With this pandemic in full force rigor , keeping us at arms length , I have dove into my barn looking for a reason to work. I am like most, I have watched too much television, I have eaten too much,slept too much, and paid way too much attention to the maps and graphs and daily death tolls. It has sent me into a depression and I only want to sleep, and hope the day is brighter when I wake up.
As I do this, I realize that opportunity is here. Knocking on my head like a beast who wishes to enter and help, and I am keeping the door closed, my mind closed, trying to pretend that all in normal. There is a lot to be said about being able to stay home, even if your money is running out,bills are going to be late and food , not to mention toilet paper is getting low.
I still have the ability to do lots of things. One thing I can do is check out the awesome old books I have in the barn.. I have hundreds. I am a hoarder of things people want to throw away. I do not gather things people want, that to me would be ridicules. I gather things that people would rather toss. Not garbage, but items there seems to be no use for anymore .
Lots of people started minimizing. Minimalist behavior was starting to become the new thing, until facebook group walked in and showed these true believers things like “collections” then it was no holds barred. Suddenly people were scrounging for things I kept. Let them. There is plenty for us all. I still have a whole barn full of boxes full that I wanted to sell. Put into a brick and mortar antique shop , not to much different than the girl in breast whisperer. I mean Ghost Whisperer.. of course.
There is no reason I cannot delve into the past and post a book I found today in a box…
Creative Ideas for Christmas ~ 1985
That’s right! 1985, baby. These books were probably put out every year. Oxmore House produced these. It is a hardcover book full of crafts and ideas for a world before Corona. When people still had decent insurance, and good jobs, and cocaine was still a thing . Block parties, underage drinking, staying away from touchy uncles, and pot was illegal and still fun to try to grow from the upstairs window of your two story house… but I regress……
Nancy Janice Fitzpatrick compiled this book.. It was probably harder than it is today. She didn’t have pinterest to give her ideas. She probably had to actually make phone calls.
If you want to check this book out, I am going to be selling it on Ebay , unless after writing this, I find it so awesome, I keep it.
There are a lot of really neat ideas actually . The book is full of them. ( and no… I didn’t have a touchy uncle…. but I know they were out there, and I knew how to stay away from the ones who looked sketchy.) Reading through it is better than a session on Etsy.
Highlights include:
How to make a punched tin light. This is awesome, since I see these for sale sometimes, and I really want to learn how to do this.
The Merry Mailbox is especially cool. It is a goose!! Make a goose mailbox! Dude…. you know you want one of these. Of course you need a band saw… Honey? do we own a band saw? I think we have one! I’m excited now! I’m serious. I want to make my mailbox into a goose.
The “Decorate With What You Have” page has some neat ideas for us poor folk. Like vases made out of old coke bottles.. of course… who has old coke bottles? I have some plastic ones….
Wooden elves shelf sitters…. but those take wood working again, and I do not know if I am down with that.
Woven ornaments from felt. These look pretty fun to make. Felt and ribbon.
Felt onaments. I always loved these. Now, there is a pattern!
Two rag dolls! I am a sucker for rag dolls. I don’t know why, I am not really a doll person, but there is something about rag dolls… I am going to have to check this one out too.
Notepads from strips of fabric. That is super cool. I like these. You can update these and make them even better than the ones they show.
Playful puppy pillow. You know deep in your soul that you would like one of these.
Pet stockings!, A band of Carolers, A creepy terry cloth clown ice pack…. yikes…(You can give that to the touchy uncle who gets punched) ,A starry night afghan, ….
Now for the awesome recipes!!! I don’t wanna talk about them, cause they are way, way too tempting right now . Look at the table of contents… I dare you…. Especially the hot buttered drink mix, Jesus,Mary, and Joseph….. Hot Toddys,Mulled Cider, and Cafe au Lait will never be the same. Swiss Almond Tea Wafers!!! Agh! They have those little silver beads on them… Oh dear…. I could go on and on…… But I am hungry now.
Needless to say, I think this book is a treasure trove of ideas and really great recipes, and with us all in quarantine, it is nice to look back into the past before Keto Diets and Monster drinks…… Have yourself some breakaway vegetable bread. I know I am going to give it a go…..
I give this book five stars . It should be a treasure in everyone’s kitchen and a gift you could give your very best friend.