the "Start the Car" quilt

applique quilt, c. 1860, found in Sellwood, 74" x 94"

Mom and I enjoy going to antique shops together, and there's always an amusing dialogue. She will say, "There's a lot of it!" and "Hard to believe someone bought it the first time." We always have a good time with antiques.

Yesterday, I learned a new expression from Madge Ziegler, who heard it from Karen Dever.

"Start the car!" 

Karen is a quiltmaker, collector and historian who lives in Moorestown, New Jersey, where my family lived for years. We met through mutual friends in the quilting community, and I have enjoyed our Moorestown connection. According to Madge, Karen's original version of this expression was "Harry, start the car!" I think Harry is her husband.

What a hoot! The reason for learning this wonderful expression yesterday was a quilt I found at an antique shop in the Sellwood district of Portland. Sellwood has some fun antique shops, although there are fewer shops than when I first visited the neighborhood 16 years ago. I get there a few times a year, and usually don't find much. The antiques shops in Portland are mostly vintage, and the selection of available quilts is usually pretty sad.

oh look, a quilted "fylfot"

Yesterday's outing was really just to get out of the house for a few hours. I thought I would look for items with sun motifs, since I am hoping to include something about the motif in my book. The sun is really the central motif in the New York Beauty design. Before I left the house, I found a neat little Civil War snuff box on eBay.

Civil War snuff box found on eBay

I never find quilts in Sellwood, and wasn't even looking for quilts. So, imagine my surprise when I spotted this stunning 1860s appliqué quilt. That's where the "Start the car!" expression comes in.

When I saw the price, I nearly fell over. It was a steal! Without going into too much detail about that, I can say I have spent a lot more money on dinner for two than the quilt. It was really hard to believe. I was flabbergasted!

Trying to contain my excitement, I looked around to make sure I wasn't on Candid Camera, tucked the quilt under my arm, and headed toward the register with a poker face. The clerks were nice to hold up the quilt so I could get a picture of it, but they really had no idea what a remarkable find it was.

I quickly paid and left, and dashed to the car as soon as I was out of view. It was raining, so hopefully I didn't look too out of place running with a package in my arms, but passers by must have wondered why I was beaming. If something like that ever happens to me again, it's good to know there's a suitable expression for it. Thank you, Karen and Madge! When Mom comes to visit this summer, she'll know exactly what I mean if we're looking at antiques and I say "Start the car, Mom!"

More info about the design: Sandra Starley shared a link to a wonderful blog by Barbara Brackman, where you may see several examples of the motif. Click here.