Tools from the Past

I was reading a newsletter from the Miami County, KS. Historical Museum. They also had a column called "Tools from the Past: Whatisit?" A couple caught my eye, because they look like tools we presently use in paper arts. I wondered how many of our craft tools we use today started life in another form?


Click to enlarge

Embosser

Embossed image from embosser tool above

What's dis? It's wooden, slides forward and back, looks like it has a long metal needle at the end and is labeled "TRU-GYDE by Wilson Brothers, Springfield, Missouri." I think I know what it's for, but can you guess?

On a recommendation from a lady I talked to at a thrift store in Blue Springs, my hubbin and I visited The Brass Armadillo Antique Mall in Grain Valley last weekend. We were there all afternoon and only got through perhaps 2/3 of it. It's huge and packed to the rafters with all kinds of goodies.
Each aisle has a "street name" hanging above it and each booth or showcase has a number so navigation is no problem. I saw this old spinning wheel and had to take a pic. Sorry for the fuzzy photo; phone camera not so good. Saw several of the rug-hooking shuttles in smaller versions there also. Looked for other ladies crafting tools, but mostly saw woodworking tools like planes, etc. 

My husband & I stopped at the Keeper’s Antique Mall off 71 Hwy in Harrisonville, MO. last Saturday and we found these wonderful antique display cases. The first one is a Corticelli Silk Cabinet for Sewing and Knitting. The last few drawers still had the wooden separators for the tiny balls of silk thread. 

And then, hubby uncovered this clever ribbon display case in the back of the antique shop. It was a circular wooden case on a turntable at the base of it. The sales clerk could open each side to change the galvanized metal spools of ribbon as needed. The ribbon was inserted into slots cut into the sides and if you wanted to purchase a length of ribbon, all the sales clerk had to do was to pull out the little stop knob to release the specific spool and pull on the ribbon until you had the amount you wanted, then she released the little knob and it sprung back into place to hold the spool still while she cut it. I have an up close photo so you can see the knobs and slots below.

You know, I was drooling! I love ribbon and laces and could imagine my ribbon & laces which are currently housed in shoeboxes fluttering in the air as I twirled the cabinet around to select one in my studio, but the bubble above my head burst when I saw the price tag. It was not to be! Sigh!

All Occasion Cards



I found this cartoon in an old magazine which leads me to ask you: so how many occasions have you made cards for? How about the one below?
 

 

Hand-crafted vs. Store-bought

 

It has come to my attention recently, through a reliable resource, that the Kansas City Toys for Tots Organization will only accept new store-bought toys in the original cardboard packaging. They will not accept hand-crafted toys such as wooden ones made by a local woodworkers guild.

Now that seems a shame, because those kind of toys were precisely the ones I sought for my son when he was younger (he's now 27) as they held up better than the cheap plastic toys, took more imagination to play with and didn't have to have costly batteries all the time in order to work. In fact, we still have many of his wooden toys in a basket under the coffee table for the some-day grandchildren to play with. All my friends' grand-children know where that basket is when they come over to my house. There is a wooden shoe lovingly made by a girlfriend's husband when my son was learning to tie his shoes and I later had it with me when I was teaching my Pre-K Sunday School class. My sister painted a bunch of wooden cars for his Christmas one year. The same girlfriend above and I painted wooden houses together for a village so his wooden cars would have something to drive to. We were making toys and memories. I have a wooden nativity set, Noah's ark figures and animals.

We searched historical museum gift shops for wooden toys and once bought a wooden climbing bear from Silver Dollar City in Branson, MO. Wooden puzzles stand up better than cardboard ones and my toddler son loved building with his wooden blocks and knocking them over.

I guess what I'm trying to say is, as a crafter, if you are going to donate items to any organization, go to the top and find out precisely to the letter what their rules are. The woodworkers guild I mentioned above were heartsick when they found out Toys for Tots threw their wooden toys away after spending so much time, effort, and material to make them. After that, they did their homework and found another organization who was absolutely delighted to accept their hand-crafted toys.

 

Merry Christmas Everyone and a Happy New Year!

Junking at the Lake

We attended a cousin's funeral this last weekend near the Lake of the Ozarks on Friday, and Saturday, we visited a few thrift stores we know about. I found a Home Interiors Chicken Teapot at the Packrat Thrift Store in Versailles, Missouri. This thrift store is housed in an old brick schoolhouse and is packed three-floors high with goodies and stays open until five on Saturday. A couple of stores in Eldon, MO. lost our business because they closed early. Too Bad! Ha! Ha!

 

My Collection of Mary Engelbreit Books

* IN MY HOME LIBRARY *

My girlfriends and husband often ask me if I have this or that Mary Engelbreit book when out thrift shopping and since I can't remember everything I have in my ME collection, I've decided to compile a list of books I do have (I have a few other ME items), so they can reference it from their phones. 

Google Bookshelf here

My Mary Engelbreit biography (off-blog) 
= + = + = + = + = + =

1992. The Baby Book. Andrews and McMeel. KCMO. 

1992. A Good Marriage. Andrews and McMeel. 

1992. Chair of Bowlies Embroidery Patterns #206. Dimensions, Reading, PA.

1992. For Mother O'Mine. Andrews and McMeel. 

1992. Life is Just a Chair of Bowlies. Andrews and McMeel. 

1992. Pals. Andrews and McMeel. 

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1993. Believe. Andrews and McMeel. 

1993. Don't Waste the Miracle. Andrews and McMeel's Gift Book

1993. A Mother's Journal: A Collection of Family Memories. Andrews and McMeel.

1993. The Snow Queen. By Hans Christian Anderson. Illustrated by ME. Workman Publishing.

1993. Thank You. Andrews and McMeel.  

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1994. Christmas Journal. Mary Engelbreit. Andrews and McMeel. 

1994. Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion. Andrews and McMeel. (Autographed, 1997). 

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1995. Home Sweet Home: A Homeowner's Journal and Project Planner. Andrews and McMeel. 
1995. Memories (2 different scrapbooks). Andrews and McMeel. 

1995. That's What Friends Are For. Andrews and McMeel. 

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1996. Autumn. Andrews McMeel.

1996. Mary Engelbreit: The Art and the Artist. Andrews and McMeel. 

1996. Mary Engelbreit's Outdoor Companion. Andrews McMeel.  

1996. Mary Engelbreit's Winter. Andrews McMeel.

1996. Something Tells Me It's Your Birthday: A Changing Picture Book. Andrews and McMeel. 

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1997. A Book About Tea: Time for Tea with Mary Engelbreit. Andrews McMeel. 

1997. Mary Engelbreit's Children's Companion. By Charlotte Lyons. Andrew McMeel. 

1997. Mary Engelbreit's Spring Craft Book. Andrews McMeel.

1997. Mary Engelbreit's Summer Craft Book. Andrews and McMeel. 
1997. My Symphony. By Wm. Henry Channing. Illustrated by Mary Engelbreit. Andrew McMeel. 

1997. the wit and whimsy of Mary Engelbreit. Andrews McMeel. 

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1998. Believe: Christmas Treasury. Andrews McMeel.
1998. Mary Engelbreit's Cookies Cookbook: The Queen's Best Recipes. Andrews McMeel. 

1998. Mary Engelbreit's Queen of the Kitchen Cookbook. Andrews McMeel.
1998. This Woman Deserves a Party! Andrews McMeel. 

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1999. Count Your Blessings - a photo album. Andrews McMeel. 

1999. Crafts to Decorate Your Home. Meredith Press. Des Moines, IA. 

1999. Mary Engelbreit: Crafts to Decorate Your Home. Meredith Press.

1999. Mary Engelbreit: Hey, Kids! Come Craft With Me. Meredith Press.
1999. Mary Engelbreit's A Very Mary Christmas: a collection of holiday art. Andrews McMeel. 

1999. Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion: Paint. By Vitta Poplar. Andrews McMeel.
1999. Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion: Plates. Andrews McMeel. 
1999. Mary Engelbreit's Sweet Treats Dessert Cookbook. Andrews McMeel. 

1999. Mary Engelbreit: Wrap It Up! Gifts to Make, Wrap and Give. Meredith Press. 

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2000. Mary Engelbreit A Book Is A Present You Can Open Again and Again. A Little Book Library. (All You Need is a Friend; Don't Look Back; Life is Just a Chair of Bowlies; She Who Loves a Garden.) Andrew McMeel. 

2000. Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion: Leading the Artful Life. Andrews McMeel. 
2000. Mary Engelbreit's Tis the Season Holiday Cookbook. Andrews McMeel. 

2000. Mother O'Mine: A Mother's Treasury. Andrews McMeel. 
2000. Words for Mothers To Live By. Andrews McMeel. 

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2001. Christmas with Mary Engelbreit: Let the Merry Making Begin. By Virginia Carey. Andrews McMeel. Vol. 1

2001. Decorating Ideas: Projects To Make for Indoors and Out. Meredith Press. 
2001. Happy to You: It's Your Birthday. Andrews McMeel. 
2001. Mary Engelbreit Christmas Ideas: Make Good Cheer. Meredith Press.
2001. Mary Engelbreit Decorating Ideas: Projects to Make for Indoors and Out. Meredith Press. 

2001. Mary Engelbreit's Dining Out Cookbook. Andrews McMeel. 
2001. Mary Engelbreit's Let's Party Cookbook. Andrews McMeel.  
2001. Mary Engelbreit Poster Book Classic Collection. Andrews McMeel. 

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2002. Christmas with Mary Engelbreit: Here Comes Santa Claus. By Vitta Poplar. Andrews McMeel. 

2002. The Night Before Christmas. Illustrated by Mary Engelbreit. Harper Collins Publishers. 

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2003. Anne Estelle Stories: Queen of Christmas. Harper Collins. 
2003. The Best Christmas Ever with Mary Engelbreit. Andrews McMeel.
2003. Bloom Where You're Planted. Leisure Arts.
2003. "Breit" Ideas for Home Décor. Leisure Arts.
2003. Cute Clutter Keepers. Leisure Arts.
2003. ho ho ho. Written by Patrick Regan. Andrews McMeel. 
2003. Mary Engelbreit's You're Invited: A Cookbook for Special Occasions. Andrews McMeel. 
2003. Words for Gardeners to Live By. Andrews McMeel. 

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2004. “Breit” Quilts to Applique. #3752. Leisure Arts. 

2004. Making Memories with Mary Engelbreit. #3420 Leisure Arts. 
2004. Sew Mary! Leisure Arts. 

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2005. Art Made Easy With Mary Engelbreit. #22577. Vol. 3. Leisure Arts.

2005. Mary Engelbreit's Mother Goose: One Hundred Best-Loved Verses. Harper-Collins. 
2005. Strokes of Whimsy. Leisure Arts. 

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2006. Artful Words: Mary Engelbreit and the Illustrated Quote. By Patrick Regan. Andrews McMeel. 

2006. (mini yellow photo album). #45520. Colorbok

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2007. Mary Engelbreit Artistic Needle Felting. Leisure Arts. 

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2010. Anne Estelle's Celebrations in Paper Dolls. Leisure Arts. 
2010. Mary Engelbreit's Fan Fare Cookbook: 120 Family Favorite Recipes. Andrews McMeel. 

2010. Paper Crafts with Ann Estelle & Friends. Leisure Arts.

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2012. One Spark of Imagination Spiral tablet. 

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2016. Mary Engelbreit's Color Me (red cover). Harper Collins. 

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NO DATE:  Christmas Photo Album. Andrews and McMeel. 

NO DATE: Count Your Blessings Journal. Andrews McMeel Publishing.  
NO DATE: Friends Addresses. Andrews and McMeel. 
NO DATE: Home Is Where the Heart Is Photos. Andrews and McMeel. 
NO DATE: Journal: The Real Voyage of Discovery. Antioch. #AR-OOO. 

NO DATE: Mary Engelbreit Lunacy Game

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* CALENDARS * 

1989. Family Traditions. Workman Publishing, New York.

1990. In Agreement with Nature. Workman Publishing, New York.

1992. Count Your Blessings. Workman Pub, NY

2011. All the Happiness You Can Handle. Andrews McMeel Publishing, Kansas City, Missouri.

2012. Wit and Whimsy. Andrews McMeel Pub, KCMO. 

2013. Step by Step. Andrews McMeel Pub, KCMO. 

2013-2014. Moms Can Do Anything. Andrews McMeel Pub, KCMO. 

2014-2015. Moms Can Do Anything. Andrews McMeel Pub, KCMO. 

2017. How Sweet It is. Andrews McMeel Pub, KCMO. 

2017-2018. Moms Can Do Anything! Andrews McMeel Pub, KCMO. 

2018. Every Picture Tells a Story. Andrews McMeel Pub, KCMO. 

2018. Live a Life of Love. (Desktop Calendar). Andrews McMeel Pub, KCMO. 

2019. Everyone Understands Kindness. Andrews McMeel Pub, KCMO. 

2021. Every Moment Matters (Desktop Calendar). Andrews McMeel Pub, KCMO.

NO DATE:  Happy to You: A Year of Birthdays, Anniversaries, and Special Days (Perpetual Calendar). Andrews McMeel Pub, KCMO. 

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* SCRAPBOOKING IDEA BROCHURES/BOOKS* 

NO DATE:  Flowers: Scrapbook Idea Sampler. Creative Imaginations.

NO DATE: Time for Tea: Scrapbook Idea Sampler. Creative Imaginations.

2004. Making Memories with Mary Engelbreit. #3420 Leisure Arts. 

~~ <> @ <> ~~

These are just the ones I have in my home library, however, I don't have the ones below. 

* wish list *

 Google Bookshelf here:

1. Ann Estelle and Friends. (5056) Leisure Arts. 
2. Baby's Feathered Friends. (3421), Leisure Arts, 2003. 
3. Be Warm Inside and Out. (2004), Leisure Arts, 2004. 
4. Breit Little Things in Thread Crochet, (4178) Leisure Arts, 2007.
5. Breit Memories (3946), Leisure Arts 
6. Constant Friend. (4236) Leisure Arts 
7. Crafts to Celebrate the Seasons. Meredith Press. 1999.
8. Creating Breit Memories, (3947), Leisure Arts
9. Crochet the Classics. (3419), Leisure Arts, 2003.
10. Cute and Cozy Afghans: 9 Crochet Designs. (3489), Leisure Arts, 2003.
11. Embroidery with Anne Estelle and Friends (5255) Leisure Arts. 
12. Gifts for the Family in Cross-Stitch. (3658), Leisure Arts, 2004. 
13. Home Creations, (4490), Leisure Arts, 2008. 
14. Knit for a Queen, (3404), Leisure Arts, 2002. 
15. Mary Engelbreit’s Art of Paper Crafting and Scrapbooking Box Kit. Andrew McMeel, 2009.
16. Mary Engelbreit: Cross Stitch For All Seasons. Meredith Press, 1997.
17. Mary Engelbreit Cross-Stitch: Make a Wish. Meredith Press. 1996.
18. Mary Engelbreit's Fairy Tale Fluxx Game
19. Mary Engelbreit's Greeting Card Book: 24 Cards, 24 Envelopes, Plus Stickers! 
20. Mary Engelbreit: Just Between Friends in Cross Stitch (Leisure Arts 3405) 2003. 
21. Mary Engelbreit's Home Creations. Leisure Arts, 2008.
22. Mary Engelbreit Scrapbook Design Kit: Baby Collection. Sunrise, Inc, 2000. (SA 47111)
23. Mary Engelbreit’s Scrapbook Page Kit: Friends Tried and True. Punch Studio (4303U)
24. Mary's Minis. Leisure Arts. (4200) Leisure Arts
25. Quilted Comforts for the Home, (3430). Leisure Arts, 2003. 
26. Sentiments: 9 Cross Stitch Designs, (3875). Leisure Arts, 2005. 
27. Sew, So Cute! (4809), Leisure Arts, 2009. 
28. Stamp a Memory with Mary Engelbreit. Scrapbook Designer Kit. All Night Media.
29. The Art of Embroidery, (4408) Leisure Arts, 2007.
30.  Treasured Keepsakes, Leisure Arts, 2008.
31. Very Mary Stationery, (4158; CD Included) Leisure Arts 

* Rubber Stamp Wish List *

I have many of ME rubber stamps that Michael's sold and they do not have any brand names listed on the side of the wooden mounts, however they do have her trademark on top next to the illustration that also stamps -- ME*E*Inc. or @ME INK. 

I have a couple of foam sets I've picked up while thrifting or a flea markets. Also labeled as @ME INK on top.

The few labeled ones I have are from ALL NIGHT MEDIA:

1. A Good Friend - 324H
2. It's Good to Be Queen - 341E
3. Miracles - 515J
4. Checkerboard Frame - 536H
5. Thank You - 581H
6. Forget Me Not - 586F
7. Life - 588E
8. Snap Out of It - 589H
9. On the Moon - 593F
10. This Book Belongs To -- 688F
11. Take Care - 826F
12. Princess of Quite-a-Lot - 827H
13. ME INK 1994 | Cherries - 828A
14. ME INK 1994 | Tiny Cup - 830A
15. Friends Forever - 853F
16. Henry - 849EO4
17. Purse - 849EO6

Anything Mary Engelbreit by Rubber Moon

I have these ME rubber stamps by R.M. 

1. Mary Engelbreit | ME7720M - Acorn Abode - Rubber Art Stamp
2. Mary Engelbreit | ME7697J - Cozy Chair - Rubber Art Stamp
3. Mary Engelbreit | ME7709K - Friends Forever - Rubber Art Stamp

* My Collection of other Mary Engelbreit Product*

Here's a video of my collection of teacups and coffee mugs in 2020.  They were thrifted or gifted.