Trip Goodies, etc!

I went on a 2 week trip.  What a great trip!  I started off by visiting a friend in Texarkana.  What a great few days we had!  When I was there, I saw a lovely 1940's buffet that she was selling.  Guess what came home with me?

1940's buffet

I had a great desk in that corner, but, the desk didn't have any storage, just a few tiny drawers.  Everything was stacked under the desk.  It was very 'crowded' on that desk. 

desk that was in that corner

Here is the cute desk, empty.  I'll have to find a new owner for this desk, since I don't have room for it. 

empty desk

What an improvement now....

new space

I still have room in the buffet for more storage.  This area will be a 'work in progress' for a bit, till I decide what I want out and what I want hidden.

Next, I visited my aunt and uncle, along with my cousin, her son, and all of his family.  Oops!  I kept forgetting to take pictures. 

The reason for the trip was to be at my step father's 80th birthday party!  I was his 'surprise' guest.  Boy was he surprised, when I walked in!  I don't know how it was still a secret from him, since most everyone else in my hometown knew I was coming (mom, in laws, BFF of 40 years, brother & family.....).

mom and Melvin, the birthday boy

I visited friends in Tulsa, on the way home.  What a great trip!

Of course, I visited a few shops on the trip.....Can't miss out on the shopping!  I was really good, and didn't get much this time.

sewing thread holder, tiny painted iron and vintage sewing box

vintage hankies and cute wooden shoe

just a few pieces of fabric, and a vintage needle threader

I think these are button hole scissors

a few patterns

a baggie stuffed with doilies

a couple of cute pot holders

vintage magazine and crossstitch

small table topper that matches my aqua machine

I did get some big scores, too!  I found a jumbo ziplock bag full of pre-cuts for $5.  Of course I grabbed it.  All but one piece of fabric came from Hancock Fabrics (sadly, now closed).

pre-cuts for $5 total

I also found a couple of quilts.  The first one I found in Little Rock.  Yes, it is pink (not my favorite color) BUT, if you look closely, you'll see why I had to have it.  TEAPOTS!

teapot fabric

signed on the back

And, my biggest score was a vintage quilt at a garage sale in Tulsa, only a couple of blocks from where we used to live.  I didn't even open the quilt until I got home. I just saw the corners. 

price tag I saw

corner I saw

what I saw when I got home

Someone had put a new binding on this, but, it's not a good binding.  I'll be replacing it when I can find material in one of the colors that is in the quilt (maybe the green).  Other than a few small stains, it is in great shape!  All hand pieced and hand quilted.  This is a large quilt (at least full sized).

When I got home, there was a package waiting for me.  I had participated in a HST exchange with Treadle On.  These are the blocks I made, sitting on the machines that I made them with.

2 sets of HST's

other 2 sets of HST's

These are the blocks I received.  Sorry, I haven't had time to set them out, so, you can't see them very well.  They are grouped by 'maker' (9 different makers). 

first 2 sets

2nd 2 sets

I have more of these, from other exchanges with Treadle On, and with different TOGA (Treadle On Gathering and Academy) groups.  Now to finally put them together into a quilt (or several).  Each block is 6.5" and is signed with the exchange it is from, the maker and their location, and what machine the block was made on.  I have blocks from all over the USA and even from a couple of different countries.  All blocks must be made on either a treadle or a hand crank sewing machine. 

Last night, was my little quilt guild, Wego Quiltin'.  We had an UGLY Fabric exchange back in January.  Last night was the 'reveal' of projects.  Oops!  I forgot to take pictures of all the great things people made.  Lets just say that we had everything from quilts (duh!) to sun dresses, bottle holders, tea cup/ teabag holders, purses and bags, placemats, zipper bags, etc.  What a creative group!  Not everyone that participated could attend, so, we are all bringing our projects back to the July meeting.  Maybe I'll remember to take pictures then.

Here are the items I made.  I brought 2 UGLY fabrics, and took 2 UGLY fabrics home.  The first UGLY fabric is a Thimbleberries fabric (she was tired of Thimbleberries).  The placemats will be for Meals on Wheels.  This quilt guild collects about 100 placemats each year, to be handed out near Christmas.  We try for holiday on one side, and neutral on the other side. 

UGLY fabric is folded on top of placemats

Ugly fabric is folded on top of project bags

As for my project bags, I gave 2 away on the trip, and I have 3 of them filled with projects.  That is half of them.  Hmmmm..... I might have to make a few more project bags......

This week is FULL.  I have 2 different quilt guild meetings, a quilt guild class, and Ladies Crafting on Saturday.  That is just he sewing things planned this week.  I was supposed to be at Quilts of Valor today, but, I'm just too tired! 

What have YOU been up too?