My new toy, 1975 White sewing machine and table

White model 426 w/table (circa 1975) = $25

Today I found a 1975, White sewing machine and table on Craigslist for $25.00.  It was his mothers (who has passed) and has been sitting in his garage for years.  Since it was his mothers he didn't know if the machine worked but did have all the parts.  I was fine with that because what I really wanted was the table and the machine was just a bonus.

So when we got there he already had it loaded in the back of his truck to take to the dump, gasp!  I quickly jumped in the truck to look at it.  My main concern was whether or not it was sturdy enough to hold the sewing machine my hubby got me for Valentine's Day.  It took me all of 2 seconds to say yes and hand him the money.   I am so happy I found this and even though my husband said I should haggle (thought I could get it for less since he was just going to take it to the dump), I know it was a smoking deal and couldn't bring myself to ask him to take less.  Especially when I would have paid more but don't tell my husband.

 Anyway, I also got all the goodies his mother left in the drawers.  Yarn, ribbon, lots of thread, needles of all types, little flowers, velcro, string, lace, and thats just what I can think of.  I couldn't wait to get it home, clean it up and take it for a spin.  It took me some time and reading of the manual (oh yeah, one more thing that was in the drawers and thankful because it sells on the internet for almost $10) but to my delight it works.  I just tried a few quick stitches because I wanted to finish cleaning it up and move it into my new craft room.  I will give it a better workout tonight if I have time or tomorrow after church.  Im so excited to have a second machine and even more excited to have a sewing table.  I think I'm most excited about the price.  

Drawers filled with oodles of great stuff!

What the table looks like all closed up.

All four drawers with all the bonus goodies!

Chloe, the new sewing machine, and a cool hidden spool holder.

Spring Cleaning

Today I started cleaning out 2 of our bedrooms.  Started with the little girls room (it was a huge disaster) and have 2 big bags of toys to take to goodwill.  Sadly Im still not done but needed a change of scenery so I will try to finish it up in the next few days.  Now Im cleaning my room (that I share with Orange Jeep Dad, my husband), underbed (we use it as storage), going through the drawers and next I might tackle the closet.  Mind you with 6 kids, me and orange jeep dad in a 4 bedroom house 5 of us share my not so big walk in closet.  It feels good to purge and get rid of the clutter (junk really or things we have grown out of), makes this mom happy to have a clean house, well I hope to have a clean, organized house before my 10 and 11 yr olds go back to school in a week.  So we are off to a good start!

AB's Cosmo Bag

Cosmo bag

I bought the AB Style Stitches book about two weeks ago and just finished my first bag.  Let me take you back and give a little history.....I just got my sewing machine in mid February (my wonderful husband got it for me for Valentines day) and had little experience, well none really, unless you count 7th and 8th grade home economics.

Picture of inside my bag.

Since then I have made my girls skirts, little felt birthday bags, working on peek a boo bags and more.  Now it brings us back to my bag, AB considered it an easy pattern but for a newbie like me it was a little more challenging.  Some of her verbiage is hard to decode and I was very grateful for Jem Jam's sew along, her pictures were helpful.  I so wish I had someone to talk with and ask questions because the exterior side pockets did not have a great directions.

I had to use trial and error and Im still not sure if I did it correctly but I was getting flustered so I just went with what I had.  I did get it finished and Im very happy with the ending result.  Feel free to ask any questions and I will try to help, keep in mind Im not an expert by any means.