Antiquing with Girlfriends

Left to right: Lynne Hagmeier of Kansas Troubles, Docia Fuller-owner of The Quilt Merchant,
and Tara Darr of Sew Unique Creations

Several weeks ago, three of my dearest friends and I headed down state to shop the antique fairs.  Lynne Hagmeier (Kansas Troubles Quilters) drove in from Kansas, and we spent several days gabbing, eating and literally shopping until we dropped every day.  What a blast!

For those of us who love the gems of the past, this was a wonderful experience.  There's something to be said, so hard to put into words, about being around old, old things.  If only they could talk....what stories they would tell.   Wouldn't we love to ask quesitons like....  Who made you?  Where did you live?  What are you, exactly??  Who has cared for you until I got the chance to see you today?  How did you get those scrapes and gouges?  What a fine patina you have!  I know...I'm weird!

Sometimes you round the corner and find your heart skipping a beat over a treasure you've only seen in magazines.....like this Sparking Lamp.  (See my post from a week or so ago.)  Yes...the price tag is $335.00....which also makes my heart skip...not the same way, if you catch my drift.  Or...the burled wood hand carved treen bowl, over $1000.  A thing of beauty I'll just have to admire from afar.  Did you know the term "treen" or "treenware" basically refers to an object like a bowl, spoon, platter, pedistle, etc, that has been hand carved from wood?  Burled wood is from the knot in a tree....making it a  very, very hard wood.  The knot doesn't have the straight line grain you normally see in wood, instead it's mushed and blotched together giving it a truly lovely look.  How big the knot of that tree had to be in order to carve a large bowl from it!  Remarkable.

Textiles were also well represented as with this coverlet signed and dated 1836.  Only $2850!  Isn't it a treasure?  Nope...this didn't make it home with me either, but I sure did linger, and touch, and wish, it too, could tell me its story!

 

 



 We found a few antique sewing items here and there, like the handmade pin cushion with clamp that Tara is holding.  How sweet it is!

Loved the clothes and this worn and loved Log Cabin quilt.  Sure does look like it once lived on the open prairie, doesn't it? 

I guess you could say we found some treasures to take home with us.  Best part was getting to hang out with each other, share the weekend, and do a whole lot of laughing.  Can't wait to do it all over again!

 

I will have news about my next

 

Pocket Patchwork Sew~Along

 

in my next post....so stay tuned!!