Saturday morning, my youngest son, my mom and I set out “treasure hunting” at yard sales. As is our custom, I asked my son (who is 4) what he hoped to find. Without hesitation he said, “A Batman watch.” He had seen one when we were scoping out Amazon for things he might want for his summer birthday.
“Well, buddy, that’s a pretty specific thing. I’m not sure if we’re going to find that, but maybe we’ll find some Batman guys or something.”
We were on the way to pick up my mom and I could’t help stopping at a yard sale along the way. We hopped out of the car and perused the sale. It was the usual junky yard sale stuff and nothing of interest to us. I hurried my son along, eager to get to the next sale. As we passed by a table we looked at on the way in, I noticed something I missed. It was a tin on its side in a box. The tin read “Batman.” Well, it may not be a watch, but it’s something Batman and that might be good enough. He could use the tin for his Batman Lego guys or something. So, I pulled out the tin and in that tin was…any guesses? Yep. A Batman watch. Not only that, but a brand new one with some fun accessories. “Hey, buddy!! Look! It’s a Batman watch. Just what you wanted.”
“Oh, I don’t even know if that works. It’s really old, so he can just have it.”
A brand new Batman watch. For free. And it even worked. He was thrilled.
“Hey, buddy? Next time can you wish for a truckload of ironstone and a $5 Empire dresser?”
So, the day was a big win for him, but it wasn’t a total bust for me. I found a vintage Bingo cage with balls…
The stand is missing, but I was okay with that.
…a big box of vintage blocks…
…an antique globe (one of the prettiest I’ve found)…
….and a pair of redwork linens.
It wasn’t a truckload of ironstone or a $20 Empire dresser, but it wasn’t bad for Saturday morning yard sales.
In addition to my recent yard sale finds, I’ve had a great mail week. I got the new faucet for my master bathroom…
I love it. It’s exactly what I wanted. It’s the Moen Weymouth bathroom faucet sent to me by National Builder Supply. I’ll show more about it when we install it AND I have one to give away as well.
It’s not quite as pretty, but we got the tubular skylight as well.
My new sewing machine also arrived a few days ago. I’ve been abusing my $150 Kenmore and asked it to do things it was never meant to do for too long, so it was time to upgrade. I mostly sew for upholstery and slipcovers these days, so I needed a machine that could handle lots of layers of grainsack. I did a bunch of research and settled on the LS-1 by Sailrite. The machine is made for sewing sails, tents, etc., but it’s great for upholstery as well. It’s beefy, but not over-the-top, out-of-my-budget beefy.
I finally watched the video and got it all set up for sewing today.
Some samples came with the machine to show how well it handles layers of tough, thick fabric…
It hummed right through three layers of grain sack like butter. I can’t wait to work on an upholstery project when I’m not fighting with the machine the entire time. The only downside I see immediately is that the machine is this horrible reddish coral color. Don’t they realize I need a photogenic sewing machine? 🙂
I immediately thought of Batman. “Does this come in black?” (You can see the reference HERE.)
Does this come in robin’s egg blue?
Lastly, I just got the linen tufted ottoman I ordered from Joss & Main with some credits. Oh…it’s pretty.
Fun stuff going on in the mustard seed household…
66 Responses
maybe you could paint your sewing machine??
Or give it some dark wax! 😉
I love love love the color. It is a happy color.
Fun stuff indeed!!
That’s so sweet about your son’s batman watch. Things like that totally make my day to see my boys so happy. (We have 2 boys too!) I agree though, a truckload of ironstone would have been great too. 😉
Fun things that came in the mail! Your sewing machine looks like a beast! I actually like the reddish/coral color. 😉 And the Joss & Main piece is beautiful. Gimme gimme. 🙂 And the faucet- LOVE!
Have a fun week,
Gail
I would LOVE for you to write a post–or direct us to one you already wrote–about living with two little boys in a house full of light-colored upholstery. I work for a designer and so many of our clients are resistant to light colors because of kids and pets. How have your pieces worn and do you do anything to protect them?
Lots of people decorate their sewing machines with decals or contact paper….
I think Someone sent your little guy that birthday gift! Love the tufted bench, I desperately want one! This summer though, it’s a new fence and dishwasher instead!
I think the terra cotta color on the sewing machine is pretty awesome. It’s a very similar color to the paint on our living room walls.
Ha! I guess I shouldn’t say it’s a horrid color. 🙂 It just doesn’t work very well in my blue & white house and it’s nice to have a white machine for photos shoots. I do have that color in my office rug, though, so that works out.
OOhhh love, love, love your sewing machine! The color really isn’t bad at all – looks good in the pictures! Fun stuff for me: upholstering my first chair – using your tutorial – exciting!!!!!
I am drooling over that machine….I don’t mind the color, it kinds grows on you! 😮 Garage and yard sales are just treasure hunts in disguise. Great finds!!
Annie Sloan chalk paint to the rescue for that new sewing machine! Think how fun you could make that? It would start a new trend!
My sister-in-law had a similar experience in St. Louis. She left and said she was going to find a table with an animal engraved on it. Low and behold, she found one at a thrift store. Now I tell myself “I’m going to find a cabinet with hidden cash in it, but that hasn’t worked so far!
A friend’s husband bought a pair of old jeans from the thrift store recently and found a $100 bill in the pocket. How wild! Now, why doesn’t that happen over my way? ;0)
It’s a pretty terra cotta color and those stitches are beautifully made. Three rooms in this farmhouse are painted a similar color and are all easy to live with and and easy on my eyes. The sewing machine looks like it comes with a carrying case which makes it even more useful. Reminds me of my Featherweight which I use at home and carry to quilting class (when I used to go).
God “winked” at your little guy that Saturday morning.
That’s incredible that you not only found your son’s Batman watch, but at the first sale. You were set for the rest of the trip I’m sure. When my kids were young, I always found that a little treasure always made the shopping go easier for us all. It sounds like it was an absolutely perfect day.
First of all: That Batman watch—GOD was wanting that child to HAVE that!!! He must have been waiting for you to come to that garage sale, why else would it have been available??
The sewing machine–I LOVE that color and if all else, buy a SMALL pillow or accent that has that color in it to add to your room. The color I think goes well with the bedroom as a small accent color. I relate that color to a piece of Coral from the sea, maybe buy a sea shell for your bath or as the accent piece to use. The faucet, I am headed to the big city to the Depot to find one like that. I told you how I was looking for that too and in this country town we just don’t have much!
The bench is to DIE for and even the coral color goes with the linen tones.
Enjoy it now because you will be too busy to breathe later:))
Isn’t it FUN to get all new things or to get fun mail???
Happy for you and your LiL’ buddy!!!!
Hopefully your home is not old and cranky like mine, but I have to tell you when I replaced my bathroom tap to ‘freshen up the sink’, a pipe broke in a really bad spot and I ended up having to rip up and replace the floor as well.
(Man, I hated that old floor!)! 🙂
Your posts always make me happy Marian! Full of life and you have such a great spirit..
Keep up the good work!
Best,
Trudy
Great story about the Batman watch. A few weeks ago we found a plastic pterodactyl in a big box at a church yard sale for $.25, and we have been looking for a pterodactyl at every big box store you can imagine for 2 years now with no luck. We needed one to complete our well-loved dinosaur collection. You never know what treasures are out there!
Great post and kudos to the postman BUT where’s the watch?
You always fine such great stuff at yard sales. I only find junk. Any hints at how to find better stuff?
Uh oh sounds like you’re out voted on the sewing machine color. Could cover it when you’re not using it until you figure out some way to change it. One more thing to love about the internet, we speak our minds, lol. Awesome machine, I tend to do things to my machines they aren’t built for either.
Wow talk about a windfall, the best part of Saturday was your little guy getting his Batman watch, is that karma or what?
Every time I see all the great “stuff” you gals find in your neck of the woods makes me believe we should have stayed in KY. I need a shopping trip to Midwest and east something awful. Wonderful things are to be had, glad you find a share of them. You also have to have an eye for them and that you certainly have. You have to know what a good piece is to buy it. Happy days Marian.
Regarding garage sales….you just have to kiss a lot of frogs! Enjoy the hunt. Also, if you see something you like and pass it up because you don’t know what you will do with it, you are not practicing “garage sale thinking”. If it is a nice piece, get it. You will always find a place/use for it. Remember, you can always have your own garage sale. So much fun.
I’m shocked that the sewing machine is red and not the blue one on the box. LOL. Enjoy!
Do those faucets come in oil rubbed bronze finish? We need a new one for our bathroom, too.
Oh Mario I had to laugh as I was thinking what a pretty color! It matches my accessories so well. Have a wonderful day!
Think of your coral red sewing machine as a “refreshing pop of color.” : )
Batman rules!
Hy Marian! Last night I had the craziest dream. I dreamed that I was visiting you at your home and you were just having a backyard sale. And I was also congratulating you for Lucketts. Hugs, Cristina
What a delight for your son, only God could have done that for him. What a blessing!!!!!!I I’ve been a seamstress for 40 plus years, at one time I had 6 machines, but none a pretty as yours!!!!!The stitches are perfect for what you’re doing. BTW: Sending some LOVE!
If the color translated correctly on my computer, it looks like terra cotta or dark coral. My favorite table lamp ever was shaped like a tall ginger jar on which the main color was terra cotta, and the border around the jar, top and bottom was a lovely cobalt blue and white!!
Very beautiful lamp – my daughter still proudly uses it in her home – it’s 32 years old!!
Hi Marian,
How about taking fabric and covering your sewing machine with it.
Glad to see you found a good industrial one to use.
Mary
I have an older model of that same machine and have never ever regretted purchasing it. Great choice.
Love this post and am tempted to comment on every part! I’ll restrain but I’d love to know what you are planning for the box of alphabet blocks. Any project in mind?
Eleanor
I love that color on your machine. Kind of a barn red. Of course, I get that your house doesn’t have any barn red in it. 🙂 Just sew up a pretty linen cover for it. With piping.
Coral? Blech. (opps sorry coral lovers). Sea Coral actually comes in white ya know (just messing with you. hope ya know that! )
Look like you have some fabulous garage sales in PA! But I know that it’s also your practiced eye that scopes out the good stuff. Love that faucet, too!
What is your son doing next Saturday? So funny, when I first saw that sewing machine, I thought, “Why did she get THAT color!?” I should have known better.
This must be your calling in life and apparently your son’s as well. I never find really good stuff at yard sales. Congrats to you both. Love your mail goodies!
OH MY! I got chills with the Batman story! Love the blocks, faucet (ahh!!!), and that ottoman! Oh my–I need to look that one up ASAP. I am planning my master. I have some enhancement ideas for our home. I think my husband thinks those days are done and our home is liveable. I don’t want things to be over the top but we need to finish up a few things (like the strip/or two/or more of old paint that never got covered in this nook or cranny) and add a few touches of personality. Being at home the beginning of the summer with 3 out of 4 sick left me with a few ideas to pump up the personality factor:) Plank wall behind bed (that takes care of us never buying a headboard!), board and batten in entryway and up hall with some color on top wall, and sewing projects for me. Oh, and a few furniture finds…if I could just find the steals like you do!!!
Go early, go often! Going late is better than not at all. 🙂 You never know what will turn up at yard/garage sales. I am from BR, LA and used to scout out sales in the garden district, old neighborhoods near LSU and would generally find something really good. So scouting out good areas helps but I’ve also been surprised by amazing finds in unexpected places too!
One of the best things is just getting a chance to meet people and see history in their “junk”.
This spring I went to a neighborhood wide sale here in Mobile, AL (current home) and happened upon a sale that was in the back yard of the home. The yard was as beautifully groomed and landscaped as Bellingrath Gardens. The owners, sweet Yankee folks from PA, were a delight. They had some wonderful kitchen wares for sale and I enjoyed chatting with them about cooking. I love my Belgium stainless steel Crepe pan I bought and still lament not getting the food mill they had too! They had a wonderful old table, of solid wood that was time worn and in beautiful shape, holding their wares. I was sorry to hear it was sold; a steal at $50! It was long and would have fit our homeschooling family well. The man pulled out drawers on each narrow end so large that I imagined would hold whatever we were working on that day as my arm raked across the top to clear the table for dinner. He told me the story of how he found the table at work. A professor at the University of Pittsburgh he heard the library was discarding dozens of these tables preparing for renovations. That was in the late 1950’s/early 1960’s, so they were aged and thanks to countless hours of study by countless students that gave it such a soft timeworn finish. The lucky buyer who beat me is an older gent who is using it in his study. The lucky rascal.
Happy saling!
Love the ottoman. Your finds are amazing. Love. It all.
I found a bingo cage (with stand!) a few years ago in an antique store.It’s always been one of my favorite “quirky” finds, but even more so today since I now have an item that I share with Miss Mustard Seed!
I think that’s so cool about the batman watch….it’s out of the mouth babes….and it just shows God was listening….very neat story!!
Wow. You will love your new machine. As an avid sail boater, we are very familiar with Sailrite, and I love their “tuts”
I loved your story about the watch! It reminded me of the time 20+ years ago when our baby needed a high chair but my husband wanted last years model. Of course, it was no longer available. We were on our way to town to buy the highchair we really didn’t want when we passed a garage sale and last years model was…. yes, you guessed it, right out there in the driveway for a couple of dollars! Thrills like that last for a long, long time – !!
You could make a “grain sack” cover for the sewing machine.
Or I saw a blog that sold “mixer decals”. That might help camouflage the color!
Love your blog!
What a fun story ! Plus you got some great stuff and so happy for your son – he must have an a premonition!
Love the Batman story! I’m drooling over the skylights. I want a couple of them. My house is dark and it would be such an answer!
Hi Marian,
I was wondering, since you did not sell that tole chandelier at the Luckett’s sale, what you will be selling it for now? I have one similar, and have been looking for a second to match it (rooms are adjacent). It might be out of my range, but I thought I would ask!
I love reading your blog, you have such great posts, and your skills are awesome! You have me almost brave enough to learn to make slip covers!
Marion, I love the ottoman.
Can you give more info on your choice of this sewing machine, Does it work well for all upholstery sewing needs. Would you consider it better than a commercial machine? Please give us updates on how you like machine and performance.
Curious. Did your choice come based on offer from manufacture or promotional offer, for endorsement? I would like to purchase a better machine, really appreciate any help you can provide. COST a major factor, so thanks for your suggestions.
Thx,
Linda from the OC
Linda,
Yes, I did buy the sewing machine and I did a bunch of research to decide what machine I wanted. Cost was a factor for me and portability. I didn’t want a machine that was huge and needed to be a on a stand. A lot of commercial upholstery machines need to be. Most that i saw were also over $1000 and that was more than I wanted to spend.
This machine was still expensive when compared to my $150 Kenmore – $750. It had great reviews, though, good video tutorials and did what I needed it to do without bells and whistles. I’ll share more about it once I’ve used it more. So far I like it.
Could you tell your little boy that The Lord provides? That the watch was a gift from Him? My Dad would be provided with the something he needed/wanted at just the right time –for free at our local sales yard day… My Dad then called it The Lord’s Warehouse
Your son got to see blessings from Jesus for his childlike faith.
How terrific that your little guy found his Batman Watch. Re your sewing machine, looks like a heavy weight. May you get many miles out of it. ☺ -Brenda-
P.S: A few years ago, obtained my industrial (Singer) sewing machine at a very reasonable price through a dealer who had a surplus on hand. (He was a supplier to Trade Schools. who teach upholstering etc.)
I’m sure the manufacturer will love it that you bought one and it’s on your site.The sales will surely go up!! I love the watch story.What fun times you have with him.I love that age.Mine are grown.28,22,20.Goes too fast. lOVE THE FAUCET!
So neat that your son will be able to look back at your blog (IF we still have blogs in 10 or 15 years!) and see how God showed up for him!
The batman watch reminded me of a story – I wanted chickens forever, but couldn’t convince my hubby to build a coop. One day my granddaughter, Bella, said she wanted chickens. Well lo and behold within a couple of months we had chickens! I told Bella to tell her papaw she wanted sheep…. I think he’s caught on, no sheep as of yet 🙁
What a great story about the watch and your son! I think I got YOUR wish on the ironstone. I found a large pitcher for $3 in perfect condition yesterday & some great looking white swinging doors. Hope you have better luck treasure hunting next week!
I think it was awesome that your son got what he wished for. I did a little yard sale shopping on Saturday as well and also visited my first flea market. Hoping to have my own booth in it next year. It was so much fun. Better Luck next time in finding your wish items. 🙂
Im amaze of how many times, the thing that i wish to find, is the first thing that show up at a garage sale. It is the law of attraction. Your little boy is learning a lot going garage sale hunting with you. I started taking my two grandchildren with me, because I have no other choice, and Im so surprise to find out how much they love antiques. Lol, one of them loves and looks for old photographs with people or peoples faces, and the other one loves old telephones and typewriters.
Wonderful finds!!
I love the story of the batman watch! How sweet. I think God loves surprising us like that.
Love the linens, the batman story! and your sewing machine…thanks for inspiring us!
Was this sewing machine the inspiration for your new Apron Strings paint color?
Way cool! Some extremely valid points! I appreciate you writing this post
and the rest of the website is also very good.