"Honey, now don't go all crazy on me, " said Mr. Pinker as he began to direct me down an aisle at the thrift store. " I want to show you something, but again don't go all crazy."
Then Mr. Pinker pointed to a shelf filled to the brim with Sir Walter Raleigh tobacco tins. "Eeeh" I squealed in glee as I began to spin around! "Jackpot" . I then looked at the price $1.00. " Wowzer! Double jackpot! " Mr. Pinker smiled and walked away knowing that I would get a couple . Well I got more than a couple, but I left the majority of the tins there. When I got home, I began to decorate with them.
I have decorated with tobacco related items for years. Many of y'all may remember that I grew up and worked on a tobacco farm. My main job was planting and helping hang the tobacco.
As a kid, I was a climber ( well, I still am) , but I would climb the poles of the barn . The staked burley tobacco would be handed up to me to hang on the poles for drying. This was usually done in August when it was hot and steamy.
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| The top level of the tobacco barn . The poles are from the farm and were hand hewn by dad. |
I shared a tour of the tobacco barns and the story of the Tobacco Grower quilt in April of 2023.
Over the years I have collected tobacco related tools from the farm and from the warehouses where the tobacco was sold.
This small collection of tobacco related items are pieces from my grandparents, like Papa's pipes, matches and pipe cleaners. Little rusty treasures from my sister have also made it in the display along with our neighbor's pipe collection. I think the Sir Walter Raleigh tins fit perfectly with the rusty crusties.
But the Sir Walter Raleigh tins were not my only thrift finds of the day. I came home with a few more treasures which I will show you in future posts.
I also purchased a large wooden hutch and a wicker rocking chair which I will show later.
Since I am on a tobacco related post, I am chomping at the bits to show you my latest little quilt finish called "Matchsticks" .
Matchsticks is made up of lots of little strips and scraps that I have saved from previous projects. It was time to do something with them.
"Matchsticks" is made up of 25 - 2 1/2" x 4 1/2"(unfinished) scraps and 4 - 2 1/2" x 20 1/2" ( unfinished ) neutral strips.
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| I used many of these fabrics in Melva's Little House on the Prairie Sew Along. |
Matchsticks measures 18"x 20 "( finished)
Doesn't Matchsticks pair perfectly with my vintage tobacco related collection? I know this junk is not for all, but it is just my style. I like things old , rusty, crusty and filled with character.
Sweeties, I guess I have jabbered enough today. Thank you so much for taking the time to see my clutter and my newest little quilt. Now I am ready to work on another. I am going to try to be a good girl and avoid the thrift stores this weekend. Hee! Hee!
As Always...
Happy Stitching and Quilting, y'all
Melisa
"A collector's heart is filled with many fond memories . "- unknown
Hugs and Stitches!!!!🤗🧵❤
Dedicated to my dear sister, Amy who was my thirfting buddy. I miss our chats and sharing our thirfty finds.
I love and miss you so much.. Love you , Amo.
🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷
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Score!!! Lots and lots of treasures!! woohoo
ReplyDeleteLove "Matchstitcks" - very cute. I bet it would be fun to make. Lots of hugs. DarleneJ
American thrift stores are a true paradise! You find amazing treasures! Hugs from Spain
ReplyDeleteYou always find the neatest things at your thrift store! Congrats on the great haul! And the little matchsticks quilts goes really well with your display. Blessings!
ReplyDeleteI love how you used your leftovers and morphed them into the "Match Sticks" quilt, Melisa--great idea:))) It does go perfectly with the tobacco tins display you've set up. My Grand-pere always was a pipe smoker --I can still smell that sweet aroma coming from his corncob pipe...
ReplyDeleteah trips down memory land--hugs, Julierose
You find such treasures, Melisa! Great find. I look forward to seeing the rest of the items in the future. Matchsticks is such a sweet little quilt and fits perfectly with your decor! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteYou must have several thrift stores in your area where you are finding your treasures. Your displays are always so cute.
ReplyDeleteYes, Matchsticks pairs perfectly with your tobacco display! That Mr. Pinker has THE eye! What does he get for a finder's fee?
ReplyDeleteHow sweet of Mr Pinker to feed your addiction, er, I mean your passion! LOL! Those tins are really cute. I love the matchstick quilt - it looks wonderful there with your treasures.
ReplyDeleteYou have a lovely tobacco related collection! I, too, love the 'older' items, esp the ones that you don't see anymore. Especially love the Matchsticks mini quilt - very nice! Goes well with you collection, too! I used to be like you, collecting as I saw items that grabbed my attention - but at this stage of my life I've downsized quite a bit and don't need/want much anymore. Trying to keep it simple for our children when we go 'toes up'. Of course, that doesn't include my quilt room.....I still quilt most every day, only these days the items I make are 'generational' - meaning, future gifts for family, babies born, weddings, etc., where we might not be here any longer. I'm really enjoying this type of quilting as it's stretching my makes in directions I hadn't gone into before as I used to make quilts to just give to others, so mostly simpler quilts. God always put the person who needed a quilt in front of me - often when I'd only just finished it! I'm sure he's ok with the direction I'm going now after all those decades of giving! I really enjoy your blog posts - thank you for sharing! Deb
ReplyDeleteYour Matchsticks quilt is darling, Melisa. Love it! I totally enjoy reading your stories and the background around your displays. Happy Friday!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great find in the antique store. Those tins fit perfectly in your tobacco display. I love Matchsticks. It makes a great table topper, or even a runner with a little more added to it.
ReplyDeleteWhenever life is getting a bit too heavy, it always feels better after I visit here Melisa. You and your dear sweet husband are very special!
ReplyDeleteLove your new little quilt but also love the tins!! Hugs!
ReplyDelete