Memorial Day Weekend - Summer's Comin'!

With Memorial Day weekend upon us, we turn our thoughts to summer and all of the activites associated with the next few months.  Red/white/blue become the colors of the day for Memorial Day, July 4th, and Labor Day.  In between, we think of weddings, Dad, and light and airy summer fun.

Memorial Day will signal a shift for me from selling my antiques and treasures in local antiques stores to selling individual pieces online via eBay (songwriter57) and Etsy.  Look for some great things for sale there... as well as information about my treasures on this blog.

Here are some of my favorites, currently listed on Etsy.  Keep watching this blog for frequent updates!

Detail of Dresden Plate block - antique quilt - hand stitched!

Antique hand-made Dresden Plate quilt - incredible condition!

Pyrex Homestead Mixing Bowls - set of 4

4 Pyrex Homstead Mixing Bowls

Hand-crocheted ccotton placemats - set of 12 - great shape!

Detail of hand-crocheted placemats

Moriage Japanese footed bowl and underplate - could be Nippon

Fostoria American Water Goblets - set of six - MINT condition!

Fostoria American small plate with handles

Multi-colored rhinestone earrings - could be shoe clips, too!

Bakelite pin with rhinestones

Sears Roebuck Pie Server - Silverplate

Bottle Openers - One is Falstaff

Vintage Timex Day/Date Water-resistant Watch - WORKS!

Destino Sterling Silver/Mother-of-Pearl Cufflinks

Silverplate baby fork/spoon set

Capodimonte Italian Porcelain Urns/Vases - set of 2

Not the Same Ole Gift!

May and June are the months when many are seeking unique gifts for Mom, the graduates on our list, Dads, and bridal couples and/or wedding parties. Here are some of my favorites... all for sale in my Etsy shop - This Reminds Me...





Holy Quilting Bee! What a Treasure!

I could not believe my good fortune when I discovered this beautiful handmade quilt at a recent estate auction.  First, I was drawn to the colors - red, white, and blue, with colorful "Dresden Plate" squares.  At first glance, I thought, "This quilt is not so old... the blocks are edged with a machine zig-zag stitch."  But upon careful examination, I realized those perfectly formed stitches were actually a "lock-stitch" done by hand! 

As luck would have it, this estate sale was for a dear lady I have known since childhood.  Now in her mid-80s, she recently moved to a retirement village in another city.  This quilt belonged to her mother-in-law, who passed way in the early 1960s.  She was able to tell me some things about the quilt... that she believes it is at least 100 years old... and that her mother-in-law probably had it made and did not make it herself.

This quilt is perfection.  Every block is different, and the stitching matches the fabrics used.  The red stripping is still vibrant.  The chambray blue accent blocks - the size of postage stamps - are equal in size and well stitched.  The quilting was all done by hand, and a glance at the back of the quilt - done in a natural muslin-type cotton - is pretty on its own, with each Dresden Plate outline clearly visible.

These rare finds don't come along often.  I have my great-grandmothers' red/white/blue "Postage Stamp" quilt, and I have considered adding this one to my collection.  But if you simply MUST have it for yours, I will part with it for $400, ppd.  You can e-mail me directly, or visit my Etsy store at http://ThisRemindsMe.etsy.com. 

For larger views, please click on any photo.