I took in a flea market this week in southeast Nebraska. I love checking out anything related to quilting or sewing. Only a select few things come home with me, but I take photos of most items.

This was my favorite quilt of the day. It was in poor condition with huge rips where the fabric had worn badly, but the blocks were huge and it was so happy and effusively joyous that I wish I’d bought it and tried to repair it. It was marked $35 so I probably could have bought it for $25. My friend Mary is a real sharp cookie when it comes time to wheel and deal. I usually have her do the negotiating.

This quilt of rectangles was interesting. The prints are all vintage barkcloth.

I own a huge pile of barkcloth because I love the texture. Mostly I find that it was used in old drapes. I might have to try a quilt like this.

We found a whole box of doll clothes, in which were several doll-sized patchwork aprons. Mary bought one for a friend who gives a program on aprons and I know she’ll love it.

I was partial to this one with the rickrack. I use rickrack whenever possible because I think it’s charming.

This quilt wasn’t for sale but the vendor said I wasn’t the first person to photograph it. I was intrigued because 1. It’s a string quilt and…

2. It’s reverse applique and 3. It was done by machine. So unique! Might need to take this idea and run with it.

Vintage spools are always fun. I wonder how many trees were used up on wooden spools before they went to styrofoam and then plastic. They don’t seem to be much in demand—we can hardly give them away at a garage sale I help with each year.

This little box was about 3″ x 4″. It says “Needles” in pretty script on the top.

Inside were spools of thread in many colors. On the bottom of the lid is a strap. A little needlebook slips under the strap for safekeeping. Just $7 but I left it behind.

I’m always attracted to vintage redwork. This little Dutch couple looks up at an early airplane. Aren’t they sweet?

A crinkle-finish blackside Singer would be nice to own, but I didn’t get it. I already had three other sewing machines in the pickup. You just can’t save them all.

This quilt was in good condition, and I don’t remember ever seeing these lily-type blocks in a configuration like this.

I’ll have to look it up in Brackman’s Encyclopedia. I’m not a quilt dating expert but I’d call this 1930s or 1940s. Unless she saved fabric for decades the way we do now. Then it could be, maybe, 1980s!

Oh I was tempted, so tempted, by this basket quilt with lots of beautiful antique indigo fabrics. So lovely.

That’s enough for one day. We had a great time even though it was very hot. The city park in Fairbury, Nebraska is quite shady, and that helped a lot. I’d highly recommend that you attend next year. I’ll be there!

I sew on HQ Stitch sewing machines by Handi Quilter.

Take a look.