vintage cookbooks

[anastasiabeaverhausen]

welcome kupton!  wow what a collection!! I collect for my sis in law, she mainly collects the cookbooks that food companies put out in pamphlet form, she of course collects all kinda but those are her favorites. My son now cooks and collects as well, and I LOVE the 60's and prior cookbooks and homemaker books, the graphics and pics and the ideas on how a successful home should run...and all the DRINKING ppl did in the past before and with and after their meals..good gracious! I know you will enjoy it here..again welcome!

[nancydr2]

I've been obsessed with vintage cookbooks lately, but I've been using them for crafty purposes.  When I shop for them, I'm definitely looking for the graphics.  Before Christmas, I made a ton of trivets for gifts.  I used a thrifted glass plate, images from old cookbooks and some dimensional objects (dollhouse miniatures, charms, etc.).  After creating the collage inside the plate, I covered it all with resin.  They are really fun, but they end up weighing a ton and are therefore not great for mailing.  I've attached a couple of pictures, including one of a special Liberace themed trivet I made for my friend Joe (I actually made a pair of the Liberace trivets, but the other one is a tiny bit suggestive and I don't want to risk offending anyone).  I just can't believe people get rid of this stuff!

[anastasiabeaverhausen]

those are fabulous!!!!!! Im such a crafty wannabe..ya'll really inspire me..and well...thats as far as it gets....what other goodies do you make???

[valleythriftshopper]

Those are great!  You've given me some ideas, I'm signed up for a decoupage class that starts in a few weeks.

[kupton]

I love your plates they are totally awesome. Do you sell them, or just make them for yourself. Its like scrapbooking on a plate...very creative!

I am lucky to have a husband who understands my need for “stuff”. We built a new home 12 years ago and built our home to accommodate all of my collections. I will try to take some pictures of some of my cookbooks and some of the bookcases we have for them. I will have to learn how to post the pictures; I know how to shop, but am technical challenged when it comes to electronics.

Again thanks to all for this wonderful site and all of the posts. I have learned so much and have found many more things to collect…Gotta have more stuff!

[foutchie]

Wow!  those trivets are fabulous!

[genuineimitation]

those trivets are the best! you might consider selling some at the local gourmet shops..

maybe one could be part of the first anual thrifties awards we were discussing on another thread...

[nancydr2]

I would happily donate one for the Thrifties.  I've not tried selling them, but I have kicked around the idea.  Right now, I'm just having fun with them.  When it comes to arts and crafts, I tend to be obsessive compulsive about one thing four about 4-6 months, then I drop it in favor of something new.   

I helped my 8 year old nephew make one of these to give to his mom for her birthday.  It turned out to be a great project for a kid that age and my sister-in-law loved it. I used the lid of an old Pyrex casserole for that one which added to the vintage look. If you're looking for something to do with a kid, I highly recommend this.  What's more, everything, but the decoupage medium and the resin can be thrifted!

[oceangurl]

Those are awesome nancydr2! I have alot of vintage cookbooks and you have given me some ideas, btw where do you find the decopauge and the resin? And you said you used a pyrex casserole cover didnt the knob from the top make it wobbly when you placed it upright, or maybe Iam not understanding! Anyhow those are great, if you feel like it maybe you could post the instructions or email me so I can figure out how to do that, its a great idea, and your very talented! Iam also pretty crafty but I have never done that or thought of that and the Liberace one is so kitchy! Cool!!!!

[nancydr2]

Oceangurl, I get resin at Michael's...  it's called Envirotex Lite and I think they keep it near the adhesives.  You want to find a 40% off coupon from the Sunday paper before you go as the larger kit costs around $26 (you can make 4-6 trivets from that, depending on their size).   If you want to pay full price (ha!), you can also get it at Ace Hardware.  Joann's hasn't caught on to resin crafts yet so they don't carry it.  Hobby Lobby may carry it, too.

You can buy the decoupage medium at any craft store like Michael's.  I had always bought good, old-fashioned Mod Podge, but I recently discovered a product called Collage Pauge and will never go back! 

The Pyrex cover I used had a flat top with handles on either end. 

I'd be happy to write up some instructions on how to do it and email it to you, or I can post them if others are interested.

[oceangurl]

Thanx for the info Nancydr2! I appreciate it and if you would like to email me or if others would like for you to share it here on this forum feel free, either way you want to do or feel comfortable with, once again thanx!!!

[Thrift Shop Romantic]

Interesting work! Do you scan and color print the images, or just use the cookbooks themselves?

[nancydr2]

TSR,

I'm lazy and I have a crappy printer so I use the images right out of the book.

BTW, I love the laxative ads on your blog.  Hilarious!

[valleythriftshopper]

TSR,

BTW, I love the laxative ads on your blog.  Hilarious!

Me too, I was researching old radio shows to find some recordings of my grandparents who used to sing on the radio & I found a Fred Allen show with a recording I was interested in.  It was spnsored by Sal Hepatica.  In an hour long show, the part I was interested in wasn't until minute 45, so I had to listen to 45 minutes of old timey comedy (not so funny in this case) & Sal Hepatica ads.  Each one recommended the laxitive for a different use, for every malady you could think of.  I wonder if people took these commercials at face value back then or understood there was some exaggeration in them. 

[Thrift Shop Romantic]

Thanks very much, Nancy and Valley-- so glad you got a kick out of them, too!!

Valley- in answer to your question, I had two ladies in my comments section in the last day or so share how when they were young, they had to take Sal Hepatica and Castoria for everything. It brought them back some funny (but not-so-fond) memories.

So it's really looking like the answer is yes. They were really big on laxatives then!

Never know what you'll find lurking in old ephemera!!