No Seriously.

Last weekend we moved into our new rental, a pretty little house on the better side of town that has room for me to bring Millie home.  At long last that beautiful machine is home.  Friday I took a short break from unpacking to give her some cosmetic love.  Quick bath and dry with a coat of Turtle Wax and we have awesome.

So encouraged by this I spent a few hours after work last night cleaning and oiling many of the moving parts and found out though extremely dirty she's a great looking machine! At about 11:30 last night we gave her a try.  Not exactly a success, but she sews now its time to figure out how to work the different controls and get the stitch regulator unfrozen.  So after that let down (yeah I was hoping she'd be easier then Sparky) off to bed as we are planning on moving more things today.

At about 5am the Hubby and I were awakened by our cat Nori howling. This is not exactly a normal occurrence but usually means he is hunting paper. Yes Nori steals paper (bills, letters, homework) and kills it.  After several months of not hearing the hunting howl my husband jumped up and hurried to find out what the cat was doing.

The awesome hunter in his natural state!

Well Nori had found my restoration kit and had stolen the bag of cosmetic cotton rounds and was standing over his kill howling for acknowledgement!  After laughing and taking away the rounds and going back to bed we were again awoken by the howling of the wild Nori!  This time he had gone back into the kit and stole another bag this one a ziplock with my scrubbies in it.  Guess its time to put the kit under lock and key! Silly Kitty,those are for sewing machines!

Happy Bornday!

Well, today is quite the milestone in Millie's life, another year older. Today is the old 66's 96th birthday.  I had hoped to have it home by now but unfortunately the space thing just isnt working yet. Soon though must be soon!
I've been thinking a lot about how much this machine has survived through. Being "born" in 1917, I can only imagine the amount of clothing and linens and quilts, etc that she has created. Can you imagine, how many hours of work this gal has probably put in over the years, how many technical advances it has survived through. Not only survived but has not been altered like so many have been. Its simply mind boggling.

Happy 96th bornday my old friend! 

Life is Good

Life is good. Recently my husband I went to the ultimate yard sale with my in-laws, niece, step kids and my daughter. Of course the in-laws arrived first, as they and the step kids live closer to the flea market/yard sale and my husband, daughter and I brought up the rear.  My daughter and I both scoured the booths and tables for sewing paraphernalia as well as something for her birthday.  

One thing I've noticed is that there are a lot of sewing machines out there in beat up condition.  We found a total of 5 machines and only one peaked my interest, but it was too expensive.  Other then that there was nothing of sewing interest. My daughter however did end up with an unusual jewelry box.

That night my wonderful in-laws had over the nieces (there are two), two of the step kids and a long time family friend who might as well be family and we celebrated father's day, my daughter's birthday and my own (coming up soon!).  The amazing thing is I then found out why there wasn't any good stuff at the yard sale... They had bought it all!

This is a collection that my in-laws have been working on for about a year, two small toy sewing machines, a sewing box and a pin cushion which has a tape measure!  I really am lucky to have these wonderful people in my life. But the one thing I cannot get over is the sewing box. It is a match for the 66.

And now to continue the search for the regular foot for the Ole 66. 

 

WOOT!

Ok my beautiful machine is running, now only to bring her home and make the adjustments to it so that it will run.  I am having a problem where there normal 66 class bobbins aren't fitting but will have to figure that and the needle thing (cause thats not fitting either). YAY it works!

Feet

So now the hunt for a plain old rear attaching foot is in full swing. The early Singer 66's were definitely odd balls according to my research.  Of course being an odd ball myself, I truly feel a kinship to this old lady.  Being different does have its perks, however finding a rear attaching foot for a sewing machine isn't one.  After days of searching online I have found two, one in iffy condition with spots of rust on eBay and a second which is a set of four feet, three of which I cant see myself using, but its a decent price, but still more then I want to spend. So now its time to start searching local antique stores!