Antique Crazy Quilt and Civil War Stars Quilt

Just returned home from a great trip! Found a fabulous Antique Crazy Quilt, TONS of embroidery, and a civil war era star quilt. Check out our ebay listings for more information! We will be leaving again for another buying trip in July. We are constantly searching for exceptional antique quilts, laces and linens.

Wonderful Applique Quilt listed today. Antique, 19th century from Lancaster PA. A beauty!

Authentic Antique Baltimore Album Quilt

Close-up of the gorgeous Turkey Red Fabric

I want to share an amazing find, a Baltimore Album Quilt from the 1850s.

Found in Pasadena California and sold to a quilt collector in California

My most exquisite quilt ever found!

Depression Era Feedsack Quilts Continued

Grandma remembers the first time she saw feedsacks that were printed in pretty patterns. She was simply tickled! They purchased several of the same print, and Grandma planned and plotted all the way home. There was enough to make much needed dresses for the 3 girls (very young at this time) so she picked a conservative blue and white check. The leftovers would be used with her stash of white feedsacks (that had been soaked in lye water to remove the names of the seed/feed companies) to make a new quilt. She just needed the leftover bits and pieces to fashion a beauty of a quilt!

Grandpa became used to a much longer trip to the feedstore. Grandma would look behind the front ones to see what the back patterns were, and many a time, the whole stash would have to be moved to find the perfect fabrics. She said "It was just like picking out new fabric at the general store, it took a lot of thought and preparation!"

A bit of sunshine in a life that was hard. New fabric was out of the question, but they had to feed the chickens and the hogs! So there it was, beautiful new fabric for free.  After the sack was emptied, the thick string would be removed from the side and put aside (this would end up either as a little crochet doily or added to a ball of string that would be hardened and used for a baseball)  She would then wash and iron the cotton, then carefully place her pattern to get the very most out of it. It was simply a blessing to have, and she appreciated every inch of it.

She remembers that her neighbors would ask if she had a piece of this or that, as they were just a bit short to make something, and she would share what she had.

She doesn't remember taking many of the darling children's prints....as they were too specific and couldn't be used for all the projects she had in mind. First was the dresses that were so badly needed, then aprons, table linens, and sun bonnets. Every tiny scrap was saved for the quilting pile. The more thrifty you were, the tinier the pieces in your quilt was.

Now when I look at these marvelous quilts from the depression era, I give thanks to God for all he has bestowed upon our family, and for the strength and determination that the women of the depression era had.

An American story, thru and thru.

1930-1940's Quilt made of feedsacks

This morning, I want to celebrate feedsacks, and the beautiful quilts that were made from them.

Imagine not having an extra cent to your name. Struggling to live thru the great depression was something most of us today could never imagine.

My Grandma told me that they had rations. For meat, oil, gas, sugar. They had meatless meatloaf and eggs for supper more than she could count. They made sandwiches of bread and bacon grease.

Buying fabric for a new dress was something they couldn't even imagine, much less do.  They used the white bags that the seed and feed for the farm animals came in. They worked their hands raw to remove the printed labels. They fashioned this fabric into everything that they needed, from underwear to tablecloths.

More to come.....

Decorating a Nursery with An Antique Quilt

It is fun to use a quilt as an inspiration for your vintage nursery! Make a one of a kind Nursery by choosing a bright and colorful quilt, this one is an antique 1940s Sunflower Quilt that had some damage on the edge, so we acquired it for a great price!  We cut it down to make a wall quilt and had extra blocks for pillows.

This old dresser is perfect for the nursery, purchased at a yard sale for a song!

Custom awning valance brings a great touch to the Tuscany Village style nursery, don't you think?

The ceiling is painted with clouds and finished with a charming chandelier.

Grandma

My Grandma working on an antique jobs troubles quilt. She is a master at tiny stitches. A woman that has endured everything from the depression era to cancer to losing a child. The strongest person that have ever known and am so blessed to call "Grandma"

We just returned home from a successful buying trip. We have antique quilts from the 19th century, vintage quilts from the depression era and lots of quilt tops.

We have also purchased a large amount of beautiful 1940's cold rayon dress fabric. Beautiful to touch and see! We have a nice selection of early Arts & Crafts pieces, including embroideries and fabrics.

Along with all of that, we have a beautiful fish net canopy for your antique bed, and french net & battenburg lace coverlet with pillow topper. Gorgeous hand work!

One of the best finds was a small scale tea cozy made by MARGHAB Madeira in the Iris Pattern. Wow! I had no idea this even existed and cannot wait to get it listed for you!

Everything you need to make your home uniquely beautiful!