Pass the Green Beans Please!

I met a special friend today,

she is a member of the Red Hat Society,

just wait until you see where she lives!

We all have our favorite places to shop!

I have quite a few within an hour or two of my home 

in the North Georgia mountains.

Atlanta is a treasure trove for sure.

We are lucky enough to have

Scott's Antique Market - the second weekend of each month,

http://www.scottantiquemarket.com/ 

&

Lakewood Antique Market - the third weekend of each month.

http://www.lakewoodantiques.com/

But there are literally a plethora of wonderful vintage, antique and 

consignment shops, sprinkled all around Atlanta and its suburbs!

Today I had the pleasure of visiting

 The Green Bean Exchange 

located in Cumming, Georgia.

The proprietress of this wonderful establishment is

Meredith Tallant.  

( well I was told Chad and Meredith own the business

but I'm not sure if they are business partners, relatives or husband and wife...

sorry Chad, I didn't ask, so I'm not sure about your last name!)

They also have a second location about 10 minutes away which I have yet to visit!

http://www.thegreenbeanexchange.com/

You know when the outside of the store looks as inviting as this....

...there are treasures awaiting inside!

 

Love all the goodies inviting you to come in and shop a while!

I met Debra (in pink) and Helen (behind the register),

they both have spectacular booths here!

 

And why not?  

Papier Mache' green beans over the register!!! 

How Cute is this?

I love the area right by the front door and across from the register, 

it always looks fantastic and today was no different.  

What caught my eye was this

beautiful branch covered in what looked like cherry blossoms.....

 

They painstakingly tied strips of paper all over this large branch 

and then attached  blackbirds amongst the blooms!  

Absolutely charming!

We have just entered the building folks,

now we can begin our shopping extravaganza!

There is so much to see, 

I'm just going to browse a bit, wanna join me? 

 

 

Something for everyone, wouldn't you say?

Wasn't that fun?

Did you see anything you'd like to buy?

I sure did!

Quite a few things in fact!  

I had a wonderful, relaxing time, just taking it all in!

Next time you are in my neck of the woods, 

stop by The Green Bean Exchange Antiques 

in Cumming, Georgia about a half hour North of Atlanta!

What a treat!  

I had a great time shopping with you today, 

I hope you did too!

Live your life AUTHENTICALLY!  Be the REAL you!

Blessings,

Martha

A Box of Bobbins!

I had a very successful day Saturday out junking and picking!   

 At one of the garage sales I went to, 

I found 6 bobbins in a basket and asked the owner the price. 

She responded by saying 

"Oh I have a whole box of them are you interested?!"

Well YES, I almost screamed!  

I had to shut my mouth quickly as to not alarm her!

Here's what I bought....22 old bobbins and a spool!

These are larger than the ones I normally pick up!

Here's a photo of a more traditional looking bobbin

and how it fits in the shuttle that runs across the loom.

Below, is a loom from the Islay Woollen Mill 

in Scotland which began in 1883.

See the shuttles lined up on the left of the loom?

Filling the bobbins.

Thread had to be twisted from its early stage as cotton or wool, etc.

The machines would pull the yarn from the spools and twist it to make it a stronger thread, and at the same time, wind it on the bobbins for shuttle use or on alternate spools for the looms.

Spinning Mill Circa 1930 - 

John Holdsworth & Co - UK.

See the empty spools along the top of this spinning machine?

 

Modern Day Textile Mill - 
see all the spools of yarn/thread on the right?

Linen Weaving Loom from Warringston, Co. Down - Circa 1820.

During the 18th and early 19th centuries, 

this type of loom was used by weavers to produce rolls of linen.

The width of the loom, determined the width of the fabric.  

The loom was operated by foot pedals. 

Modern Day Computerized Carpet Weaving Loom

Three part brief documentaries on the hand loom

and the beginning of the Industrial Revolution 

and how it changed weaving and the loom!

Part One

 

Part Two

Part Three

 

The Lowell Girls

 

 Historical photos of child labor in the mills ...

with a wonderful bluegrass rendition of Babies in the Mills.

Every time I find a bobbin or spool out and about, 

I think of all those mill workers that worked the looms, 

and the spinning machines ~ hard labor, hard times!

Now, plastic has replaced wood 

for the bobbins and spools 

and the newest machines are computerized and air driven 

and don't use a shuttle anymore.

So I pay homage to our cottage home looms of the past and

the water driven looms of the industrial revolution and all

of the glorious remnants left behind for us to find!

So, go out there in search of textile history!

Live Authentically!

Martha