WiseArts

On Memorial Day, some of our favorite thrift stores have a 50% off sale! It has become a tradition for us to go thrifting and find some great bargains. Here’s the rundown on what I got this year!

I bought these tins to chop up and make stuff from. I made a cute handbound book from a Chinese-y tea tin once. I wish I’d taken a photo of it before I gave it away…

I got the pasta machine for about $3.50! It’s really heavy and nice. I bought it for polymer clay use, but I’m almost thinking maybe I’ll keep it for pasta and get another cheap one to use for clay. The box on the right is a film developing tank. That cost about $2.50. The box is beat up, but it’s actually brand new! I have intentions of learning how to develop film someday, so I thought I better pick it up. The round knitting looms were also about $2.50 for the set! I used to think these things were for kids or people who couldn’t get the hang of regular knitting, but after I saw this book about knitting cables on circular looms, I knew that was not the case! Some really nice things can be made with these. I can’t wait to try them out.

This little Papier-mâché dress form was 30 cents. I don’t really need it or know what I’m going to do with it, but at that price… hehe The little spools are labeled as punch needle yarn. I’m not sure if I’ll use it for that purpose. I have some experiments I want to try with it. The yarns came 3 in a package for about $1.50.

I got some great additions to my fabric stash! The blue stuff is on a big roll; it’s a faux dupionni kind of thing. It’s pretty though, and only $3.50 for the whole roll. All the other bits ranged from $1-$2 and are 1-3 yds. I love the red furry stuff! It’s neat!

I’ve sort of ended up with a collection of these DIY stuffie fabrics. Previously, I’ve purchased some Care Bear and other funny animal fabrics.There’s something kind of charming about them. I don’t think kids really like the finished products that much… the joy of these is much more in the simple and quick construction. These came in a few mixed bags with some other fabric bits for about 90 cents. I really love the Popple one, but it’s missing the back side! So sad! I guess it’s okay, as I’m pondering using them for other purposes anyway…

I got Good Things For Organizing for 90 cents. It has some really cute ideas and inspiring photos. I like it. Got the old McCall’s Needlework for about 80 cents. It’s from ‘77 and has some funny ads in it, as well as some cute projects. The retro Indian and Chinese poster art greeting cards were about 35 cents each. I love the little space travelers! You can see more of them here!

I’ve been busy working on my craft room, hence the lack of posts lately, but it is nearing completion! I hope to finish organizing and putting things away soon, and I’ll share the final results!

We brought the defective Expedit bookcase piece back to IKEA, and the exchange was no problem! Also, my smooth-talking husband was able to talk them into giving us a $15 gift card for our troubles. That was very nice. I quickly blew that of course. It was not a drop in the bucket towards my purchase of two Alex drawer units. These were originally on my list of new furniture for my craft room, but I decided to take them off to lower the bill a little. However, I decided I would buy them eventually anyway, so what difference did it make if I got them now or later? They will be wonderful to put paper in. So excited to get organized!

After we left IKEA, we went over to the mall to get dinner and wander around a little. I stopped at Archiver’s and picked up the preservation supplies for my scrapbooks, some awesome paper, and a new book!

It’s The Doodle Formula by Adrienne Looman.

I was captured right away by the doodley goodness on the cover. Inside, it’s like a design class for doodling. The author presents some great principles about what makes a doodle attractive, tools for doodling, finding your “doodle personality”, ideas on making and using doodles…

It’s quite inspiring! The author insists that everyone can make great doodles, and that making doodles of that caliber do not require any special talents.

Not too long ago, I acquired a Family Circle from April 1956. The cover price was only seven cents! (I paid $1) How could I pass it up with great ads like these!? When you flip open the cover, the first thing you see is this poor outcast. If only she knew the answer to all her problems was mouthwash. (Click each ad for a readable size!)

Readers of this issue are also treated to this appetizing ad for green pea soup. Can anyone say Exorcist?

I am also led to believe that people in this period in time are incredibly obsessed with their digestion. There are five ads in this one magazine about various laxatives and indigestion relief products.

Even children are not exempt from the worries of *gasp* constipation. Children of all ages even!

The kid in this laxative ad looks like he just crapped up a storm and he couldn’t be prouder! Don’t you love how dramatic the facial expressions are? The headlines and body copy have a tendency towards uber-dramatic too.

Look at the brow furrowing on this chica! I cannot imagine a more dramatic look of discomfort.

Finally, here’s another dramatic ad for the ladies! Why be old-fashioned!? Make sure you’re not sadly behind the times! haha