In Search of Barbie!

Just in CASE I needed ANY justification, or pushing, or prodding, or camaraderie or encouragement ---- LOTS OF ENCOURAGEMENT ---

Imagine me, setting my last post live right before heading out the door to the chiropractor --- yes the crazy one who has contests every EVERY holiday! ((No, I did not win on the count for the St Paddy’s day coins….but there is hope that I can guess the peeps, or malted milk eggs, or some such thing for Easter! I will HAVE my chance!)) and coming out to my car after my adjustment --- checking my phone…to see there are TWENTY comments saying “GO. GET. BARBIE. NOW!”

Well okay then! The hoard must be obeyed!

So, being the cautious think-it-through type person that I am, I called the Antique Mall, just to be sure the machine was still there. The answer was “YES” and I put the GPS on “previous destination” ((Isn’t that thing WONDERFUL!?)) and headed out 80 some miles to Go. Get. Barbie.

Did I think to ask them to plug it in and see if it worked before I drove 80 some miles? Nope! We hadn’t plugged her in after finding Marilyn yesterday so I kept my fingers crossed that all would be well ---

And so off I went --- of course DH calls when I am only part way there, and he, being the smart guy that he is can TELL that I am on blue tooth speaker phone in the car ---- and asks…”WHERE are you going?!”

Well ---I told him, that I needed anothermachinethatwascheaperthananewgolfclub and that I would see him after a while. Is it possible to actually HEAR an eye roll over the blue tooth speaker phone? If so --- that explains that sound I heard coming from the other end when there were NO WORDS coming through.

I got there about 4pm. I walked in, told them who I was, that I was after the “pink machine” that they were holding for me. She was still where we left her – in the basement. I asked the clerk if I could plug her in before we hauled her 40+lbs up the stairs to the register. We found an outlet. I took a breath, held it…and pushed down the foot pedal…..HUMMMMMMMMM!! WHiiiiiirrrrrr!!!!!! She runs great! I did a quick once over ---- bobbin and case? Check! Foot pedal? check…and even a bonus:

Some very cool old Boye needle cases -----

I was out of that shop by 4:15 and not wanting to deal with Charlotte rush hour traffic – decided to walk around town……I took pictures of houses I fell in love with the day before --- Pictures of blooming trees, and oh --- it was a lovely afternoon! I think I”ll save those pics for tomorrow. There is a quilt needing binding waiting for me on the couch upstairs….

These old cases are nothing much to speak of. Usually they are pretty grungy, and look like they’ve seen better days. The paper or whatever it is they cover the wood case with is wearing through and coming off. Why did they not just leave these plain old wood??

I took the lid off to show DH just what was worth driving 160 miles round trip for ----he got a very glazed over look in his eyes. “It’s Pink” he said. “It’s PINK!!” I said.

I moved her over to the kitchen counter to do a clean up with a damp rag. The light in the kitchen ALWAYS turns things yellow, so she doesn’t look “AS” pink here….but she is a very clean little machine! I was curious to see if she ALSO was stamped “Toyota” on her undercarriage ---

NOPE! But I do have a serial number and it says Guaranteed by The Manufacturer and Authorized Dealers EVERYWHERE!

Made In Japan

Is it possible that I already feel like I’m cheating on Marilyn?!

One thing also I’m giddy over – both of their lights work! Both machines are so clean, they must have been serviced at least somewhat recently ---I haven’t sewn on Barbie yet --- I”ll leave that for tomorrow. My hotrod featherweight is going to have to go in to the shop to see why I can not keep a bulb lit in her. I’m dreading that because rewiring could end up being a spendy procedure – But I’m planning on taking the featherweight with me to Iowa on Friday ---which means --- in the next couple days I’ve gotta get the borders for Florabunda kitted up and ready to go with me.

Oh, before I forget --- some of you have asked about the wooden extension table I’ve got for my vintage machines. I actually bought them several years ago from a man who had a business on ebay and is now nowhere to be found. I heard he isn’t making them anymore --- so I can’t help you there. Wish I could! I’ve bought them in 2 sizes…one that fits the standard Singer class 15 models ((Like my Wizard, and like Marilyn)) and one that fits my Singer Spartan and the 99’s --- which are smaller 3/4 size machines. I’d love to find someone who also makes them because I’d like a couple more. If I find out anything I’ll post it so you know.

And I’m rambling…..so I’ll send this now and go hand stitch something to calm me down from all this excitement! Two vintage machine acquisitions in two days? Next time I'll just buy them both at once and justify it by saying I'm saving the extra gas from having to drive twice, right?!