It was just as well that I went on the second day. The fabric was bagged in 2-gallon plastic bags, marked at $8.00., stuffed in higgledy-piggledy. There was less to choose from (so I was assured by two women who'd been there Thursday). The estate sale woman was amenable to dealing, so I got the fabric for half price. I didn't know until I got home what treasures I'd gotten. I weighed the packages and reckon 55 yards, for $31.00.
I also got a stack of quilting books....and this charming china rose bouquet, 2" tall, no broken petals.
On my way home I stopped at the Volo Antique Mall. Bonnie Hunter posts about her antiques mall finds and I was channeling her. Look what I discovered!
This is a Wheeler & Wilson treadle, Civil War-era. Here is more about the company -- if you scroll down a ways there is a drawing of this very model. The price for this was $200. It's a beauty but I have NO place for it.Nor do I have a place for this thread cabinet -- at $1100 I couldn't afford it.
There was a nice Sunbonnet Sue quilt.
This is what I did buy, for $2.57 (with tax). It's a cotton hankie that may be WWII era. (I recently read Wearing Propaganda which is about WWII-era textiles in the U.S., Europe, and Japan.)
(I got the soldier-print silk hankie at an estate sale last summer.) 
We clutch at our hearts in excitment, but I've parted out two quilters estates, and by the pound is about the only way to do it. I'm trying to use up all MY fabric :)
ReplyDeleteSharyn in Kalama
Why don't I ever find estate sales? Good dealing, Nann! And thanks for showing the antique treadle machine, wow! I'd say you exercised good restraint in your shopping. Tell Santa you've been good.
ReplyDeleteWhat a marvelous haul. I am NEVER that lucky. Enjoy your find.
ReplyDeleteLudmilla in Maryland.
What treasures... and the treadle and thread cabinets are gorgeous. How did you manage to walk away? I would have mortgage my first born for them... lol lol
ReplyDeleteWhat treasures... and the treadle and thread cabinets are gorgeous. How did you manage to walk away? I would have mortgage my first born for them... lol lol
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your finds -- even if you didn't get to keep them yourself, the rest of us can have fun drooling over them with you!
ReplyDelete:-)
Sounds like a perfect day!
ReplyDeleteOhhhh. Is that text fabric at the bottom? You lucky girl!
ReplyDeleteGreat fabric and what a cool machine! That book sounds interesting. I bought a feedsack f few years back with WWII motifs all over it; airplanes, ships, etc., and some not-so politically correct depictions of the Japanese and the Germans.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you were sad not to get the thread cabinet and treadle. Sometimes ya just got to be realistic. Darn it. I hope you share your fabric finds with us. It'll be like opening a treasure chest when you get into the bag.
ReplyDeleteThe treadle machine is a Wheeler & Wilson #4/5. It has a glass presser foot. And they take curved needles.I have one in my living room, though I've never sewn on it. There used to be leather straps on the foot pedals.
ReplyDeleteThe one you showed looks to be in beautiful shape.
Kitty in rainy Syracuse
Thank you for taking pictures to share. I've never seen that type of Treadle before. Very unique and OLD. The hankies are much easier to store than a big machine in a cabinet too.
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