~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~