Antique Singer Sewing machine

Visiting family in East Texas this weekend we got to bring home the sewing machine that belonged to my husband's grandmother .  He doesn't know how long she had it or who may have owned it before her, but it is neat to have this piece of history that our children's great grandmother sewed on.  He remembers using it as a computer table when he stayed at the farm in the summer when he was a kid. 

(The pictures above are after it got dusted off, but before it got the deep cleaning)

From the serial number I am pretty sure this was made in 1908.
We could probably get the machine in working order if we wanted to (it needs a new belt).
It had been sitting in a barn and it needed a lot of cleaning up.
We removed the machine from the table base for cleaning
I used WD 40 to clean up the iron treadle part and furniture oil on the wood top and drawers.  Some of the wood veneer is cracked and I used wood glue to repair that as best as I could.  I also used a stain pen on a few areas that needed little touch ups.

Here is how it looks now:

it looks good with my newly painted light fixture in the next room

look at these details on the sides of the drawers

still has a lot of antique character, but a lot cleaner now

and it was too nice to put away again out of sight, so here it is on display

I'm sharing on Thrifty Treasures Monday at Southern Hospitality

Spray paint project

a quick change today for the hardware on my desk, I used oil rubbed bronze spray paint:

and my husband took down the light fixture and it got the same treatment.  I hung it from a hook in the garage and used my drop cloth behind it and I taped off the white parts and covered where the bulbs are screwed in.

In the picture it looks almost black, but the finish is a really nice shiny dark bronze.

Here's what it looks like hung in my office.

a close up and looking into the living room.  I think I'll have to paint the door handles and brassy hinges to match too.

this one shows the shiny texture, and the spray paint didn't 100% cover so there is a little gold coming through in some parts, but I think it gives it more of an antique look, not perfect! (and I am missing a couple of light bulbs), it's on the list :)

This picture below is the only one I could find of the light in the room before, and this was also before I painted the desk.

I have a few more projects planned around the house and garden, as well as some trips this month with my Mum visiting.  Yeah for summertime!  Today was my first official day off from my teaching job.

Another thing I've been adding to is the family picture wall by the stairway.

In July we have a family trip planned to Chicago and Washington DC, and whatever else we find on the way there and back!

linking to:
funky junk interiors

and the power of paint party

Latest garage sale find

This is what I picked up this weekend.  I saw this dresser on my local online yard sale website for $40.  It said in fair condition and needs TLC, but I called and got the family in the car to go and look at it.  I loved the style and shape of it.  Just looking at the picture it looked smaller than it was in person - it is a good big size.  The drawers do not glide perfectly, but it is solid and very functional for it's new purpose (although in my house things get moved around a lot).  In this picture it looks gray, but it is really a nice creamy color.

Maybe it was just gray looking because it needed a good clean.........   Kate helped me and we used several lysol wipes and a magic eraser to get it good and clean for bringing in the house.

here it is in it's new home in our family room as our TV stand.  The deep drawers are the new storage space for scrapbooks and photo albums

I'm going to try and find a matching handle for the one missing one.

But bringing one new thing into the house it meant the rest of the day moving other things around.  I love old "shabby" furniture and this sure fits in.  The color is very similar to my kitchen cabinets.

And looks good with the gray wall color too.

This label was inside one of the top drawers

It says "The White Furniture Co, Estd. 1881, Mebane NC.

I found a little online about this furniture company, but couldn't find anything about this particular dresser, but I guess it is at least 50 years old?

I'm participating in the Thrifty Treasures party.

And Miss Mustard seed's furniture feature Friday:

Gone Fishing

Thomas turned 7 on Friday, this morning we took him down to the river and he tried his new fishing rod for the first time.  Did not catch a fish but he got the hang of throwing the lure out in the water and reeling it in.  We saw some snakes swimming.

Just 1 1/2 more weeks of school!

Last weekend, little road trip

At Round Rock express baseball game.

Old houses in Smithville, Texas

This house below is from the movie "Hope Floats".  I was reading one of my favorite blogs Hooked on Houses a few weeks ago and have been through Smithville a few times, but wanted to check out some of houses and the downtown while we were on our way back to Houston from Austin.

we found a nice little park for the kids to play

and looked at the downtown area - it was Sunday morning so the shops were all closed or not yet open for the day 

Drove through Round Top, Texas too.  I hope to go back there for the antique fair in the fall.