On Friday, May 18 and Saturday, May 19, The 2018 Penn Dry Goods Market

Visitors to the 2018 Penn Dry Goods Market Antique Show and Sale held at the Schwenkfelder Library and Heritage Center in Pennsburg browse a display by one of the 24 vendors set up displaying vintage and antuque  textiles and related items.  Guests at the event could also attend lectures given by 11 experts on topics dealing with  textiles.

Antique Show and Sale was held at the Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center in Pennsburg.

            As doors opened at 10 A.M., buyers from far and near attended the Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center for its annual "antique show and sale with an educational twist".

            "This year is not very different from previous years, it is pretty much the same, but it is the sixth year we have done this," stated Candace Perry, Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center curator.

            Attendees had the chance to explore among 24 various antique dealers from the East and West Coasts whose items ranged from quilts and needlework to clothing and linen.

            "We wanted to do an antique show that is focused on antique and vintage textiles, also all our speakers present on textile-related topics," stated Perry.

            With the emphasis on the antique and intage textiles, the show also held daily one-hour lectures with eleven textile expert speakers from across the country

JoAnn Martin, left and Cindi Wieble, right, examine a piece of cloth offered for sale by Diane Cucci, cen- ter, of Shore Mercantile, Point Pleasant, NJ.

            "We have a wide variety of lecture topics this year, ranging from American Quilts to British Embroidery," stated Perry.

            One lecture topic was "American Quilts and Their Stories", where presenter Linda Baumgarten from Virginia presented information on surviving American quilts from the seventeenth century to twentieth century.

            Other scholarly presenters traveled from Massachusetts, Georgia, and New York to lecture eager listeners on the sale's overlying theme of textiles.

             "I loved putting people in touch with these wonderful textile historians, we put this together to be both an educational and buying experience," stated Perry.

            Visitors had the chance to register online prior to the show to attend the limited programs. A total of six lectures were sold out before the Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center began their antique show on Friday morning.

            "Having lectures being sold out is a new thing for us," stated Perry.

            Local vendors from Quakertown and Emmaus were also present on the first floor reception area selling pieces such as handwoven traditional table runners, chenille scarves, pillows, and handcrafted sterling silver jewelry with gemstones and crystals.

            During the event, homemade food and coffee were on sale, provided by the Friends of the Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center.

            "At the end of the day, the purpose of this show and sale is a fundraiser," stated Perry.

             The antique show and sale acts as a fundraiser for the Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center. Money fundraised through the event helps keep the Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center open freely to the public six days a week.

            "Hopefully we can do the show again next year, we always wait and see," stated Perry.

            If the 2018 fundraiser is successful, the seventh annual Penn Dry Goods Market Antique Show and Sale will be on Friday, May 17 and Saturday, May 18 of 2019.

            "I would say this event draws close to 400 visitors, it's not a giant draw because this show is a niche," stated Perry.

            In addition to the antique show and sale, the Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center had their special exhibition of Pennsylvania German Samplers open to show visitors. Exhibited Samplers demonstrated regional differences and similarities, as well as a needlework comparison by members of the Schwenkfelders and Mennonites.

            The Pennsylvania German Samplers exhibit will be located in the Fraktur Gallery at the the Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center until October 5.