Make and Mend For VICTORY

When I found this booklet in my stash this morning, I said to myself "Self, how appropriate for the current economic situation?"



Make and Mend for Victory published in 1942 by the Spool Cotton Company.

We all know that during the war housewives all over the country pitched in, not only as Rosie the Riveter by taking their place in the factories, but by conserving everything they could at home.

This little booklet has a CONSUMER'S VICTORY PLEDGE:

"As a consumer, in the total defense of democracy, I will do my part to make my home, my community, my country ready, efficient, strong. I will buy carefully -- I will take good care of the things I have -- I will waste nothing --


The booklet spells out just how to accomplish this with the wardrobe you have on hand.

Of course the first sections are about mending and altering garments...............but the fun part comes when they start to describe how you can utilize collars, and jabots to dress up your plain everyday dresses. (complete with instructions)

There's a great section on Smart Headwork ....A Ball of Yarn a Scrap of Felt and YOU....Looking like a Fashion Photo.

But the very best sections are the ones on remaking garments. You Have the Goods on Him (How to cut his suit down to fit YOU) and The Shirt Off His Back (Making childrens blouses and dresses from his old shirts).

And my final favorite...............There's Life in the Old Girl Yet (How to make a Jerkin from a Dress, a Jumper from a dress, Playsuit from a dress and a Bathing Suit from a dress)

The Front fly page of the book gives us these words of wisdom, which I think we might should take to heart, 64 years later.

"It's up to you to keep the home fires burning, to see that you and your family stay easy-on-the-eyes. Fortunately, you cane be patriotic and pretty both. It's easy to teach an old wardrobe new tricks, to resurrect the skeletons in your closet and bring them up to date. Come on, take those old knockabouts and turn them into knockouts, keep that glint in Uncle Sam's eye and still do your stint towards Victory!"

Find it HERE

Brrrrr... Baby I'ts COLD Outside

We finally got below 40 degrees at night here in North Texas, so I've dug out the Coats and am listing them over the next couple of weeks. There are some great ones and at really good bargain prices because I need ROOM in the storage closet.

So grab em while they're available at cemetarian on eBay.

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Get your own

Halloween Sale at Babylon Mall

BIG HALLOWEEN SALE AT BABYLON MALL until Halloween Night

Don't miss it! Great Bargains..............just click on the pumpkin and go save a bundle.

New this week at La Dolce Vintage

Click here to go there

How to Butcher a Rattlesnake, How to Make Home Made Yeast and other Interesting tidbits.

I am listing cookbooks and Household tips this week on cemetarian and I found this section in a cookbook I was listing and just had to share the information because I know that inquiring minds want to know.

Cut head off about 4 inches behind head. Hang by tail just below rattles so that snake may bleed well. With sharp knife, on belly side and beginning at head end, split skin entire length. Starting with head end, separate skin from meat and peel upward to place where snake is tied; strip entrails from body of snake and dispose of.

Clip body of snake where it is tied and drop in fresh cold brine water (either cover container or be sure to stand by it, because the snake will crawl out of water). Take down skin, salt well and roll scales on outside; place in container with lid and freeze until ready to tan. When body has stopped crawling, remove and wash in fresh cold water; chop in lengths 3 to 4 inches long.

Note: Be sure to dispose of heads in covered container. DO NOT USE HANDS.

There ya have it folks...........just what you always wanted to know.

And here is the cook book named CHOCTAW NATION Sharing Our Favorite Recipes



And then there were these little tidbits:

"To remove the taste of turnips from Milk" (use one pound of saltpeter to one gallon of boiling water), "Simple Home Made Yeast" (One cup water, one half cup sugar, enough flour to make a moderately stiff batter. Let stand in warm place for 4-8 days or til it rises and falls) YUM!

Those and many more great hints are found in Tempting Traditions! Fannin County, Texas Cookbook

Or here's a great article (1951 style) on Natural Birth Control Why? When? How? in the October 1951 issue of Pagent Magazine.

More as I find them.....LOL... or you can go look for yourself in our Books and Magazine section