I used to be creeped out by the belongings of dead people, but I've come around. Antiques are where it's at.
When I began quilting, It wasn't long until my entry level Singer Sewing machine hit the crapper. After some research I learned that quilters covet the ever portable and beautifully made Singer Featherweight Sewing Machine. No need to convince me. I had to have one.
I purchased my first 221 off a lady passing through Vancouver on her way to the Okanagan... a sketchy late night transaction in an East Van parking lot (yes the dodgy part). It wasn't long before I fell in love with it. But maintenance required special knowledge and was more expensive than a modern sewing machine, so I took classes in Singer Featherweight repair from a retired Boeing Engineer, Dave McCallum in Arlington, WA. What luck that the leading expert was just 30 mins across the border. It wasn't long after that that I started collecting sewing machines just for the thrill of taking them apart to find decades of goo encrusted gears to polish and restore.
So now, we like to antique. I have a hard time leaving a #10 blue mason jar with a glass behind and I always have an eye out for a sewing machine to make a project.
We discovered the sleepy town of Aurora, located approximately 15 minutes off the I-5. The town is one of the Top 10 Antiquing destinations in the US. 23 houses selling antiques on behalf of over 300 dealers.
One of the best stores is one called Aurora Mills Architectural Salvage. The store is filled to the brim of interesting curio from days past such as beveled glass, claw foot tubs, fireplace mantles, reclaimed vintage architechtural materials, and rustic timbers. It's beautifully curated and displayed and a real joy to browse.
