The Workbasket Magazine, not one or two, but a nearly complete collection of issues from 1952 to 1960.
Say it with me now: Bo-Nan-Za!
This magazine is a treasure trove of handi-crafted miracles of semi-modern housewiffery including recipes, gardening, canning tips and all make and model of needlework.
Not to mention the advertising, which is the absolute last word on the fact that we have indeed "Come a long way, baby". (Ummm, "Free Style Book For The Stout", anyone?) It is chock fill of kitschy advise and ideas for a crafty girl who is just trying to hustle up a crafty buck. Want to make a few pennies off your neighbors? Plant a tiny succulent in cleaned out marrow bones! I bet they sell like hotcakes. My! Now, that is crafty.
Relax honey... I said you looked "kitschy"However, I will be using my Wednesday blog space to share some tasty tidbits found in their slightly yellowed pages.
And Today, we will start with
"Success With Stuffies"
(click pages to enlarge and print)
Additional Sizes Also Available on my Flickr Page.
"Success With Stuffies"
(click pages to enlarge and print)
Additional Sizes Also Available on my Flickr Page.
What a treasure trove!
ReplyDeleteBO-NAN-ZA!
ReplyDeleteWhat a score and how much fun.
Ah! I remember ads for making a buck off each box when you sell your friends really ugly Christmas cards! It seemed like a money maker to me. I think I was six at the time.
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to more of these bad boys! I always enjoy your blog.
How fantastic! I never find anything this fab!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great find! I have an old sewing book from 1949 with the section, "Fitting a Chubby Girl."
ReplyDeleteI saw these on your flickr and just about died. Will keep my eyes peeled for those listings.
ReplyDeleteMy grandmother gave me a stack of them. I scoured them for projects that I would like to do ... and found nothing, so I ditched them. I wish I'd kept them ... just a little.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great reminder! When I was little, my G'ma had a boat load of those. The articles and instructions were all way over my head, but I do attribute my craftiness to being exposed to so inspiration at such an early age.
ReplyDeleteI have a big box of these in my garage...treasures from Grandma. Don't know if I can part with them though!
ReplyDeleteMy grandma subscribed to Workbasket magazine and made many things out of them. When she died I got them, but after many years and moves they were disintegrating and had to be tossed out. Your post brought back great memories of pouring through the magazines and watching my grandma make crocheted lace trimmed pillowcases, doilies and some of the more questionable crafty stuff from the 70's. I remember a pretty awful red, white and blue granny square crocheted vest...which I actually wore (cringe)
ReplyDeleteSusan
i've just recently found some WORKBASKET magazine at the thrift store...they certainly have a little bit of everything.
ReplyDeleteLove these little mags! My grandma still has a large basket full of these which she still refers to from time to time!
ReplyDelete