Antiquing in Maryland 2010

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!