Best yard sale find ever

We spent some time this weekend playing around with a recent yard sale find that I am so happy about. Back in July (while in Alaska), I bought this typewriter at a yard sale for $15. It didn't have any ribbon in it, but thanks to Amazon, I found some that works and we finally had a chance to try it out. It is a Royal Quiet De Luxe from, I believe, 1939. The serial number is A-904527, and based on the internet typewriter database, that's my guess. I don't have any specific plans for it, other than type an occasional note to Daniel or do-to list, but it's the kind of thing that makes me happy just to look at. A piece of history that's just as functional today is it was 70 years ago.
To get it home, we borrowed an extra bag from Daniel's parents and carried it on the planes. The security guys seemed pretty surprised when they saw it on the screen, and had us open the bag so they could examine it closely. The guy looking it over said it had been a long time since he had seen someone come through with a typewriter.

 

Scrap exchange

Today Mari and I visited a place I have been wanting to go for awhile: the Durham scrap exchange. I heard they have fabulous deals on fabric and I've been looking for some cheap pillow and curtain material. While the prices exceeded my expectations (at $1-3 per yard!!!), most of the prints were ugly and not suitable for our living room. However, I did buy an old white window with 6 panes of glass in it for $8. Since moving in two years ago, we have yet to hang something on the bedroom walls. I figure we can repaint this window, mount prints of flowers behind the panes, and hang it over the bed.
Some other neat stuff we saw included vintage patterns from the 50's, woodworking magazines from the 40's, barrels of corks, safety goggles and business cards, and some pretty cool artwork by local artists made out of reclaimed material. I was really hoping for a barrel of buttons! Oh well, maybe next time...



Update on 9/16/11- the window has been sanded, primed, and repainted. For now I have it on the mantle, which is in need of some help. I thought the mantle would be so fun to decorate before we bought the house, but nothing we put there seems quite right. Soon, I am going to do something about it, hopefully involving fall decorations!