Being able to restore and repurpose a part of Americana is a satisfying endeavour, so when I acquired a fully functional foot treadle sewing machine made by The National Sewing Machine Company, I knew it would be an inspiring project. Though all parts, including the original leather belt and instruction manual were present, they were in need of a cleaning to be brought back to life.

Working with a local artist, we decided it was best to sandblast and then powder coat all the parts. I greased and reassembled all the moving parts, and then began a search for the top.

Trying to make best use of local resources, I contacted a local sawyer who had the perfect Ambrosia Maple slab for this piece. With a little elbow grease to prep for finish, I completed the top with Waterlox in order to provide a durable, penetrating and long lasting top coat.