matters.  It's about functionality.  BUT! I tend to avoid tins that have barcodes and ingredients and nutritional information printed on the underside.

Flash and I awaiting the arrival of Nola's Bonniacs -
I got home not far ahead of the retreater's arrivals. The only sewing that happened yesterday was adding a few more hexies to my ongoing neutral border.  It's not exciting progress, but it's getting there.
Today, however - get out of my way!  My machine is calling!
What's up for your Thursday?

I also love how excited you are about or  Open Window PDF pattern release and Gift-Away that happened in Thursday's post!

Did you get your entry in? If not, head on over to that post and enter!

I'll be drawing for 2 winners who will each receive an Open Window PDF pattern from me and an Open Window Color Roll from  Cotton to Quilts!

Each of these rolls contain 20 pieces 8'' X 22'' and are perfect for enhancing your scrap stash!

They have other color rolls and neutral rolls available as well.  Check them out!

Intro pricing:  The Open Window PDF pattern is marked 25% off in the Quiltville Store through 4/30/26.

String Addiction!

Create a stunning string quilt with 3 simple units! Full color photos, diagrams and extensive instruction for string piecing success!

Quilt Size: 80’’ X 80’’

I can't wait to see what you do with this one!

Quiltville Quote of the Day -

There must be at least 8 of them around here!

 
Where are they hiding when you need one??

Have a great day, everyone -