Estate Sale finds...

I had hoped to go a quilt show in Atlanta with some friends today but MS decided otherwise.  It takes awhile for my body to get used to the summer heat here in Georgia.

So instead my husband brought me to an estate sale.  I am still looking for a few storage pieces for my sewing room and had shown him a great thread cabinet online...

Well as luck would have it we got there coffee in hand (before the doors even opened!) only to find out the thread cabinet had been pulled from the sale.  It happens.

We did however find some fun quilts.  And it is a good thing we were early as only a few minutes behind us was a dealer who took most of what we had left behind!

This first one may be my favorite.  The maker was pretty fast and loose with the block pattern so I would just call it a square in a square framed by half square triangles with double sashings and cornerstones.

It is very scrappy!  Lots of plaids and shirtings.  Reminded me a lot of my friend Bonnie!

The binding is just the backing turned the front.  See that often here in the south.  The quilting is large Baptist fans...also seen often here.  Pieces are fairly small.  The inner block is about 6 inches...

It needs a bath...first there is a small hole in the back that I need to repair.  If there are any loose seams or holes where batting could be lost in the wash or the washing motion could do more damage I always repair first.

Second quilt also reminds me of Bonnie...again, very scrappy and lots of plaids!  I think they are happy quilts...

The star is about 6 inches...

The biding is again back to front and the quilting is Baptist fan.  No documentation that they were made by the same person but my "quilty sense" (yes, a nod to Spiderman in a quilt blog!) certainly suspects a connection!

So bottom line...we went to get something to store my quilts in and instead came home with...wait for it...more quilts!!  (I have two more to share later this week!)

New Southern Qult

Sure glad I stopped by a local estate sale this weekend.

There were several quilts and loads of sewing things!  Unfortunately I wasn't feeling well so I just bought two and got home.  I am happy with what I got though!

They were made by Mattie Clemons, a local Augusta woman.  She primarily was a seamstress but she did make some quilts.  This quilts checks all the "Southern Quilt" boxes - liberated/random pieced, large or primitive quilting stitches for the elbow/baptist fans, and used a variety of fabrics...

I love the back on this one...

For over 75 years there was a textile mill here in Augusta that made denim fabrics.  Last October I was in the now empty mill to take photos.

The pit where the indigo dyed the cotton threads is till stained in shades of blue...

and this is the "stairway to hell" as the building had no air conditioning and the weaving looms were on the second floor...

It would be nice to be able to link this quilt to a bit of Augusta history.

Fun magazines...

I know I have posted about how disappointed I have been in so many of the quilt magazines being published these days. This month however there are two exceptions: "American Patchwork and Quilting" June magazine and the new "The Quilt Life" April edition. (Both on newsstands now...go figure!?)

AP&Q/June is one of those magazines that I will most likely put whole into the inspiration file. Lots of quilts I'd like to try, an interesting interview with Minick and Simpson, and an article on thread-making that the nerd in me loves. (I admit to loving the shows "Mythbusters" and "How do they make that")
I have already played with the quilt blocks on the cover. If you decide to make this quilt a few things I've learned...make all the centers first then make the outside star pieces. The cutting is a bit finicky (2-1/4, 2-1/8, 2-1/2...all a bit too close to have on the cutting board at the same time!) Also, when you make the outer star part there are bonus blocks to be had...save those little hst and you can make up these little 3-1/2 inch finished blocks. (heck I almost like the way these are coming out as much as the "real" quilt blocks!)


The Quilt Life is just an interesting mix of articles and techniques. Maybe a bit more "modern" or artsy than AP&Q but not so far outside my comfort range. I like the article "Quilt, teach, travel" that shows how Pam Holland uses photos for inspiration to make her quilts. There is a similar/companian article by Ricky Tims that takes photo quilts to a "new level." (I am working out a design for a quilt in memory of my Dad who flew PBY's during WW2 so anything on photos is of interest right now.....)

Off to watch more golf...I would love to see Mickelson win it after his tough year taking care of him wife and Mom who are battling breast cancer...then again who can root against Freddy Couples (he is in there for the 50 yo crowd!)...Westwood has worked hard to climb back up the international rankings so he will have earned it if he wins (I like hard workers...)...and then of course there is Kim who is both an amazing player and a train-wreak in the same round of golf - he could use a win to boost his confidence and it would be a big plus for all the younger players. What a great tournament...you couldn't make this stuff up!