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28 Comments

  1. I could have s c r e a m e d
    seeing the brass pulls gleam!
    What a great job you D I D
    the out-of-season clothes got rid
    now showing off this tables soul
    it can host a seasonal punch bowl!

  2. What a great job with all the new layers of paint you used on it. What a nice way to honor your Dad! I love the beautiful vase of Hydrangeas you set on it. Perfection!!

  3. Lori, I love this velvet texture you get with this paint! Really nice job and thanks for sharing. Oh where do you buy this chalk paint? Jean

    1. Lori, what a stunningly beautiful resurrection! And the pulls remind me of lovely dangling earrings – sweet jewel accessories for the lovely lady.
      I’m sure your Dad proudly watched as you lovingly restored his mother’s sewing machine. I hope your daughter appreciates the history of this beloved family heirloom!
      Great job!

  4. I learned to sew on my mother’s White sewing machine which she got when she was 18 (1938). It was operated by a lever using your knee. Hers was in a desk type cabinet which, like you, I cannot part with. The actual machine had been overhauled but no longer ran so my husband removed it and fixed the cabinet so I can use my portable machine on it. There’s a built in compartment to store it when not in use. The drawers still contain sewing notions from more than 50 years and I’ve used them countless times often getting a good laugh at items marked 59 cents. Each time I use something from my mom’s stash I feel as if she has reached down from heaven to help me the same way she did when she was alive. As you are so aware, there is nothing that can replace these memories and feelings of connectedness with our parents once they’re gone.

    1. How wonderful that you still have the cabinet and use it for your sewing, even if in an updated way. I think that’s the best way to honor these cherished relics by keeping them useful… 🙂 And it’s so true how connected it makes us feel!

  5. Donna Nance says:

    What a fabulous story about the sewing machine. Good for your dad learning to use it, gender stereotypes not withstanding.

  6. That’s such a sweet story! And your work on it makes it even more special! ? I just got several things like that from my mom’s, and it’s so wonderful to have them in the house! Thanks for the tutorial!

  7. Loving this post. I have my grandmothers antique sewing machine (which my grandfather also used!) I have kept it because, although it only does one stitch and you have to turn the fabric to back stitch, because it does not go backwards, it will stitch through any thickness of fabric so is perfect to working with heavy canvas, leather, etc. It is really not a good looking piece of furniture anymore because I have ruined the finish on the top by keeping a fern on it. My husband loves that fern and waters it every day, sometimes over watering which has damaged the finish. I am inspired now to paint it with chalk paint. Thanks so much.

    1. You are most welcome! He can always love the fern on another table… 😉 Or place it on a tray on the table. After painting, of course!

  8. Your sewing cabinet is so beautiful. You can tell that it truly was a labor of love. I had my grandmothers 1929 White Westinghouse sewing machine with the old shuttle bobbin. I let one of my daughters take it for awhile and i don’t know whatever happened to it. It looked much like yours. And such a beautiful story of your Dad.
    Thank you for sharing!

  9. I am so delighted to read about your Dad sewing draperies and slipcovers!
    My husband has the same mindset when it comes to any kind of machine, as well! He does beautiful work!
    As a teen, his Mom (an art teacher) would rope him into helping her with volunteering. He created scenery for the Nutcracker with her, sewed and mended ballet costumes, did woodworking, etc., etc.
    That said, I feel like your Dad and my hubby would have greatly enjoyed each other!
    Now you are inspirng me to get busy with my paintbrush to transform a French style dining table, as well as a simple small dresser functioning as a sideboard in our dining space.
    Thank you so much for all your tips and pictures of your beautiful sewing table ~ so lovely! ~Susan

    1. Aww, you’re so sweet! And I’m so glad to hear your hubby is like my dad. It’s wonderful to be handy. I’m happy to hear you’re inspired. This is a great time for painting at home projects… 😉

  10. OMG! I have that and it’s sooooo ugly! Thank you for the tutorial!

    1. Haha, I feel your pain! It never dawned on me to try to make it pretty until I started painting other furniture. Now it sits proudly in our entry hallway… 🙂 In fact, the main reason I kept it was because my daughter wanted it and then had no room for it. It sat in the hallway as a sort of “waiting to be transported someplace” station, until I realized it fit perfectly there and just needed to be made pretty. ?

  11. That turned out beautiful, and I love the pulls!

  12. Cecilia from Georgia says:

    The finish is beautiful! Your description of “dancing” on the paint is so fun. I know your Dad is smiling down on you and telling all his buddies “that’s my Lori!”. I saw an antique Singer and cabinet at an estate sale yesterday, and I felt sad for the lady having to sell it. She is 74 and it was her mother’s. It’s wonderful your daughter has sentimental values.

    1. Thanks for the lovely comment… 🙂 My daughter knows how to sew, whereas I don’t, but she always put off getting a new machine so I think it’s really sweet that she wanted this one.

  13. Alexendra says:

    This is a great tutorial for anyone who wants to upcycle an old sewing machine cabinet into a new sewing machine table! The author does a great job of explaining each step of the process, and the finished product is beautiful.

  14. I love the stories about your parents and this was no exception. I wish I had my mothers treadle sewing machine I learned to sew on.
    Sometimes you just want one straight seam. Last time I looked at sewing machines one was worth more than my car. LOL

    1. I’m so glad you appreciate these stories… 🙂 Needless to say, they are so meaningful to me and to be able to share them is a joy.

      1. The only thing missing from the story was a picture of your parents. My all time favorite was the photo of them dancing. I loved the photo of your mom in her blazer being a fashionista. I am older and don’t ever remember seeing a photo of my parents together. Thank you for sharing your memories with us.