~Vintage Sewing Accessories~

I have been sewing since I was about 12 or 13 years of age and I love it!  It's a passion I think I will always have.  Sewing is something that I can do for hours on end.  Well, at least, I used to anyway.  Now I can sit and sew for about 2 to 3 hours at a time and it's still just as therapeutic.  I don't know why but it wasn't until just a couple of years ago that I became intrigued with vintage sewing notions and accessories. 

In my sewing/craft room, at the end of my cutting/work table, I had stacked several old wooden crates to create some shelving and display space for some pretty things, the few vintage sewing notions I have collected so far and for some things I need when working on projects.  Most of the crates are in storage now and all the pretties and vintage pieces are packed in boxes to help simplify and stage our home for selling.  If you haven't read about that decision, you can find that post here.  It was looking pretty bare.  I couldn't stand it.

 

A couple of months ago, Mr. Bill and I were out browsing around at an antique store in his hometown and I came across some salesmen-size, mini handcrank sewing machines and some mini handcrank ones for children, some really old and some what we now call "vintage".  I love that word!  haha  I never even knew they existed until now.  Where have I been all these years?

  

All I ever knew were the little electric ones and they don't hold a candle to these, which are so stinkin' cute.  I was smitten.  I wanted one!  But those babies were expensive. Next step? Look on eBay!  Found out they're even expensive on eBay but I was finally able to snag one at a pretty reasonable price.  Woohoo! This one is a child's sewing machine, cast iron and made somewhere in the 40's or 50's. 

 

And what makes it even better is that it is a pretty shade of green (even though it looks blue in the pics) that goes really well with the pinks and greens in my sewing room!  Isn't this little thing adorable?  Can you imagine a little girl's excitement as she's crankin' away at this thing learning how to sew and make things?  Was she making doll clothes?  Or maybe a little blanket for her baby?  I think I like these much better than those little electric ones that are most likely made of plastic anyway.  What do you think?

See that little maroon-colored box?  It's a little jewelry box probably about 6 to 7 inches wide.  Petite and sweet.  I'm thinking about repainting it and adding some bling to it.  I'm not sure yet.

 

 I'm using it to store bits and pieces of crochet trim, doilies and such to use on upcoming projects.  Or maybe down the road projects.  Depends on how many other things I let get in the way first. ;)

 

I'm wanting to start a collection of antique or vintage pin cushions and found this Victorian style one. I had never seen one like it before.  The seller labeled it as an Art Noveau Spelter Metal Footed Pin Cushion.  I have no idea about such things.  But I thought it was beautiful and unusual.

Look at those sweet little birds!  I thought it was silver when bidding on it but it ended up being more gold.  A beautiful gold patina.  Of course, it's missing the "pin cushion" part but that's okay.  I'm gonna fix that!

I wanted to use some old velvet fabric but I didn't have any in my stash.  I did have some dark red woolen flannel, which I thought would work okay. I filled the pin cushion with crushed walnut shells.  Did you know that it's the best stuffing to use for pin cushions?  The sharp edges of the shells act as an emery board to help sharpen the pins and needles while the oil from the shells keep them from rusting!  That's my little tidbit of info for the day. ;)

My newest find didn't come from eBay but from a local thrift store.  Now, it's not a sewing accessory but it was a necessary item in every household a generation or two ago.  This old, rusty, REALLY heavy iron.  For only four dollars!

 

I mean this baby is REALLY heavy!  I feel sorry for the women who had to use such irons.  Talk about a workout!!  Goodness, and no wonder what they had lasted for as long as they did.  I love the rusticness (is that even a word?) of it all, especially the stand part.

And look....here's where the plug (two prong) was attached.  Unfortunately, the cord is long gone.  Don't think I'd use it anyway, do you?

 

I think I'll always be on the lookout for more vintage sewing (and household) accessories.  They have such charm and I truly enjoy having them in my sewing/craft room.  And could they be what is helpng me get my "mojo" back?  The creativity bug has really bitten me!!

 

Until next time~

~And Baby Makes Seven~

I'm way overdue sharing this with you but I've had a hard time finding the pics I wanted and couldn't get my computer to recognize the external hard drive I use to store them.  :/  Anyway, you wanna hear a story?   You do?  Great!

Once upon a time, there was a young lady (my middle child, Melissa)....

 She fell in love and got married.  Not only did she gain a husband (Jim), but she gained this...

a new son!  This is J.W. at about the age of three.  And the family gained their first grandchild!!

The grandmother (me) always called this little guy her "Sunshine boy" because he brightened her day every time she saw him.   After a few years, momma and daddy decided that this little guy needed a sibling.

 And J.W. got a new little brother.  He is nicknamed "Rascal" here on the blog.

 Aunt "Bee", who is my youngest daughter, Brittney

And life has been good for this family though the boys are as different as night and day in their personalities and have been quite a handful for their momma in that they both are quite hyperactive.  She is more the reserved quiet type.

And, because of that, momma said that there would be no more little babies in their household.

 Unless she knew that God could give her a little girl and and one who was quiet in nature like herself.

 Even so, it would take a miracle, she said (can you see where I'm going with my story?)  And she was content with what God had given her.

 Fast forward nine years after the birth of little Rascal and J.W. is now 14.  Things began to happen to this little momma that made her wonder.  Is she pregnant?  Surely not! The signs were there but surely it was a mistake.   In shock and disbelief, she told no one (except hubby of course) of what was soon to be the inevitable.

And so she waited until her first ultrasound.  She finally saw what she said would have to happen.  God had placed a miracle within her body.  She could no longer be in denial.  It was time to share the news with the rest of the family.



Rascal loves tractors and big equipment, dogs and playing with his cousins.

 It was right after the holidays.  She opted to give her parents the news over the phone since her mom had been battling the flu.  They were speechless but extremely elated!  And then the news spread to the rest of the family.

Needless to say, everyone was praying that she would have a little girl. She needed a little girl!  Maybe someone who was more quiet and reserved like her momma. Time passed and further ultrasounds revealed that at least one prayer had been answered. Another granddaughter (number three) was being added to the brood.

J.W. loves being creative, sports and fishing.

Rascal was glad because Momma needed a little girl on her side.  He couldn't wait to be a big brother and set a good example for her.   J.W., on the other hand, was on the fence about the whole thing. After all, he was a teenager now and knowing that his parents would do that thing that made new babies was just a bit too disgusting for him.

 

As time passed, momma wrestled with the joys and tribulations of new motherhood and pregnancy and the family anxiously awaited the arrival of the new baby.  Nursery colors were chosen and names were tossed around and discussed but nothing definite was decided.

Finally, the big day came!  God was good.  Labor and delivery went extremely well.   The new little princess arrived on July 22nd.

Rascal is about to explode with the joy and anticipation of helping momma take care of this new little bundle.

As much as he tried to hide it, it's easy to see that J.W. is also happy with his new little sister.

A name was finally chosen for the new baby though not the one that Rascal wanted.

But, here on the blog, we will use the name he chose (why he chose it no one knows!)

She will be called Peaches.

Welcome to our family, Peaches!

Momma says she is a good baby and only time will tell as to whether or not she has a personality more like herself.   But God is good.  I think that the family's prayers have been answered. :)

The end.

P.S.  THIS is the big news that I've been wanting to share with you guys!!  It was so hard to keep it a secret but I wanted to wait until her arrival.  We are truly blessed.  Seven grandchildren ranging from almost 15 to 23 days of age, four boys and three girls.

Until next time ~