The Fabricating Woman

Christmas In The Shop!

2011-12-16T22:40:00.000-05:00

We've got several trees just laden with antique spun cotton fruit, veggies and Santas

This Christmas season the shop at The Black Angus is filled to the brim with lots of antique Christmas items so I thought I would try to give you a peek - feel free to shop these photos and ask for prices if you like

We've gone out of our way to "pack it to the brim" with wondrous and special finds..........like

antique ornaments, feather trees, putz items, and so very much more

Like these darling and rare old spun cotton miniature turnips

Or this equally rare and wonderful, diminutive 19th C Dresden Shoe Candy container!!

We've also got several antique feather trees in various sizes

Aren't they wonderful?

Don't these preserved boxwood topiaries look so very festive all decorated for the holidays? The old sign is from a private nature sanctuary in Maine, the scrollwork heart was once a window grate...

This folk art cabin was recently purchased out of a house in the Midwest.........

And what can I say about this fabulous old doll dress that will be offered out of my collection for sale.

So, do stop by the shop if you can or.........

peruse the photos here and on my website...ask questions, maybe you will see something that has to be yours.......and, in the next few days, do stop by

www.TheCatLadyAntiques.com

as I will be adding more wonderful finds to the website!

Sweet dreams......

The Cat Lady Antiques Web Update. Time To Start Thinking Christmas!

2011-10-25T20:26:00.001-04:00

It's time to start thinking Christmas!! I know it's not yet Halloween but, before you know it, the sweetness of the season will be upon us. So, I've done an update with some wonderful red dresses......

and doll bonnets...........

as well as a few fanciful creatures..........

Sewing items........

Can you believe this sweet creature is an emery?

So, do stop by

www.TheCatLadyAntiques.com

Who knows what you will find........

even an

"Old Woman in A Shoe" penwipe!

Enjoy!

The Cat Lady Antiques Summer Sale

2011-07-13T17:48:00.000-04:00

I know it's been quite a while...I'm so very sorry.....I promise to someday soon get back to this blogging thing......but for right now I just wanted everyone to know that we are having our

        Summer Sale at www.TheCatLadyAntiques.com.

       Today through Sunday, the 17th

       you can take 15% anything under $450
   and
   20% off anything over $450!!

   The additional discount will be applied to those items already on sale!!

So, if you've been watching a particular item - now might be a good time to make that purchase.

   And, as always, thanks for visiting my site!

Come to the "Heart of the Valley" Antiques Show!

2011-03-02T20:27:00.002-05:00

Come to the 11th Annual "Heart of the Valley" Antiques Show in the "Heart" of Historic Bethlehem, Pennsylvania this March 12th and 13th........You'll be amazed at what you find!

It's that time of year again when I get to wear my "antiques show manager" hat. All the marketing and publicity that I've been working on since November is set and appearing everywhere. Next week I'll take possession to the keys to the Ice House and prepare the building, with the help of staff and volunteers, for the dealers' arrival. It's quite an event and it really is a "community" that inhabits this old building for those three days.

So promptly, on Saturday morning, March 12 at 9:00 AM the doors will open and our patrons will get their first "eyeful" of all the treasures inside....lots of luscious American Country pieces of all sorts: Quilts and Coverlets, Furniture in Original finish and paint, Folk Art, Children's Foibles...I've posted a few pictures from last year's show to give you an idea.

So if you feel the least bit tempted, I encourage you to join us..........sweet creatures above, aren't they?

Lots of nice primitives..................

wherever you might look!

And don't forget, early textiles........quilts and coverlets.......

And holiday!

So, join us won't you on

Saturday March 12 (9:00 AM to 5:00PM) or Sunday, March 13 (10:00AM to 4:00PM)

at the Historic Ice House in Historic Bethlehem for the

11th Annual "Heart of the Valley" Antiques Show........

And don't forget, it's a fundraiser to benefit our local NPR affiliate community public radio station WDIY so there will be a "soundtrack" to shop by......maybe even dancing in the aisles! It's been known to happen......

For a complete dealer listing and lots of info you can go to

www.wdiyfm.org/HOPV2011.htm.

I hope you can joins us!

The Cat Lady Updates on Wednesday, Dec. 8 at 7:00PM EST

2010-12-06T22:29:00.001-05:00

'Tis the Season for a "Sneak Peek" at what will be coming to
www.TheCatLadyAntiques.com

on Wednesday, December 8 at 7:00PM EST.

We invite you to stop by if you can.

So many wonderful creatures to see,

As well as folk art,

Painted smalls and a special collection of sewing clamps,

Textiles to dress your beloved poppets,

Or hang from tree or mantel,

Did I mention a few whimsical creatures?

And while you're visiting, do check our recent show and shop photos,

and you may find something there as well

that you might just have to put on your Christmas list.

So stop and linger on Wednesday evening,

We've got our eyes on Christmas!

The Cat Lady Extends Her Sale and Discounts More Items!

2010-06-24T20:16:00.009-04:00

Happy Fourth of July!

(A little early but......I've got to get this garden project done before the heat prohibits it)

So.......to that end and because the last sale was so successful,

I've decide to extend the sale and

mark down a few (about 25) more

old friends as well.

So do visit

www.TheCatLadyAntiques.com

(Remember to look for the "Sign of the Cat" and

to refresh your browser.)

P.S. Inventory reduction means great discounts on great items for you and

more stone and plantings in the garden for me!

Thanks for visiting

Annual "Sign of the Cat" Sale at The Cat Lady Antiques.com

2010-05-26T12:55:00.005-04:00

Annual "Sign of the Cat" Sale

Hello Everyone,

I just wanted to let you know that
The Cat Lady Antiques is having a sale to promote "my summer gardening project" cash flow. One can never have enough benches, herbs, flowers and stone...we all need places to linger and dream!

Many things are marked down to cost or well below, including some beloved cloth dolls, homespuns and hooked rugs.
Do check every "cat"egory. Just look for the kitty and click on the item to see the sale price.

I invite you to visit
www.TheCatLadyAntiques.com.

Who knows...I just may have marked down that piece you've been watching for a while!

Meow!
Anne

As always, thanks for visiting.

The Cat Lady Antiques Updates at 7:00PM EST today!

2010-05-07T11:55:00.005-04:00

Sneak peek .............See you this evening!

Have a Lovely Valentine's Day!

2010-02-13T14:11:00.003-05:00

I happened to be going through a box of "stuff "and found a pair of charming 1860's hand-colored prints just in time for Valentine's Day. This one has a copyright date of 1866 and is entitled "The New Balmorals". The aforementioned "Balmorals" being the young ladies darling new shoes! This print, along with the other, will be in my next website update. In the meantime, have a lovely, lovely Valentine's Day!

Miss Aurelia would like to wish everyone....

2009-12-31T08:47:00.004-05:00

A Very Happy New Year!

Not A Creature Was Stirring...........

2009-12-24T18:47:00.009-05:00

And to all, A Good Night!

More Red at Christmas......Another Sneak Peek at the Shop

2009-12-14T23:10:00.006-05:00

Just to whet your appetite...more reds from the shop.....The late 19th C doll and children's dresses (save one) are also from Sally Whittemore's estate. The apple green child's chair, the windsor green apple basket with red wool rag balls and the early candle lantern are all out of my house. The late 19th C cloth doll is from a New Jersey estate.
I'll be posting these things to my website soon......Christmas is coming.......
I'm trying my best in light of my computer crash!

Ah Christmas...A Sneak Peek......

2009-12-14T22:56:00.005-05:00

Well, I've gone and done it again......another sock and mitten tree!! This time most of the socks and mittens were purchased from Sally Whittemore's estate. The sale was held this summer st Skinners in MA. I managed to sit on them until this season. Don't you just love the tree? I can't believe I was able to do one again this year.....I just love doing them up in cloth and clothing!
My intention was to offer them on the website but then the unthinkable happened: my computer crashed in a very big and very bad way. I lost all photos I had taken of all the wonderful things I was going to post to my site. It totally ruined my calendar and schedule, and I've been trying to play catch-up ever since.
I am now trying to work on my Christmas mailing to customers which, by the way, should have gone out the last week in November. But, alas, my address book was "locked" in an application that could not be accessed. It has finally been retrieved!
I am still trying to work on the web update as well, but with Christmas just around the corner and so many things yet undone, I'm not sure when it will post.
I will let everyone know when it happens.....Thanks for your emails asking about it...I appreciate your loyalty.

Don't Forget To Shop Heartland on November 21!

2009-11-06T22:29:00.005-05:00

This is just a gentle reminder to have you mark your calendars for the Heartland Show in Richmond, Indiana on November 21. I know I've blogged about it before, but the November edition of this famous American Country Antique show is just as good as the June one. Although smaller in size (dealers are set up in only the Tom Raper building while in June they are set up in two) it is still filled with as much wonderful, quality country antiques as the June show. The nice thing about this smaller edition (85 dealers) is that it is easier to shop as you can take your time and not worry that you haven't been able to see it all.

I'll be setting up with my friend and fellow dealer, Lisa Breish of Anderson-Briesh Antiques. Lisa specializes in Early Christmas items, so we are planning our booth with lots of Christmas surprises. I'll be bringing my usual homespun textiles, as well as some wonderful painted benches and shelves from the house.......And a fabulous early New England shirred Log Cabin pattern hooked rug straight from my dining room. Lisa will bringing a feather tree or two, as well as a wonderful early putz fence.

I'll also be doing up a tree in red and, red and white, children's mittens and stockings....as well as some wonderful red doll and children's dresses. These are all recently acquired from an estate.

The Heartland Antiques Show is one not to be missed. It is held at the Wayne County Fairgrounds in Richmond, Indiana. Show date is Saturday, November 21. Doors open at 9:00AM.

Do stop by and say hello!

After A Long Hiatus, I'm Back and It's Time to Think Christmas!

2009-11-06T21:37:00.006-05:00

I apologize for such a long lapse in postings but between some minor health issues and a myriad of other demands, there just didn't seem to be time for blogging. In fact, I was lucky enough to be able to get a web update posted a few weeks ago.

I know I've blogged about this before but being a "rag" person and with the holidays fast approaching (where does the time go?), my thoughts always turn to early textiles as a very easy and lush way to transform a house into a warm nest. While bringing out the woolens (blankets, coverlets, socks, mittens, petticoats) makes the house feel warm and cozy, it is the reds that imbue the spirit of the season into our homes and hearts. I find that placing a few pieces of red clothing amid browns on a pegrack, really makes for a great display. Do a room up in all reds and add some fresh greenery and you've got all you need to convey the Christmas spirit of the house to friends and family.

I do confess , though, that I have been decorating with white woolens these last two Christmases and throwing in some reds for just a splash of color. While I love the quietness of whites and off-whites, I still find I need those reds to make it really feel like Christmas. The above photo is from the Hearland Show in Richmond, IN.

I've had the good fortune to have aquired a very special collection of red and white striped stokcings, as well as red mittens and petticoats. Now to the task of getting them photgraphed and posted.......on my website!

Off To New Hampshire for Americana Week......

2009-07-30T13:18:00.008-04:00

I know I've been remiss in my job of posting, and for that I do apologize. Life has been so very hectic as of late.......Am just back from vacation on Cape Cod and am getting ready to leave for Manchester, New Hampshire and the exciting array of antiques shows that take place throughout the entire week.

I'll be doing Nan Gurley's Americana Celebration Show at the Deerfield, NH Fairgrounds. It opens on Tuesday morning, August 4 with "Early Buyers" at 8 AM. If you are planning to come to Antiques Week in New Hampshire, Nan's show is not one to be missed! I've been doing it for many years now, and I am always amazed at both the quality and affordability of antiques that are offered at this show. My booth is in the fourth or very last log cabin on the fairgrounds.

I'll be bringing several signed tow grain bags out of my personal collection as well as this fabulous Black Cat Hooked rug that was recently featured in Trish Herr's book on Southeastern PA hooked and sewn rugs. Notice the border of doves facing each other with the lone, large feline in the center surrounded by stars. What a graphic piece.

Shows Start on Monday with the famous "Pickers Market and continue throughout the week culminating in the original NADA Show on Thursday. It's a week filled with wonderful, quality antiques and is not to be missed. One can actually get "overload" if you can believe it so our plan has always been to do the shows in the morning and go to the beach or Portsmouth or the lower Maine coast in the late afternoons and evenings as a way to "wind down". It's sort of a win/win situation: antiques all week long with the beach and museums thrown in as extra perks. We work hard so therefore we play as hard, trying to jam as much as we can into this week that we usually come home exhausted.

Do stop in and say "hello" if you do attend. And for those of you who cannot, I'll try to report on the week when I get back.

I hope to see you in New Hampshire!

A Simply Wonderful Find......

2009-05-19T20:17:00.013-04:00

I found this hair memento album at a show a few weeks ago, and have been thoroughly captivated by the charming collection of "locks and tresses" lovingly collected by the owner. Unfortunately, I do not have the name of the girl who endeavored to, it appears, catalogue keepsakes of ribbon-adorned locks of hair of family members and friends.
The album itself, is French in origin and simply beautiful to behold with an applied medallion of gilded and embossed flowers and vines surrounding the central figure on its very colorful calico paper front cover.

Inside, we are captivated by the family record contained within. On the first page, and continuing on to the second are (I would venture to guess) the locks that represent the maker's family for we have listed "Father, Mother, Walter, Emma, Abbie, Nellie, Georgie, John & Lizzie.

Continuing on we find the locks of Grandparents, Aunts and Uncles, cousins and friends. There is even a white lock labeled "Mrs. Andrews, 100 years old", as well as a lock from a visiting friend from Germany.

The origin of preserving the hair of loved ones is centuries old, and was usually done as a way to honor and remember the dead. This was mostly done by placing it in a specially crafted piece of jewelry.

Such jewelry was also fashioned into love tokens given by the living to a paramour who may be going off to battle, on a long trip or just as a reminder to be kept close to the heart.

In the 19th C it became a form of fancy work that was done by schoolgirls and young women as keepsakes and mementos of friendship. The pieces that we find today are as varied as their makers: friendship albums filled with finely worked hair pieces as well as water-color art;single leaves of paper fashioned into hands holding hearts entwined with tresses; verse-filled albums;beautifully documented family pieces; as well as those simply filled with locks of hair.

They are a glimpse into the maker's life, a document of her family and friends to be passed through generations to give the viewer a small window into that life and, in that instant, she is as real to the world again as if she were standing beside them.

I've yet to decide what I will be doing this piece, although I am adding a new page to the website called "Ephemera, Books and Interesting Paper" so I just might save it for sale there.

In the meantime, if you have not already done so, I recommend that you read "On Women and Friendship: A Collection of Victorian Keepsakes and Traditions" by Starr Ockenga. Not only is it well written, but it contains beautiful photographs of all manner of charming keepsakes, including hair mementos.

The "Heart of the Valley" Antiques Show

2009-04-27T12:14:00.017-04:00

As many of you know, I manage a small 25 dealer country antique show called The "Heart of the Valley" in Bethlehem, PA that benefits our local NPR affilliate, WDIY 88.1FM. We have put it to bed for this year, and I would like to thank those of you who made it a point to attend. For those who could not due to time and distance, I've posted these photos for your perusal...I wonder whose this booth might be......This show is a small but mighty show according to the reviews it gets from both its loyal customers, dealers and trade papers.....We have great volunteers who make it a pleasure to do and attend. My husband, Tom Kort, provides the soundtrack that keeps people's toes tapping all day long! It's hard to believe that next year will be our tenth anniversary!

Isn't she just asimply fabulous cloth doll? This year we even had docents from Historic Bethlehem Inc. who were dressed in period costume at the show waiting to take patrons on guided walks of the historic district in which the show is situated, as well as preview shows in the local museums as they were being hung!

The show itself is held in a large 19th C stone, brick and board Ice House situated on the banks of the Lehigh River. It is an absolutely perfect venue for an antique show. We get comments on it all the time.

As you can see by these photos, the show is simply filled with great American Country pieces of all types. The dealers who do the show are skilled at the art of display and transform the building into a country lover's paradise!

Isn't the costume in this photo simply to die for! It was offered sale at the show and there are still pieces available. This is another photo of my booth, so just contact me if you are interested in finding out more about any of these pieces.

This is just a smattering of what was offered......I'm getting ready to leave to do a show in the Shenandoah Valley which opens on Friday, so I'll have more to post upon my return. But speaking of postings......I've posted a small update to my website www.TheCatLadyAntiques.com

on the Cloth Dolls and Animals Page. You might be tempted to "adopt" one of the beasties I'm offering.

In the meantime, have a glorious week!

Anne

Pru Goodchurch and Flora wish you a most Happy & Pleasant Easter!

2009-04-11T19:44:00.003-04:00

Flora, adored and pampered kitty that she is, has even donned her Easter bonnet and scarf.

I've put our 9th Annual "Heart of the Valley" Antiques Show to bed for this year. Thanks to all of you who were able to attend.

Now, I can get to the business of updating both my website and blog.

I'll be updating soon.

In the meantime, HAVE A GLORIOUS EASTER DAY!

Happy Valentine's Day from "The Goode Ladyes" of Ackermanville......

2009-02-12T20:07:00.008-05:00

(From left)

Miss Magnolia Mae Murray, Arabella, Precious and Phoebe, Miss Eliza Baldwin and last, but never least, Pru Goodchurch and Flora

would like to wish you all a "Very Happy Valentine's Day!"

The verb "I love" I learnt in school,

"Thou lovest" follows next in rule,

"We love" let us say together,

Proving thus we love each other.

(found written on a scrap of paper with a ribbon adorned lock of hair, dated 1878)

May you have the good fortune to find love wherever you roam, today and every day!

Rachel (and her bunnie) would like to wish you all......

2009-01-06T22:08:00.003-05:00

A Very Happy & Prosperous New Year!

I'm Dreaming of ...an off-white Christmas!

2008-12-11T15:11:00.005-05:00

Just as much as I love reds and browns at Christmas (or anytime of year for that matter), there is something about the subtlety and softness of shades of white and naturals that give my home a sense of peace and serenity amidst the holiday hustle and bustle. The look above was used as a display at a show but ended up in my master bedroom. Homespun tow grainbags are among my favorites for creating this look and the socks (both wool and cotton) add a nice simple contrast in form to the linear look of the bags. The linen child's dress completes the vignette.

The lowly tow grain bag is one of my favorite utilitarian textiles. It was used in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries as a way to bring grain home from the mill. In a time when the production of cloth was an arduous task, all cloth was considered valuable. A farmer would often mark his bag with his name by stencil, or bag stamp. Some farmers would use a decorative symbol such as an eagle, or a horse, or sheep as a very distinctive identifying mark on his bag. These bags and carved wooden bag stamps are highly prized and much sought after today. The farmer would then drop the bag at the mill on his way to town and pick it up on his return, and the miller would know exactly whose bag it was he just filled.

In addition to looking great on a peg rack, they also make great bolster pillow covers. I just can't get enough of them. Like all remnants of Pennsylvania homespun culture they are becoming harder and harder to find.

Christmas in the Heartland!

2008-11-17T21:48:00.006-05:00

I just got back from doing the Heartland Show in Richmond, Indiana. This wonderful country show is known primarily for its summer edition when it fills all of the buildings at the Wayne County Fairgrounds. The November show is still pretty much a well kept secret as the attendance is not near the numbers for the summer, and the vendors utilize only one building. That having been said, it is just as nice a show to do and attend as the summer version. There is much country to see and much of it is very affordable.

I always look forward to seeing customers who I only see at that show, many of whom I've met through my website. I enjoy visiting with them whether or not they make a purchase. There are a few dealers, as well, that I see only when I do that show. We've come to look forward to seeing one another, catching up on our life stories and, often, purchasing some treasure from a booth or two. (And did I purchase several cloth treasures this trip! As a matter of fact, I've purchased quite a few these past few weeks just raring to go on the website on the next update.)

While the show looked fabulous, there were mixed outcomes for the dealers with quite a few not doing any business at all. I didn't do as well as I normally do there, but was surprised that I did better than expected in this terrible recession that our country is going through right now.

As you can see, I "decked my halls" in reds! That's the beauty of decorating with textiles: you can add two red petticoats or a combination of socks and petticoats, dresses, shawls, etc to a pegrack or doorpeg and..voila! you've decorated a room for Christmas without much effort. You can lay a red blanket at the bottom of a bed, or a pair of red socks on a hearth and, once again, the spirit of Christmas has entered the house. One year I even had enough red and white striped children's stockings to do an entire 8 foot tree. What a sight that was.

Many of these items will be offered in my next update of my website, The Cat Lady Antiques, in the beginning of December. If you would like to be added to my mailing list, just click on the link to my site and email me. Or if you have any questions about them now, just ask.

It really is beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Some rare and beautiful early Pennsylvania homespun linen.....

2008-11-17T20:33:00.005-05:00

Whenever I do a show, I always bring lots of early Pennsylvania textiles - especially homespun linen. I am always asked if I have any "onionskin" (copperas) and natural in a larger check. I do indeed, and always sell those pieces instantly but I always wonder why people are so obsessed with that particular color scheme for they are (actually) missing out on the rarer colored pieces for their collections such as the ones pictured here. Consider the top piece: true indigo, bittersweet and natural......what a fabulous and breathtaking runner this is! And the color combination is not very easy to

find. The second piece is a sweet chocolate and natural check cut long ago from a bed tick and made into a tablecloth. This piece was found on the oldest farmstead in Bethlehem Township, PA. The third is actually the prize and the earliest: a bittersweet (or copperas) and natural striped bed case from Northampton County, PA. When looms became more sophisticated, stripes were abandoned as checks provided more variety and color for decorating the bed.

I acknowledge that there is a color-scheme that people tend to use in early homes and the onionskin (copperas) pieces fit that decor so well. But I also advise collectors not to overlook truly rare pieces that will enhance one's collection. Adding just a slight bit of color, or a different pattern may actually give one's collection a reinvigorated look as well as make each piece in the pile look a little less like "just a pile" of monochromatic textiles that all start to blend together in the eye of the (untrained) beholder. Don't get me wrong. I absolutely adore that look. I just wanted to call your attention to the fact that there is more in the world of brown homespun linen than just "onionskin" (copperas) to collect and enhance your collection. These pieces are vital to a truly well-rounded collection of Pennsylvania homespun culture.

It's Blanket Season.......

2008-11-05T23:18:00.006-05:00

Consider the lowly blanket........Not quite as impressive in terms of complexity of design or weave as a coverlet, but nonetheless important in the history of early bedding.

Amish & Mennonite Cloth Animals (mostly)

2008-10-24T19:53:00.004-04:00

Don't you just love this collection of quirky and whimsical early cloth animals? All but the cat on the left on the top shelf and the dog on wheels are either Amish or Mennonite made. Most of these are late 19th or early 20th century and were found in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. It's become extremely difficult to find good early animals, as most that we are see are mid to late 20th century.

These gentle and beloved creatures were made by mothers for their children for special occasions. We find them as varied in construction and detail as the fabrics they are made out of. Some are rather primitive, while others reflect the skill of the seamstresses that crafted them. We find them in all sorts of condition. I tend to like things that are near pristine, but the much-loved and tired horse, as well as the dog with the blown leg sitting next to him on the top shelf could not be passed by. They are reflections of the affections of their owners, passed through time for us to see and feel. By the way, the dog's blown leg reveals its fabulous indigo calico stuffing....... Treasure spilling forth from the simple plaything of a child!

There was an excellent exhibit a few years back at the Lancaster Quilt & Textile Museum called Gentle Companions: A Collection of Amish & Mennonite Stuffed Animals. It was curated by Anne Lewis and Stella Rubin. I had the privilege to be a part of the research by being used as a consultant/resource. It was a fabulous exhibit which helped to further elevate them to the status of legitimate folk art by allowing people to view them in a different and more scholarly way. I wish that there would have been a catalogue published, or it would have gone on to another museum, but it did not.

Most of the animals above have been sold save one or two. I collect them, and offer some for sale. I make it a point to offer and collect only the early ones as they are the most elusive. I am forever on the hunt, and feel like a child when such a prize is found.

They are a stellar example of the work of the humble needlewoman, who found time in her busy day to sit and craft a whimsical being...a creation that was borne out of her imagination and the rag bag.

Some of the things I'd like to talk about

2008-10-23T20:04:00.003-04:00

As I mentioned previously, I'd like to be talking about the things that I both collect and sell, that tug at my heartstrings as well as my desire for knowledge of the past. Early Cloth dolls and animals are among my great loves. Cloth dolls are an adventure into the whimsical nature of their makers. Choosing them is purely a subjective matter- either they immediately win you, or they don't. I have had the privilege to own many in my lifetime, and am ever on the hunt for the next one. Criteria for choice is limitless. Facial features: inked, water-colored, hand-stitched, applied or none at all. Clothing: original or redressed. Body construction: homespun linen, cotton, striped ticking, calico...whatever mom had. They are as varied and original as snowflakes with no two ever being exactly alike. What matters most when collecting them is that you love them.

Over time I will post photos of various and sundry examples from my collection as well as those that I have sold. They are like old friends that one can never forget!

I'm trying to do several posting here tonight as a way to give you a sense of my ideas for this forum. I hope you will enjoy it.

The Thing About Early Textiles.......

2008-10-23T19:46:00.004-04:00

The thing about early textiles is that they provide us (those of us who love them)with a visceral link to the past. Whenever I lay my hand on cloth or sampler, cloth poppet or animal I feel as if I've connected with the maker via an impulse a century or more old that has been sent by the maker straight to my head, heart and soul. It can sometimes make the hair stand up straight on the back of my neck and make my heart jump. I can sometimes sense the depth of the maker's joy or sorrow, fatigue or energy and try to imagine what life must have been like for her all those years ago when life was much harder and sometimes the only creative outlet a woman had was her needlework. By needlework I am referring to "the toil of the needle", not that done for refinement and pleasure but that borne out of necessity - like the need for a new dress for a child, or a new pin cushion, or a new doll for a present when there was little money to buy one. I am not trying to connote a negative meaning with my use of the phrase, just trying to distinguish the type of needlework I so love as opposed to the more refined needlework of women who occupied a much higher station in life than the farmer's wife, the seamstress, the less coddled woman of her day.
It is to her and her work that I would like to devote this blog. To learn more about both the maker and the object. I hope to use this forum to explore that which I do know and that which do not, but hope to learn. Knowledge is power!