Hello! I've never been one to participate in the big Black Friday sales, but now that some of the local thrift stores have their own Black Friday sales, I'm all in those!
I visited two such sales last Friday, where clothes and/or housewares had reduced prices for the day. I did check out both categories, but I couldn't resist the already-low prices of various Christmas items, such as:
A vintage Hallmark Beverage Ensemble- 16 coasters and matching napkins. Not sure how old this is, but I'm guessing from the 1960's. Similar NOS (new old stock) sets on eBay go for several dollars more than the one dollar I paid for mine.
A nice assortment of vintage Christmas craft magazines. The one on the right is the oldest, dating from 1969. The one on the left is the newest; it came out in 1979. The two publications in between are both from 1976. The pieces of paper sticking out of these magazines were used by me to write down the page numbers of projects I may want to try in the future.
Don't laugh - it's not unusual for me to see projects in these magazines, and realize I'd seen very similar crafts in their present-day counterparts. I wouldn't be surprised to learn that vintage craft magazines are perused by the folks at Martha Stewart Living and all those holiday "special publications" from Better Homes & Gardens to come up with ideas for their own issues. Of course, these modern crafters take advantage of present-day craft supplies when they write up their instructions. Naturally, I do as well.
At any rate, it was fun to look through these magazines; made a Thanksgiving weekend car trip fly by! Not bad for a total of one dollar for all.
Another possibility for Christmas crafting, this time an older hardcover book:
Leslie Linsley's Christmas Ornaments and Stockings, published in 1982. I've picked up other craft books by this author at secondhand sources over the years. Most of her patterns are full-size, have good directions and are easy to make. This book is no exception; I saw many projects that would still look good today.
Thus, it was no mystery that I'd fork over 50 cents for this book. What was a mystery to me is how this book ended up in West Michigan. It was once in the collection of the Bayard, Nebraska public library!
Lest you think I just bought things that are decades old, here's the last purchase from my Black Friday thrift store shopping:
The current issue of Midwest Living magazine. I don't recall what its newsstand price is (maybe $3.99?), but it's certainly more than the quarter I spent!
Such good deals I found on Black Friday! And just think, the same two thrift stores I visited then will start marking down their Christmas items in a couple of weeks or so. More shopping ahead for me!
Hello! I've never actually never been to Plymouth, MA, but I bought this recently at a thrift store to add to my Thanksgiving decor:
It's a fold-up postcard. When its front and back covers are separated, several scenes around Plymouth around Plymouth are revealed.
The rock that started it all, Plymouth Rock, of course.
The Fountain to Pilgrim Mothers, and the Pilgrim Maiden statue.
National Monument to the Forefathers, and a drawing of Priscilla and John Alden.
Myles Standish Monument and Statue of Massasoit, Protector of the Pilgrims.
The Mayflower, Pilgrims Going to Church, Sarcophagus, Coles Hill and Model of the Mayflower, Pilgrim Hall.
Above, Grave of Myles Standish (in Duxbury, MA) and below, Grave of Governor William Bradford.
These are just some of the scenes in this set. The (presumably) original price of 10c is written on the front right-hand corner; I paid a quarter for it. Not bad, when a current eBay listing for this item is $14.99. Not sure how old this postcard is, but the seller states it's from the 1940's.
Well, whether one's been to Plymouth, MA or not, here's wishing you and yours a Happy Thanksgiving!
Hello! Recently I bought a small plastic case full of vintage needlework supplies at a church rummage sale. Sure, I was glad about my one-dollar purchase, but the icing on the cake was this unexpected find at the bottom of the case:
A vintage medically-theme booklet: "prepared by E. R. Squibb & Sons", as it states on the inside back cover. But here, the front cover shows a woman dressed up in dress, heels, hat and gloves to visit the radiology department.
Not sure what year this booklet was produced, but judging by the clothing, I'd say sometime in the 1950's or 1960's.
So, why is Milady heading to Radiology? We'll learn that soon, but first we must learn this:
Yes, indeed, "X-rays are medical tools of great importance"!
Now we get to the crux of the matter: "Sometimes the gallbladder or ducts become infected or stopped up. If your gallbladder is not functioning properly, you may feel indisposed". Milady may feel merely "indisposed", but the illustration shows her grimacing with the pain in her side.
But never fear! "The radiologist is a specialist. He has had years of training and experience."
Therefore: "Pretend that you are going to have your picture taken and sit back and leave all the details to your radiologist or his technician. They will take one or more pictures and the procedure will be entirely free of discomfort and pain".
Things must have gone well, for the back cover shows this illustration:
Milady's "picture taking" finished, she is now fluffing up her hair. After all, it must have gotten mussed up from having to put on the hospital gown shown in the previous photo.
All's well that ends well, thanks to the miracle of modern radiology!
(Note: if the name "E.R. Squibb & Sons" sounds familiar, it's because the firm is now part of Bristol-Meyer Squibb company. Edward Robinson Squibb had a very full life in medicine: he worked as a Navy doctor during the Mexican-American War, and after that started his pharmaceutical manufacturing business in 1858. He obviously had success in this endeavor quickly, for his firm became a major medicine supplier for the Union Army during the Civil War.
The Squibb company merged with Bristol-Meyer in 1989.)
