New-to-me Sewing Maching

 My friend Karen recently gifted me her grandmothers sewing machine. 

The brand is White, which I had never heard of before but I'm no expert. 

I googled it and this model was built in 1964. It's a pretty powerful sewing machine that was popular with seamstresses. That makes sense because Karen's grandmother was a seamstress.  

There was only one bobbin, and it had a pretty aqua thread in it. 

Probably from the last time her grandmother used it. I'm sure neither Karen nor her mother ever used it. 

I had some bobbins left from an old Kenmore sewing machine that I sold at a garage sale. 

The Kenmore was my paternal grandmother's and it never worked right for me. But then again, I didn't realize you had to clean, oil and maintain a sewing machine back then! The lady who bought it at my garage sale was so thrilled to get it! 

The bobbins don't fit my Featherweight but luckily they work in this White sewing machine. 

I was able to find the manual online and print it. 

My ultimate goal is to use it to make a jelly roll rug which I can't do on my Featherweight because it does not zigzag. 

I'm so excited to have this sewing machine. I plugged it in and it did run but I only ran it for a second because it's been sitting for many years and needs to be cleaned, oiled and the gears greased before I sew anything on it. 

In other news: Rich and I volunteered at The Ronald McDonald House in Ann Arbor at U of M Mott Children's Hospital. 

We were with the Baking Buddies through our church. We made 2 dozen muffins and two pans of brownies. Then we put them in individual bags for the families to grab before heading to the hospital. 

We really enjoyed it and will be going again in the Fall. Afterwards we walked through the peony garden. 

They were at their peak last week but still looked beautiful!

That's all for now. I have another estate sale to tell you about the next time. 

Until then take care and thanks for stopping by! 

Surprising Estate Sale

Last Sunday I went to this estate sale at a condo in Northville. It's not for sale yet but Zillow estimated its value at $239,000. It's only 1,200 square feet. I took this picture off the internet because I forgot to take one at the sale. 

This small condo was really packed with stuff! But nice stuff! There was a lot of beautiful costume jewelry. 

I really liked this sugar and creamer set.

It was priced at $15 but everything was 50% off so $7.50

There were several beautiful sets of dishes. 

The ranged from $150 to $450 a set. 

This hand painted butter dish was so pretty. 

It was $10

Then I saw this painting for $30 and I saw it was done by Janisse, who I used to work with at the CBD store a few years ago. She's a local artist and I know I've mentioned her a few times in this blog.

I was going to text her and say "Hey, I saw your painting at an estate sale". 

As I continued to walk around, I saw more of her paintings hanging on the walls. When I saw that the basement was filled with even more of her paintings and drawings I started to suspect that it was her condo that I was in. 

Sure enough, I found an Amazon box with her name and address on it and that confirmed my suspicion. 

Then I got worried because normally when an estate sale is so full of someone's life it's because they passed away. So, I asked one of the sales staff and thankfully they said no, she's just downsizing and simplifying her life!  Whew! I was relieved! 

Here's what I bought at this sale. 

This silver garden flower. 

And these two Ralph Lauren sweaters. The darker beige one has patches on the elbows which I don't like so I will be taking them off. 

Total spent: $27. 

The flower was pretty rusted so I painted it. 

Here's what it looks like now.

I'm not sure I like it. We'll see if it grows on me! 

In other news: My friend Karen is giving me her grandmothers old sewing machine. I don't know what brand it is, but her grandmother was a seamstress so I'm sure it's probably a good one. I can't wait to get it!

That's all for now. I'll be back later to show you my new-to-me sewing machine.

Until then take care and thanks for stopping by! 

Estate Sale

I did manage to get to a few estate sales this week but I'm only going to tell you about one of them because the other one is not worth posting about. 

But first I'll tell you about an estate sale I tried to go to three times and didn't get in. It was advertised as a designer estate sale with pictures of a lots of designer clothes, shoes , purses and other things. It was a Tuesday and Wednesday sale. 

I went on the first day about an hour after it opened and there was a line literally going around the house! I don't do lines, so I just left. I thought I would run some errands and come back in a few hours and the line would be gone. 

Nope. Not as long as the first time but still about 20-25 people waiting to get in so I left again. I figured I would go the next day and there wouldn't be a line. 

But the next day there was still a line, shorter than the day before but still about 10-15 people so I gave up and went home. 

Then on Friday we went to an estate sale that wasn't quite so popular. 

This is the house

It's a 2,277 sq ft colonial. It was not for sale yet but Zillow estimated it at $581,800. 

There were some interesting things, new and old. 

This person was a collector of model cars. 

This was only one of several rooms filled with model cars. 

This was the banister going upstairs. 

Not a fan. 

This flag was kind of neat. 

I pressed the button and it played The Star-Spangled Banner and there was some kind of contraption in the flag that went back and forth and looked like the flag was waving! It was marked $10.

This old Victrola. 

$150

This old phone.

It was marked $95. 

This cute little roll top desk for kids. It was marked $60.

Someone painted the roll top so it wouldn't roll!

This little miniature cupboard with miniature pewter pieces was cute! 

It was $25

This table was full of small designer perfumes. They were priced anywhere from $5-50!

I opened one up and it smelled bad! I think they were pretty old! 

This fur stole was in pretty good shape. 

They were asking $50. 

This little tea set was upside down in the box. 

It was $10. I remember a long time ago my grandmother bought me one similar to this when I was shopping with her one day. I was in little girl heaven! 

My kids had this little Fisher Price Play Farm!

Awww! It still moo'd when I opened the door! $25.

This bunny was so real looking! One back leg was broken off. 

There was no price on it. I thought about buying it because I could fix the leg easily but changed my mind. I thought it might scare away the real bunnies that come in our yard! 

Here's what I bought. 

This pair of 4th of July glasses. I don't know why they just caught my eye! They were filthy dirty but cleaned up really nice. I scrubbed them with hot soapy water then put them in the dishwasher for sterilization! I paid $4 for the pair. 

In other news a family member of someone that lives at StoryPoint was telling me about a knife collection she has. Then she brought this in to show me. 

It's a huge Swiss Army Knife! It's the second biggest one they made! The biggest one is about a foot wide! Crazy!

Next time I'll tell you about a surprising estate sale I went to!

Until then take care and thanks for stopping by! 

Cheapest Estate Sale Ever

This next estate sale gets the record for the cheapest estate sale I've ever been to!

Here's the house

It's not for sale yet. There was a flyer inside saying it would be soon. It's a 2,478 sq. ft house and Zillow estimated it at $560,000.   

One side of the driveway was lined with free stuff. 

Including this grill and two faux trees! 

It was the second day of the sale and everything was marked 50% off. The house was full of furniture that was very cheap! 

Inside the front door was this grandfather clock. It was $175

This armoire was nice. 

 

It was $15!

Look at this old Singer Featherweight sewing machine!

There was no price on it. I looked up the serial number, and it was built in 1924. I considered buying and trying to restore it but I would have no idea where to even begin! 

This couch and love seat was in decent shape. 

It was $30 for the love seat and $40 for the couch. 

These two velvet oval back chairs

$20 for the pair. 

These two end tables were nice. 

$10 for the set!

This small dresser. 

Priced at $20

This small end table

Only $4

This desk and hutch. 

$25 for the whole thing! 

And this dresser and mirror

$50 for both but one of the workers said they would take $25

I liked this rug. 

It was $10

I considered getting this three compartment hamper. 

It was only $4 but it was really dirty inside so I passed, 

Here's what I got at this sale. 

This bowl and small glass plate (to put under a plant)

These crystal Christmas trees for my friend Marie who collects them! 

We always look for them at estate sales but rarely find them so I was thrilled to find these for her! She wasn't with me obviously! 

This pretty glass cross window hanging. 

This heart mug. 

Total spent! $3! The mug, bowl and glass dish were from the free stuff and I paid $3 for the trees and the cross!

In other news. We went to a bridal shower on Sunday for my niece that is getting married in July. 

This was the pretty centerpiece on our table. 

That's all for now. 

See you the next time!