Introdocing Rizzo, my latest fixer upper
 

She wasn't really a bad girl...just a little rough around the edges. I couldn't resist all that chrome, and she was less than $10. No power cord, but then we all have our problems.

It wasn't until I opened her up and saw all the black stuff--not grease, looked and felt like splattered melted plastic--that I asked her what she'd been up to.

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And so she got all scrubbed up with new clothes. Runs like a charm! I'm going to make a jean circle quilt for a baby boy on her since she's got zigzag. I was fixing her up to sell, but Rizzo may be sticking around a bit. Girl's got a bit of a wild side to her, as you can tell. :)

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I like her wild side. Cleaned up nice. Those Japanese machines are nice. Cheap. Last almost forever. Can be repaired. Go Green!!!

Hmm...green. I was going to say I don't have a machine that color and to quit giving me subliminal ideas, but the Elna is still wanting her turn on the work table. :D

http://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1...n-t133897.html in case you missed the rant...

Lucky find. Enjoy.

NICE! I like the way you cleaned up Rizzo's box and lid. Clever! Have you tried to treadle her machine? I would, if it can be done.

I say keep Rizzo!!

Oh, Oh, I'm going to get my Mama's Universal. She's in a cabinet with drawers stuffed full. Cabinet is a desk style and I don't think she's very old...maybe not quite vintage yet. She's been sitting since my Mama passed over 10 years ago so just don't know what shape she's in but I know she'll be glad to be out in the open and used.

Anyway, hope you enjoy your Rizzo!!

I remember reading that and enjoying bits about re-making clothing. Reminded me of the 1st nice full length wool coat I ever bought myself. Found it at a garage sale, beautiful navy blue, classic, perfect length for my 5 feet nuthin' self. The only reason they were selling it was the sleeve seam was ripped. Easy fix and I had my 1st "grown-up" coat in college. :)

I think the case took more work than the machine. The hardest part was getting the paper off the inside. I used my little portable clothes steamer and a scraper--just like taking off wallpaper. I also had to replace the 2 side pieces of her base. I couldn't get the old latches off without tearing them up, and they were just held in with rusty staples. I was also just going to put black felt on the bottom, but they were out of black and white when I went to the store. They had some thin craft foam that works really well (can't slide it around at all!), but no plain black or white. On a whim I got the zebra print. I think it suits her, the wild child.

I haven't measured to see if she'd fit my Singer treadle base...yet. :)