Friday, February 16, 2007

Photo Hunter: antique


This is an old quilt hand-pieced, hand-sewed, hand-quilted by my great-grandmother P. I don’t have many memories of her although I do remember that she was very “old-country.” I associate monkey face pansies (johnny jump-ups), hollyhocks, and willow trees, and massive mulberry trees with where her and my great-grandfather lived. I remember the old barn where we kept sheep, the little short picket fence, grandpa's pancake size cookies, and his shaving kit. I remember a small house made of pebbles, peach pit key chains, and a wall of family photos. I remember that grandma always wore dresses, her hair was always in a bun, and she never smiled. I remember that great-grandpa was a tremendous teaser. The house was teeny tiny, sparsely furnished except in the over-crowded living room which was crowded mostly because it was so small and always spic and span.

I remember these quilts always in use as we grew. In fact, they were in use until my children were born and I coerced them from out of my Mom’s hands. (Bad, bad, bad daughter). It and the another quilt, now reside in a glass trunk.

The pic of the baby is my youngest in her baptismal gown that my Mom made. It was of beige linen and had pink flowers and green vining embroidered all over it. I floored my parents when I picked the fabric. I have a problem with pink. My oldest child had the traditional long, white, lacy gown.


This is the nativity that my husband remembers from childhood. He has fond memories of it and none of the numerous nativities in my collection quite measured up. My MIL didn't like it. She says it is ugly and something she picked up at Pic and Save when the kids were small. It is old as it is older than my husband so it qualifies as an antique. It is brittle. It is lovely. I used images I took of it as our Christmas card one year (more abstract and in color - not these).



This set of binoculars was my husband's grandfather's. My husband asked for them after his grandfather passed away. He has fond memories of using them when going to Padres games with his father and grandfather. We've used them to watch lunar eclipses and to view meteor showers.




I photographed this shortly after we started visiting Glen. He was a tailor on the USS Alabama. His shop was directly under the big guns and therefore he has a great deal of hearing loss. This is his sewing machine.



13 comments:

  1. Very cute baby! Although I have to say that sewing machine pictures are the ones I like best in this set.

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  2. Wow. You have so many neat stories. I love these photographs. There is something really magical about the one of your younger babe in the gown on the quilt. The hint of color gives it a fairytale quality. Love it.

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  3. hmm I've just looked again and see no hint of color. lol perhaps it is the lack of sleep that gives it a fairytale quality. It's still beautiful and I still love it. lol

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  4. This is wonderful!
    Wow...all the photos are fabulous....hmmmmm, I haven't seen a hollyhock flower since my grandmother's house...years ago. You really brought back memories for me too.
    My antiques photos have been posted. Happy weekend.

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  5. gorgeous photos.

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  6. Great photos and stories too.

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  7. Very nice collection of photos for the theme this week.

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  8. Anonymous8:34 AM

    I am still trying to figure out how to take pictures that block out the backgrounds like you do...you are such an inspiration for me!

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  9. Great story with the quilt. All the pictures are wonderful. Happy weekend.

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  10. As I read of the two different impressions, of your mother-in-law and of your husband, towards the creche (which is identical to one I grew up with), I was reminded that it isn't the quality of something that gives it value, it's the memories that encloud it. It is a valuable creche now because of his memories. I hope your weekend is great!

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  11. Anonymous6:18 AM

    Coooool photos,love all your rememberings too. And your little one was a beautiful baby.

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  12. This is a very nice collection of antiques and lovely pictures. That sewing machine is fabulous. I have my grandmother's very early Singer, one of the first with electricity. They made them with all metal parts unlike the plastic parts of today. These machines just keep going. I used hers all the way into the late 70's.

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  13. "I have a problem with pink"

    This is a very intriguing line. Some day, would you please elaborate on it?

    Please and thank you.
    'MN'

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