Thrifty 1940's Kitchen Tips From Farmer's Wives

Thrift in the kitchen, tips & recipes from readers published in the Farm Journal and Farmer's Wife Magazine (February, 1943).

The "Things Your Grandmother Knew To The Rescue" Contest

I have not forsaken ye. It's been a hectic few weeks to say the least, but I am alive and well -- even if I think I have the vapors from my interview in Collectors News magazine. I just need a little more time to sort through the magazines & scan for you. Meanwhile, you can really clean-up here with this giveaway contest...

Things Your Grandmother Knew To The Rescue!

Since I'm a member of the Spray 'n Wash Mom Panel, I'm giving away nifty Spray 'n Wash Bright & White mini washing machine-themed boxes with full-size 44 oz bottles of Spray 'n Wash Bright & White to two lucky winners!


Spray 'n Wash Bright & White is an effective alternative to bleach, specially formulated to remove stains and keep brights bright and whites white wash after wash -- safe to use even on clothing with tags that read "Do Not Bleach." Spray 'n Wash Bright & White can be used in-wash with your regular detergent, as well as be used as pre-wash spot treatment and a pre-wash soak treatment.

Here's How You Enter

Do any/all of the following:

1) Leave a comment telling me what stain or type of fabric you can't wait to try this on, or what garment or textile you want to try to rescue with Spray 'n Wash Bright & White.

2) Blog your "rescue" story -- If you use this entry option, you must link to this blog post and to Spray 'n Wash Bright & White -- and don't forget to leave a comment here with a link to your post so that I can find it!

3) Follow me on Twitter. (If you already follow me, leave a comment with your Twitter name &/or link.)

4) Tweet a link to this contest post and leave me a comment with a link to your tweet.

You may enter multiple ways, for multiple entries -- but you must be sure I have your email address so that, in the event that you win, I can contact you to get your mailing address.

While you wait to find out who wins, check out the sweepstakes at ListenToYourClothes.com. You could win one of more than 80 prizes throughout the year -- including the Grand Prize of a laundry room makeover, one year supply of Bright & White, and a clothing stipend! The total Grand Prize is valued at $10,000! Sweepstakes is open for entry through December 31, 2009.

You'll get an extra entry in the contest if you enter the ListenToYourClothes Sweepstakes and comment with the link to your entry too.

So let me recap: There are five ways to enter, and multiple entries are allowed -- but you must be sure I have your email address so that in the event that you win I can contact you to get your mailing address.

Comments/entries without a means to contact will not be entered into the contest.

This giveaway is open to residents of the US only.

Entries must be received before 4 PM, central time, April 20, 2009. Two winners will be drawn at random from a shoe box by (my daughter's) hand.

Changing Children's Clothes -- Over Time

Going to be in London by April 19th? Then please be sure to check out Top to Toe: Fashion for Kids exhibit at the V&A Museum of Childhood:

Drawn from the Museum's outstanding collection, Top to Toe uncovers the fascinating world of children's clothing from 250 years ago to the present day.

Developments in the 'form and function' of children's clothes are explored using a number of themes - Milestones, Changing Fashions, Fashion Drivers and Practical Fashion. The exhibition features over 100 items, including a 19th century Burnous cloak, a 1920s Christening bonnet and the iconic 1970s parka.

Anniversary Gifts & Colors

In Bridal Madness: Vintage Bridal & Baby Shower Party Plans, I show off some scans from vintage publications -- mostly mocking them. But one page, from The Bride’s Party Book (published by Dennison), has a "Dates To Remember" list. This page not only has the traditional anniversary gifts (paper for the first anniverary, etc.) but "suggested colors to use for each"; I'm guessing the colors are for gift selection as well as colors for party decorations.



I always find it a bit sad that after the 15th anniversary, anniversaries are not list for each year, but are then acknowledged in five and even 10 year increments. Is say the 19th year, the 34th or the 62nd any less special and remarkable?

Crafty Ideas For Needlework & Other Kits With Small Wooden Frames

If you're like me, you have a lot of those small needlework projects in frames -- some may be done, some may still be in the packaging. *wink* And if you're teaching your children needlework or they enjoy the hobby, then you have even more of them.

Wall space is a limited thing, so I'm always looking for new ways to show-off the works. This 1978 ad from Sunset Designs, "Needle Pointers" has "Crafty Ideas" for using your Needlepointers kits. I'm sure they can be used with other kits with wooden frames -- or just be used with wooden frames for photographs etc.


Shown here are ideas to add small hooks to hang hot pads, toothbrushes, etc., hinging frames together to make small boxes, and combining four frames together to form a box (in this case, set inside a hanging plant holder -- presumably with the plant already secured in a ceramic or plastic pot with no drainage holes).

Frame Gardens & Other February Gardening Tips

Start your garden and other February gardening tips from Farm Journal and Farmer's Wife Magazine (February, 1943).

Cloth Tote Bags

PETA preaches the virtues of taking your own shopping bags to the store; I concur with all of them -- except for the problem of "the clutter of saved plastic bags." We reuse our plastic bags:

* liners in small wastebaskets in the bedrooms and bath

* use for daily cleaning of the kitty's litter box

* to wrap and carry spoiled food from the fridge, taking it directly to the outside garbage can

* packing material for shipping things

* and while we've never used it, the old put your foot in a bag then slide it in a tight boot *wink*

However, cloth tote bags are much nicer for trips to the store when we walk (and we are known around our neighborhood for walking to the store!).

Using tote bags can also help with budgeting; if you only brought two tote bags with you, you're more mindful not to buy things you don't really need which won't fit in the tote bags. *wink*

The downside is you are spending money on cloth totes. But, as PETA mentions, purchasing a tote from your favorite organization helps support the cause you believe in and it literally helps you carry your message to others.

Since totes are popular, the four we have we received free from local companies; so super cheap thrift score!

Make A Hanging Wall Desk

Another practical project from The Family Handyman (March 1956), this wall desk is a space saver, turning any small space in a kitchen (or other room) into a good workspace for making your grocery list -- or for the kids to do their homework while you're nearby supervising. It will easily accommodate such modern things as a laptop too.

Quilting With Obama - Literally

Barbara Brackman and Deb Rowden designed an Obama's Rising Star quilt block:


Here's more information on making your own Obama printed fabric:

You can't buy this fabric but you can print it yourself and make your own Obama quilt. To celebrate the Inauguration I have put some downloadable PDF's here that you can print onto fabric with your digital inkjet color printer.
OBAMA Fabric
Obama Biden Bandana

You need 8 1/2 x 11" fabric sheets that are treated to make them light fast and wash resistant. Check out this web page for Electric Quilt's treated sheets: Electric Quilt.

Suburban Diva Bloggy Giveaway Winner

Congratulations to Demmi of Lucky Rosie's -- she won my Bloggy Giveaway of Suburban Diva's book!

Crochet A Vintage Pineapple Apron

Got a copy of Old & New Favorites by Special Request (copyright 1947 The Spool Cotton Company, distributors for J&P Coats, Clark's, Chadwick's Red Heart) at a thrift store Saturday. I paid the same price today as the cover price -- a whopping 10 cents! I just had to share the instructions for making this Pineapple Apron (No. 7773-B) with you -- it's just too sweet!

(As always, click the images for larger, easier to read scans.)