One of my favorite things to do when we visit family in Maryland is to visit the Antique shops, of which there is an abundance. My favorite is the Emporium on West Patrick in Frederick. It's an antique 'mall' full of different vendor's shops. It's enormous and I feel like I get a look at a huge variety of old stuff in one location.
After sharing my adventure last year, a bloggy-friend Delores (aka DeeRoo) expressed great joy and admiration, adding the fact that she visits Frederick once a week! So we made a plan that the next year, we'd visit this place together. And I'm happy to report, we brought our plan to full execution! Hooray!
Tere were many very cool and exciting treasures to meet the eye and gladden the heart at the Emporium, but I thought I'd mostly focus on the very cool antique quilts we found. I hope you don't mind - I'm so inspired by antique quilts - the sheer scrappiness of them, the old fabric prints and the different designs. I loved this green and white one above and wished I could have given it a home on my couch.
This one is a yo-yo bed cover, made in the 1930's of mostly feed-sack prints.
A collection of more Depression-era quilts. The Redwork quilts were so sweet.
These squares caught my eye from a distance thinking they were pieced. Turns out it's a cheater print, but I loved it! Looks so contemporary - like something you'd find in a quilt shop today. The front of the quilt were these appliquéd butterflies that had sadly, seen better days.
These fans were made of narrow bias-like strips of fabric. So simple, but effective.
This postage stamp quilt is from the 1890's. Lots of great shirtings. I've always wanted to make a postage stamp quilt. One day I'll muster the courage. They always look awesome. (Sorry about the blurry picture.)
There were many great things to 'ooo and ahhh' at while we were there. I have to admit though, thrifting has made me a bit of a pansy about paying the antique mark-up in price.
But I did make two purchases. One was this cool platter. It's a little scratched and stained and faded and looking like, well, an antique. It was only $3 and I loved the shape and color that looks perfect contrasting with my taupe walls. I have yet to decide where to hang it, but when I do, I'll share. I made another divine purchase, but that deserves a post all to itself.
I had so much fun hanging out with Delores! She has been such a kind and supportive blog-friend. It was so much fun to meet in real life! We had a great day rocking the antique place (she makes a much better Vanna White holding up quilts than my girls did last year), eating delicious bagels and, of course, visiting a fabric store: Needles and Pins, also in Frederick.
I have had some of the greatest experiences meeting bloggy-acquaintances in real life. They are some of the funnest people! Anyone else out there want to meet up sometime, let me know!
(Which one of us looks like they're handling the sweltering humidity much better than the other?)
Dee even brought me the sweetest little gifts. A Lecien Flower Sugar fat quarter, a little remnant of Liberty Fabric (my first!) and a vintage remnant from a dress she made for her daughter 20 years ago. AND the sweetest little mini quilt. It is going on my inspiration wall above my sewing table. Thanks again DEE! You were so much fun to be with! Can't wait to do it again next year! And next time I promise to keep better track of my purse so we don't have to spend 15 minutes searching for it amid the sea of 'stuff' in an antique emporium!
John'aLee
Oh those antique quilts are so lovely! Thanks so much for taking the time to share them. Now if we only knew the stories behind them!!
Aunt Spicy
A gift of Liberty? Wow! She must be amazing! And now I must go visit that shop, the green and white quilt is fabulous!
Gaertegang
Ohhh that looks like a place I could get lost in for a LONG time!! Thanks for sharing it with us!
DeeRoo
Awwww kiddo...I had a great time meeting you too...meeting up with you was just what I needed the day after seeing our girl off to the UK for a year! <br /><br />Took my husband and his sister to old town Frederick on Sunday...it is our new favorite place!;)<br /><br />BTW....that blue Liberty is 22 years old!!:)<br />xo dolores
Stray Stitches
The antique quilts were all so lovely. I spent a lot of time at the International Quilt Festival in Long Beach, CA admiring the antique quilts they had on display. Many of the fabrics I recognized in the quilts were the same ones my Grandmother used many, many years ago. Your trip makes me want to go hit the local antique shops again!
jlk
I love Needles and Pins. It's so nice there.
DJ Rose
My husband is 30 minutes from Frederick right now. I tried talking him into going but he is at Fire school and doesn't have a car. I doubt he would be able to talk any of the other firefighters into going with him 🙂
Kelly
Yay for MD!! I'm from the Southern part (western shore of the Chesapeake) and it's even more humid here! We go through Frederick all of the time, I had no idea this little gem was there, I'll have to check it out sometime!! Glad you had an awesome experience!!
Melissa
First I LOVE your new blog look! It's awesome, perfect for a quilter.. they really nailed it.<br />I loved looking at your pictures... too bad you don't live closer, I think we'd have fun shopping together :)<br />Melissa
Lisa Marie
Oh how I could have been with you! Those Antique Quilts make me drool! Simply Lovely! Thanks for sharing.
Little Lady Patchwork
How did you resist bringing home those beautiful quilts? Funny how they are antiques but they could fit in today.<br /><br />Thanks for sharing,<br />Stefanie
Denise :)
What fun! You did see some lovely quilts! I'm originally from Maryland, and there is some great antiquing in that state!! 🙂
Nedra
The Antique quilts are wonderful. and I look forward to seeing your purchases.
Patty
Love those antique quilts,especially the green and white one ,and oh yea the fan was cool too.
AForestFrolic
Ooooh, I haven't been to either one of those...sounds like I'm going to need to plan a wee little day trip 😉 Looks like you had fun! I recently met a blogpal and we just hit it off and had the best time...isn't it fun!?<br /><br />Jamie 🙂
Josh Healy
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mille
oh, I love the white and green quilt! Very tempted to try making it 🙂 Does anyone know the name of the pattern? It's a bit like "winding ways", only nicer 😀
artisticblend
Hmmm...maybe I can get the hubs to take me on a road trip to MD sometime. I L-O-V-E the yo-yo bed cover!!! Simply amazing! They are all beautiful though. Thanks so much for sharing your adventure (though now I'm extremely jealous!).
Pamela
Amy ~ love the new look of the blog!!! (BTW, loved the old one too!) Looks fantatstic. Seeing your photos reminds me of the south and the east coast. That part of the USA is soo much older than out here. Humidity, thrifting, old things, americana...I love it all. Enjoy the last week of summer before school.
Kim Walus
Thanks for a look into your favorite places to visit. I loved all of your pictures and the platter is beautiful. I look forward to seeing your other special purchase soon.
a little bit biased
Amy, Hi! It's Amber here. We met yesterday at Wal Mart, remember? Well I was trying to remember the name of your blog when I got this registration form today for a class I am going to take from Lori Holt in September and low and behold there was your name and your blog on there as another teacher!! That's great you're teaching that class! I wish I could take it, but I'm not
Nanette Merrill and daughters
oh! the vintage fabulousity. I am starting to love 2 color quilts. The green and white is so appealing in the first photo. I wish I could see more!
mille
Just checking back here to report that I'm well on the way of making a green/white quilt of my own - totally smitten with the picture from your post here. Thank you for the inspiration, Amy 🙂 Check out my blog to read a bit about the struggles I've been through figuring out how to make it! (I'm not such an experienced quilter...)
jessica griffith
Thats my quilt! Imagine scrolling on Pinterest and finding my beloved green and white quilt on your Pin... My husband and I were stationed at Fort Detrick there in Frederick. Our favorite antique store was the Emporium too! When I saw that green and white quilt I just had to have it. It has been a favorite, and kept us warm all these years since!
Amy Smart
No way!!! That is so amazing! My in-laws had been stationed at Ft. Detrick when my husband was a teenager. Then they moved back to Frederick again years later. They (and we!) loved Frederick and visiting them there. I'm so happy to know that gorgeous quilt has a happy home!