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Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Vintage Finds and Sewing Adventures

Quilting by Jeni Baker
Quilting, a photo by Jeni Baker on Flickr.
Hi There! Hope you are all having a good week so far! I'm finding myself having a hard time getting back into the swing of things.  Being away from home for those two weeks over the holidays sure did mix up our routine! Here's to getting back to regularly scheduled programming!

Singer Featherweight 221 by Jeni Baker
Singer Featherweight 221, a photo by Jeni Baker on Flickr.
Speaking of the holidays, there was quite a surprise waiting for me under the tree this year! A Singer Featherweight!! I've been eyeing up vintage sewing machines for a long while hoping to come upon one.  It is in beautiful condition, I cannot wait to use it!

Singer Featherweight 221 by Jeni Baker
Singer Featherweight 221, a photo by Jeni Baker on Flickr.
It has all of it's original accessories and case, as well as a little something extra, that tickles me completely pink.

Singer Featherweight 221 by Jeni Baker
Singer Featherweight 221, a photo by Jeni Baker on Flickr.
The original receipt!  This machine was purchased by Miss Vera Hildebrand in June 1954.  She lived in Ohio, worked as a secretary and paid $163.77 for it. That's about $1400 in today's dollars.  Am simply keeping these documents safe for now, would love to have them framed for my sewing room one day!

PS - I should probably name the machine Vera, right? :) Just kidding, Hilde! Great idea Carol!

Dansk Kobenstyle by Jeni Baker
Dansk Kobenstyle, a photo by Jeni Baker on Flickr.
Added a few pieces of Dansk Kobenstyle to my collection while in Ohio! Not thrifted, but not terrible deals! I had never seen that pitcher style in person, I couldn't leave it! And, my first piece of orange!

Vintage Sheets
Vintage Sheets, a photo by Jeni Baker on Flickr.
Did very well in the vintage sheet department while in Ohio! I haven't reopened my shop yet, will let you all know when these are available!

Fabric
Fabric, a photo by Jeni Baker on Flickr.
Working with this lovely group of fabrics this week for my next Fat Quarter Gang tutorial!

George by Jeni Baker
George, a photo by Jeni Baker on Flickr.
George bun!

Today I love the..
Smell of: Cinnamon
Sound of: Harry Potter 6 Audiobook
Taste of: Diet Coke
Sight of: George
Feel of: Warm quilt

Good Things about Today:
- Sunshine!
- I'm blogging, yay!
- This puppy video!
- It's a new day!

30 comments :

  1. Nice update - I've been searching for a featherweight myself, sadly the ones I find are out of my price range. Have fun stitching with it.

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  2. I love that you have the receipt for the sewing machine! That is awesome.

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  3. Yes, you should name your beautiful Featherweight Vera! What a lovely Christmas gift!

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  4. I would name your machine Hilde. Lucky you have fun with it.

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  5. Oh, your Singer is beautiful! how fabulous to have all of that paperwork. And your finds - the Dansk and the sheets - are all fantastic, as well!

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  6. Congrats on the featherweight! I have one from around the same time that was my grandmother's. After a little tune up by me (these are so easy to clean and service yourself) it runs really well. Just don't try using the oil!

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  7. That machine is amazing and I can't believe that price in 1954, wow!! It sure is beautiful!!

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  8. Congrats on becoming a featherweight owner! I love mine and do most of my sewing on it.

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  9. You are going to fall in love with your Featherweight. I use mine all the time.

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  10. What an awesome Christmas present! You are going to love her to bits! Here's to getting acquainted with your new friend and getting your creative mojo hopping along!

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  11. Hooray for your featherweight! I got one for Christmas too, but I got a white one in the mint green box. I am obsessed with it ;). Your receipt is awesome! What a happy addition.

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  12. Love the papers that came with the machine! What a nice little surprise.

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  13. Awesome! My machine belonged to my husband's grandmother and it's a 1948 singer with cabinet. It's so beefy and will sew through almost anything. They really do last forever!

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  14. Oh, the receipt. What a delight! I had a Singer Featherweight Christmas surprise, too. I learned that my Grandmother still owns my Great Grandmother's. I had no idea there was a Featherweight in the family!

    Enjoy yours. I hope to inherit great Grandma's someday... :)

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  15. I just got a 1939 221 Singer Featherweight with all the accessories with case AND the table it sits in...kinda like a card table. She's in working order, only needed to replace the foot pedal cord. I got it for 150.00 from a private seller. I named her "Feathy" cause she came to me like Feathers from Heaven.

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    1. What a KILLLER deal!! The card table itself is worth more than 150.00!! I had the table, but sadly, I had to sell the table. I sold it for 200.00 in the mid 90's. I recently found one for a full size singer at a thrift store. I haven't used it yet due to space issues. Enjoy your very cool screaming deal, and to get the original bill of sale is beyond awesome!! Especially to a hardcore Singer collector. My featherweight was born in 1941, my mother got her at an auction for 5.00, no that's not a typo, in 1971. I found the auction receipt recently. I will never part with her.

      I also have a 301 that I just got for Christmas from my roommate. It's a black shortbed.

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  16. I own a featherweight, but found that my Singer 301a is my go to machine now that I have a choice. Love your beautiful sheets - I have looked here and there are very few thrifted, so i just drool over yours.

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  17. Those fabrics are very pretty; I look forward to seeing what you make with them!

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  18. Lovely featherweight, I got one this summer but haven't had time to play with it yet....must do that soon!

    ENJOY!

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  19. That Singer looks fabulous! Don't you just wonder what Miss Vera sewed on that machine? I love little bits of history like that!

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  20. I am seriously in love with that top picture!

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  21. I am sure you will LOVE your Featherweight! It is my favourite machine for piecing.

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  22. Oh Lucky you on a Featherweight!!! And really ... is the bunny the cutest thing ever.. and does EVERYONE tell you that? And may I have him.. just for a bit? Bring him to market.. I promise to watch him ALL DAY.. wink!

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  23. Enjoyed reading about your Featherweight. Having the receipt makes it even more special. Did you notice that it took almost a year and a half for Miss Vera to pay for it? Amazing!

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  24. You are going to LOVE your featherweight! I have two, though I've torn the second one apart and I am painting it red:) The letter is so great. I wish I knew the original owner of mine.

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  25. What a lovely gift to find under the tree!
    I'm lucky enough to have 2 Featherweights! Tho one of them is in dire need of cleaning ~ it has a really old musty smell that I can't seem to get out. The other is a rare green (or white) one. Love them both.
    Always happy to see little George!

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  26. Love the fabrics you chose for your next Fat Quarter Gang project. Can't wait to see what you come up with. Congrats on your lovely Featherweight.

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  27. Congratulations on your new machine!! I love my featherweight beyond belief.

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  28. Yours is beautiful! I have 4 featherweights...I went through a little obsession period haha. Now I'm selling 3 of them.

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  29. Congratulations! I, too am a devotee'. I received mine in 1957 as a high school graduation gift from my grandmother who put $16 down and paid $6.93 a week for 24 months until the full price of $159.95 plus $28.28 for the carrying case was paid. I still have her Sales Contract. Nana taught me to sew, crochet and knit. My featherweight sewed all the clothes I designed in my college fashion program, my wedding gown in 1961, and most of my wardrobe, including gowns for galas in NY, Paris, London and Philadelphia. It was one of the few items I took with me when I ran away from home in the 70's. It sewed my first niece's wedding gown and maid of honor gowns in Coral Gables FL and my second niece's gown for her garden wedding in Las Vegas.
    She is well traveled and well cared for and has only been in the shop once - to replace the motor belt which had dry-rotted. She continues to amaze me. Whenever I sit down in front of her I am reminded of sitting on my Nan's lap learning to sew and I get still choked up. We are a threesome: my Featherweight, my grandmother and I.
    My very best to all of you Featherweight lovers

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