Yesterday I took a break from work to go to an estate sale. The ad said to bring gloves and a flashlight. How could I refuse? BUT they listed sewing machines as some of the items. I have 3. A new, cheaper Janome, and two Singer 301's. I show up and see a beautiful Singer 503. The Rocketeer. I have always loved that machine, but I knew before I went that I wasn't going to buy any machine. Then I found 2 boxes of vintage/retro patterns. They wanted $1.00 for BOTH BOXES. I sorted and counted them last night and there were 138 patterns. At the bottom of one of the boxes I found some of our county fair ribbons. I realized that we can't lose this art of sewing clothes or quilting. It may be cheaper to purchase, but somehow I feel that as we step away from the creation process, we (I) step away from where I came from. Those ribbon are precious. The reward of her hard work.

Back to the machine. I took a picture of the machine. I show it to two of my coworkers. They both appreciate stuff like that. I came back from lunch to find that Singer 503 on my desk!!!! They got the sewing machine for me from the estate sale while I was at lunch!!!! It runs great. I was a happy girl.

The sewing machine was $25.00.

She's pretty! What sweet coworkers :D:D:D

Wow! What cool co-workers! Congrats on your new Rockateer! She's beautiful!

I will need to figure out a worthy Thank You gift. Any ideas?

Wow. What a neat purchase!

What wonderful coworkers !! The machine looks great. A gift ? Something made on the "new" machine - mug rugs for instance. Enjoy your new baby.

What an awesome thing for those co-workers to do.

what nice friends.... :thumbup:

Speaks volumes as to the type of person YOU are! Great to have such wonderful co-workers!

That is awesome!!! You have wonderful co-workers.

Maybe you could make a nice wall hanging that could travel to each of them in turn for a month at a time. Unless maybe you could hang it in the office.

Nice to know they think you are so special!!

What wonderful co-workers. I totally agree about the history of sewing and quilting!

Sounds like you and your co-workers are all pretty awesome and get along very well. What a nice surprise they got for you! You will have to make something for each of them with that machine. What about small wall hangings?

Make them something for their desks! A tote bag or lunch bags? Water bottle holder? What great friends!!

Terrific co-workers. Love the machine, use it in good health.

Something made with her!! Maybe a 4th of July wall hanging or table topper???

Have fun!!

As the kids today would say: SWEET :thumbup:

WOW! How Super!!!!! Hugs to the co-workers!!!!

What wonderful co-workers you have! It was so nice of them to do that for you! Enjoy your new machine!

I like the mug rug. They both drink coffee. One is a male and the other female. We work in the county building and planning department. It's not a pretty place to look at. Paper and more paper everywhere. Thanks for the ideas!

OMgosh- that's so awesome!! Thanks for sharing with us.
And enjoy your new girl!!!!!!!!! :D:D

wow she is a pretty machine I would like co workers like that

Can I come to work there? Nice friends.

Awesome machine and awesome coworkers. Enjoy your new toy.

I hear ya! I feel incredibly blessed to work with these people. They are wonderful. My family away from family.

You're gonna love that machine - I gave one I found for $5 to my DIL (machine had the nose door broken) she loved it so much she named it after her grandma, Margaret. DIL says she has parts missing too and she gets things done and she was very fashionable in her day, too.

Maybe you could name your machine after your co-workers - kind of hyphenate the name or combine their names or something - yours looks to be all there - if something is missing you can pick things up for it. The disks are any that fit any slant-o-matic style machine - new feet can be still found. (I've been adding to my DILs machine here and there - even found the nose door)

Wow, I wanna work in a place like that! Great friends you have.

How about making them the place mats that roll upand tie On the inside there is a pocket for your napkin and pockets for your utensils. It's so convenient to have everything you need when it's time for lunch.

Cool...what a great machine, and what great co-workers you have!

Last night I 'opened' her up, and she was so clean!! Thanks for all the ideas. Now I actually have to make something with it instead of admiring it.

What a very sweet thing for them to do - can I come work with you, mine would say "hmm nice".

Wow...GREAT co-workers....enjoy...

I love your neww baby. What terrific co-workers you have its so nice to go to work knowing you have such nice people to work with. I say make tote bags or the mug rugs also, and maybe some baked goodies. I always made the bake goodies.

How many co workers are there? If alot, how about drink cozies or mug rugs. Something small, quick and can be made for individual likes or fanatics.(sp?) Remember they did not do it expecting anything in return..What great co workers!

Wow, what lovely co-workers you have. Love the machine.

make them mug rugs or something on that machine! Great coworkers.

Ahh. what a sweet thing for your coworkers to do.

What great co-workers! You must be awesome too, Laura, for them to do something so nice for you. Nice looking machine.

Why gloves and a flashlight? Congrats on the machine and mostly for your friends who think so much of you.
Robin in TX

I really like the idea of the lunch bag.