Library Envy

 
 
I have a wonderful local library.  It never disappoints, but the modern structure can't compete with the North Adams Public Library in MA.  The mansion was the home of Sanford and Eliza Blackinton from 1869 thru 1896.  In 1897 the mansion was purchased by the city for the public library and opened the following year. 
 
Wouldn't you love to checkout a book and settle in the parlor to read the first few chapters? 
 
 

 Libraries are great places to visit on your travels!

How cool are these stacks!

 



 

 Just up the road I ran into another sweet library - the Gilbert Hart Library in Wallingford, Vermont.  The library was given to the Town of Wallingford on July 25, 1894 by Gilbert Hart.  It is built in the Neo-Classical style.  The foundation and lower walls are rock-faced blue marble and the upper walls are terra-cotta buff brick.
 

 

 

 
Another great parlor for reading!
 

The view looking out the front windows in the children's room.

A close-up of the front exterior.

 

 

 I've found some great Halloween inspired photos to share from my recent travels to Charleston, SC; Stow, VT and Deerfield, MA.  All the tombstone art is from the 19th century.

 

 

 

The sun wasn't co-operating, but this one was very cool.

 

And so you don't feel cheated by no quilt content (and as a reward for sticking with me 'til the end), I spied this sweet string star crib quilt in an antique shop stop.  Sorry to say it didn't come home with me.

 

 

 

H a p p y   H a l l o w e e n ! ! !

Sundew

On the way to the AQSG seminar in Charleston, I stopped at the Lexington County Museum (SC).  The applique quilt at left was a show stopper as you entered the quilt display room.  The applique quilt to the right in the following photo seems to be a more primitive rendering of the same design.   Notice the quilt hanging on the left - this quilt was made by two sisters with obvious difference of opinion on design choice.

The same applique design was on display at the Charleston Museum.  The placard at the museum identified the design as Sundew, a carnivorous plant.  The design appears to be indigenous to Lexington County, South Carolina.  My pic from the Charleston Museum is blurry due to the glass barrier, but want to include for your comparison.

I've recently been collecting some older quilts that have asked to come home with me - this is a new endeavour for me.  The following Bear's Paw quilt was a BD present to myself.  How can you abandon an old quilt, unloved, in a drafty antique mall?  This quilt whispered 'Halloween' to me - I was sold!

Jan and I are doing a 'pick up' from the quilter next week.  I have another for 'drop off'.  Chipping away at the long list!

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Anyone else having trouble with Blogger?  Finally had to use an alternate browser.  I still can't update the 'On the Nightstand' section and Jan can't upload pics.