The main event for the day was to take in a beautiful day at the 30th annual Cranberry Festival in Chatsworth, NJ. Hitting a few yard sales in the area prior to the festival was just to be a a little early morning activity. I think I turned it into the main event! People that live in the area often find it worthwhile to hold their yard sales on the day of the festival. Last year we had done the same thing so we knew which homes to hit. Our first stop was the Mount Royal Gunning Club and their next door neighbor. I suppose the gunning club uses the day to earn money for the upkeep of the clubhouse. The main greeter had told us the previous year that he was the former mayor of Clementon, NJ.
Then I got so excited that I can't remember if it was at the gunning club or at their neighbor's place but a man was getting out two vintage sewing machines. I blurted out, "How much?" I think he said 3 dollars for the desirable Singer Featherweight machine. Then I asked about the other Sears machine and he said both for 8 dollars. I said, "I'll take them." I did not ask if they worked. Old black machines with golden decals just speak to me. When I got home I found out that the Singer Featherweight worked great. On Ebay these machines go for $250 up to around 600! Quilters love them. The other machine was missing the bobbin case and bobbin. I found a site that sold vintage sewing parts and for 25 dollars I hope to get the other one working---new bobbin case, bobbin, and a new drive belt.
I think before I left I purchased a slickly finished bald cypress "knee" Don't know where the "knee" came from but the woodworker's name was Ed Waugh. There are a few bald cypress trees growing in swampy areas of New Jersey but many people think they were planted there and not native to the area.
We then headed for route 532. At one homestead I spied two pillows with "molas". I recognized the unique quilting from the South American Kuna Indians. My son had two of these quilted designs framed after his trip to Panama a few years ago. The bold designs often feature animals like lizards, eagles and turtles. These pillows were a bit soiled but in good shape. I took them home and de-constructed the pillows and washed the quilted piece and they came out looking as bright as the day they were made. Now I will frame them myself instead of paying a professional framer like my son had done:
Washed and ready for framing:
I could not resist these yard sale purchases:
I have craft plans for these natural sponges:
So then we went to the festival. You can always count on South American or Mexican vendors selling 60's styled striped hooded pullovers, blankets, scarves, and wool sweaters. But one vendor had a additional draw as a musician. He had a mike and was outstanding on the natural reed pan flute and traditional reed flute. Patrons could purchase these flutes and also cd's of his music.
A true Piney enjoying the festival:
I also purchased "Jersey Fresh" hot pepper jam and blueberry preserves.
Not a great bargain because a similar bag was bought from a China town vendor in New York for $10 but I paid $18:
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