Liberty Loot and a Lovely Quilt

On Friday, we attended the Liberty Antiques Festival.

Held in the middle of a pastoral field at an old dairy farm, it features a couple hundred vendors from up and down the East Coast, selling all sorts of furniture, vintage items and curiosities.

 

As you can see from the photo, it was a ridiculously beautiful day. Temperatures were in the mid-70s and sunshine abounded. We arrived about 8:30 and didn't leave until after 3, so it couldn't have been a better day to be out and about.

I forgot to photo my mom's goodies, but she picked up a pair of galvanized chicken feeders and a pair of square galvanized washing tubs.

My husband was delighted to find a number of utilitarian items, particularly a cast-iron sausage grinder, a child-sized rake for our son, a pair of small axes, and a cast-iron cider press.

I concentrated on looking for pretty things! Brown transferware, glass nesting hens, ironstone and linens were at the top of my list. I succeeded on all counts but the transferware. I just wasn't interested in spending $30+ for a plate!  Liberty prices are usually more than I care to spend because I'm a bit of a tightwad but I kept my eyes peeled for relatively reasonable deals.

How'd I do?

Well, I found these two hens for $12 to start a glass hen collection:

This Blue Bird flour sack for my husband--who builds blue bird houses--and this unusual floral grain sack from western North Carolina were $15 each:

Destined to become pillow covers.

Three matching pieces of English ironstone for $20:

A couple yards of sweet, vintage rosebud fabric for $5:

Will definitely make some pillow covers with this, too!

A book of sheet music for $3 and pair of skeleton keys for $2:

Can't wait to decoupage with the sheet music!

A milk glass vase for $5 and nearly 20 zinc mason jar lids for just $.50 a piece:

Because I need another milk glass vase like a hole in the head...but I couldn't resist. And the zinc lids were a real deal--I saw other vendors selling the same Atlas and Ball jar lids for $1-2+ a pop.

This pristine, vintage dress-style apron for $15:

Wonder if I could get away with wearing this over jeans and a form-fitting t-shirt? It's a shame to limit wearing such a pretty thing to just around the house!

A Fire King casserole dish (lid not shown) for $8:

And last but not least...this gorgeous Depression-era quilt:

See, I'm working on a summer update to my bed based off this photo from (one of my very favorite decorating books ever) Enrica Stabile's Comfortable Country:

Isn't that photo so relaxing looking?  I've always liked it since my bed's headboard is a honeyed pine. I did a bit of saving, and splurged on flax and white linen sheets and pillowcases last month. Peeking from behind the book, you can see a white thrifted duvet I found at Nest. So the quilt was the last element I needed to complete the, um, bedscape?  Is that a real term?

Anyway, the quilt was buried on a table at a vendor's tent at the back of the festival. I just happened to spot a patch of the red, white and blue out of the corner of my eye.

My mom and I made a beeline for the quilt, unfolded it and discovered it was in outstanding condition for its age.  And look at that pattern...and border...and all that lovely puckering from the hand-quilting!

I held my breath and flipped over the price tag, hoping for the best.

$75. Fair enough. I could swing that.

My mom and I began folding up the quilt so I could purchase it, and then I heard, "I can do better than that!"

I looked up, unsure if the voice was directed to me. It was, and it was the seller.

We made eye contact across the row of tables and he repeated, "I can do better than that. How about $35?"

My mom and I undoubtedly did a poor job of hiding our shock.

I quickly responded with an idiotic, "Yesthankyouverymuchplease!"

I don't know if the seller didn't realize the price on the tag, but I didn't ask any questions and accepted this rare gift from the antiquing gods.

So, Liberty was a real success this time. We had fun, managed not to get too sunburned and I can recreate a gorgeous bedscape as soon as I get my act together.

I'll be back tomorrow with photos I snapped while we shopped of several interesting and beautiful vintage pieces.

Happy May Day!
Erin

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