Is This Where It All Began?

This is a treasure I have had for many years. Tucked safely either inside a picture frame or inside my cedar hope chest. I found it today while cleaning out a closet...I am kind of tickled at how much is the same today as it was then...and then there are those teensy differences that make us smile...It made me wonder if this is the start- or if it goes WAY back....or did it skip a few decades and then start all over....take a look and you'll see what I mean.
Yep...it has survived all these years...and the pages are not even creased!
A girl just can't buy a magazine that is 11x14 inches in size and thick these days for 50 cents!
I think I saw some of these the other day in a ladies clothing store...
Loving these fashions... and those figures!!! (okay maybe not the hats-ha ha) When I imagine Anita A.K.A Blossom at work....I sort of have this vision of her with a customer! lol
Aren't these sweaters cute? And just look at how tiny their waists are!!! How is that even possible???
Anyone know what a centennial party is? And where I can get a waistline like that?
Ahhhh....now it all makes sense...I have to wonder how they managed to smile with that on! Maybe that is where the phrase "smiling through the pain" came from. lol
After they put the slimmer on...they added a nicely knit belt to match some hand knit sandals. WAIT-did I say hand knit sandals?
You bet your girdle I did! (did you notice the model foot?- nice toenails!!! lol) Has anyone seen or made these?
The funny thing is that my grandmother made my son a sweater very similar to this when he was born! Not much in kids sweaters has changed....
Love these illustrations...and look how sweet the outfits are!
And the well dressed gentleman will be wearing...
There's some stenciling...in a seashell motif! This seems a little familiar to many of us today...I know someone out there has done something similar.
Hey TABLESCAPERS....take a look! It makes me think of Blossom!! Maybe it is because it is just so ladylike!
Anyone make a candle like this before? Darla??? I think if you click the photo the directions are readable on this and many of the following projects... I wish it was in color...it kinda looks a little like a flaming turd-hey I'm just sayin'! lol
HMMMMM...this is not a new trend? lol- and here we thought we were being original!
Miss Janice!!! Do you have this book???
I wonder if these are hard cover books? I'd love to get my hands on this one. I have done a sofa or two...more than likely the hard way.
Well we all should get this one! Faye???? didn't you mention a need for a new wardrobe??? hey-"I'm just sayin'" lol
Gift suggestions....Hey Gloria...check out those plates! Didn't someone post that candle holder a few weeks back?
Hey Dirt Princess!!! I bet your education cost way more than this did!!! lol
I need this one for my ugly sofa set...AND the slipcover I tried to make was a disaster!
I actually own a sewing machine like this one...only it is a singer. And I have a treadle one too...lol Why don't I smile when I am sewing...maybe I need a "slimmer" to bring on the grins!
Check this out Trash Talking Debbie!!!
I have seen this ad....in a recent decorating magazine...I wonder if they "borrowed" it?
This is a very cute idea...never seen it before...maybe not large enough for the amount of socks and undies in this house...Busy calls her leotards "lady tards'-not stalkings...lol and there are NO hankies here...G-R-O-S-S!
What on earth is vegetable glue? The original mod podge?
Doodling on an apron...
Look at the Easter egg decorating ideas!
How neat is this one?
A MUST for every knitting lady... looks very similar to fish tank tubing...but hey-that's just me.
Anyone have one? Faye??? Maybe one of you or your "Woolies" has one?
OH PUH-LEEEEZE!!!! I almost choked on my Dr. Pepper tonight when I read this one...I had not noticed it before...but can you say OFFENSIVE???? You'd never see an ad like this today!
"Enclose coin"? Now that's definitely not happening today...not only do you not send coins or cash in the mail....but exactly what CAN you get for 25cents? Not even a stamp where I live!
Well...I hope you enjoyed and possibly got inspired by some of the little ideas in this post...I do hope to see you all right back here to join me for Fertilizer Friday!!! QMM....Are you listening??? hint hint!

Comments

artis1111 said…
You know all the adds for the body suit that takes lbs. off just by putting it on. Well does the term GIRDLE come to mind! i wore enough of them back when I wasen't that big just cause it was the thing to do. There is no way you gonna get my BIG BUT in wone NOW! hehe LOL Kathy
Sue said…
This was really interesting! I love looking through the old magazines, occasionally I'll even splurge the $2 or $3 at an antique shop. I'm always amazed at how thin people were (and they ate butter and LARD,for goodness sake!)
What has happened that is sooo different that we all look like Butterballs! (Well, not YOU-as I can see from your pic!)
OMG, I feel so old! Especially since I was 2 when this magazine came out. I remember a lot of the styles. Those old movies that I watched on Saturdays probably helped too.

Great magazine & thanks for sharing - even if you made me feel older than dirt! ♥
Darla said…
Tootsie, I really enjoyed this very much...can't say I've made a turd candle though, LOL.
What a fun trip down the 1950's walkway of needlecraft! Loved some of the knitwear, especially the sandals. And the collander lampshade; I think I saw that somewhere recently. But those poor little Easter eggs were kind of sad, especially that scrawny duck. I guess, food was more scarce in the 50's??
trash talk said…
How funny! You know, when I watch "That 70's Show", I always comment on the cheese graters for lights in the Foremans' kitchen!
Thank Goodness...you didn't throw me under the bus for the "fat girl's" diets!!! LOL
Trash
The JR said…
Great post. Loved all the pictures. Neat keepsake too.

I quit buying all the Family Circle and Woman's day because I realized that they were always repeating themselves sooner or later. Same stuff just worked different with different pictures.
SmilingSally said…
Those belts were called, "cinch belts," and they were made of tight, stretchy material with a metal hook in the middle.
Anonymous said…
Wow Tootsie I loved that post. In 1953 I was a sophomore in high school and I remember so many of those things. My grandmother had a corset like that. You did a great job on the organization and narration of this post. Ya I get the hint. I don't have much to fertilize in the winter. Guess I need to go out and get me some plants. I would love a Christmas cactus, but can't have much luck. Maybe I can learn from you on that one.
QMM
Oh how I loved those old ads - even as a kid I thought they were pretty cool. Not that I was a kid when those ads came out - seriously!! Shoot, now you're not going to believe me. :(
And that McCalls Dressmaking book? I probably owned it. Sewed a lot of my clothes as a young person (not all that long ago actually). I remember even then that the clothing patterns always showed the garment with some impossible waist and then I couldn't figure out why my finished garment didn't look like the picture!!
Thank God the whole girdle thing went away - but did it? Now we have Spanx to slim us and a lot of the blue jeans & slacks have the built in slimmers.
What goes around, comes around I guess. Thanks for the flash from the past. I'd look for one of those old catalogs but I happen to know it's not in my closet - I stripped that puppy bare!
squawmama said…
Tootsie what a fun read today... I really enjoyed all the pictures and the cute little narration of all the products... FUN - FUN - FUN! Have a super day my friend!

(((HUGS)))
Donna
Chloe m said…
Tootsie,
You just reminded me of all the crafts I used to make with my grandma. The toilet paper cover was the most horrendous gift you could ever get, but she still loved to make them. Sign me up for some of those knitted sandals. Those are sure sexy!
Betty said…
This was a blast to look at. I think I told you I have a wedding dress from the 1800's at the Historical that I can't find a mannequin small enough for the waist of it.
Maureen said…
Oh I could go on and on.... Those ladies with the hats look like tulips or something. Did you happen to notice their dogs?

These old magazines are such a hoot! I could (and have) spend hours looking at them. Some of the stuff is like "Say what?" and other stuff is so cute. But the piece de resistance was....drum roll please....flaming turds! I'm still cracking up. Good post Tootsie.
Dirt Princess said…
I have fell out of the chair laughing! HA!!! I KNOW that you immediately ran out, got some yard and started knitting those sandals!!! You will have them on your blog tomorrow!!! LOL!! Wow...I don't even know where to start! This was a TRIP!
Oh my goodness. Some of this I have seen before in other old magazines, but how fun to look through and see how different the times were. Great fun. Wish my waist was that small, but I don't think I'm up to the torture of a girdle. lol Hugs, Marty
Chris said…
That is a treasure! I enjoyed every photo and caption! If you ever find out how to do those crochet sandals, that might be a fun project...of course, I'd have to learn to crochet first!

Thanks for the memories!
"Blossom" said…
How sweet tootsie. Now tell these girls the truth; your waise is very tiny......... YOu look so beautiful these days with your hair longer and so thin. Now don't go getting so thin that we have to ask you to take your picture standing sideways. YOu are so adorable toots. This magazine is so unreal. I loved looking thru the photos. Thank you girl for sharing this with us. Still having trouble with my camera. I hope to post soon. I have a couple of post to do but no camera.
Nutty Gnome said…
My grandmother had a book very similar to this when I was little, so it's ben a trip down memory lane for me today Tootsie - and I'm still smiling about it! :)
"Blossom" said…
Yes, Tootsie I was a 0 for years.
I use to cry because I couldn't find a 0 that would not fall of me. But I quit smoking in 1991 and over the years I gained 30 lbs. So I am trying to get it off but it moves somewhere else. So you haven't told me your secret yet? How do I get 30 lbs off. I tried portion control and still do it when I feel guilty. My cholestrol is under control now but the thyroid is a littl out of wack. My sister says is called putting your Fork dowm. LOL
Beth Dunn said…
I think I live in the wrong era. Thank you for sharing the book. Love the fashions. xoxo

SC
Justine said…
Holy cow, this was so cool, Glenda! Can you imagine having to squeeze yourself into one of those horrible slimmers? These days us chicks just let it all hang out!

Justine :o )
Erin said…
Okay, Tootsie, that was super cool. As for the centennial party? Lots of states were celebrating centennials in that era: California Statehood granted in 1850; Nevada 1864; Oregon 1859; Washington in 1889 was only the 42nd state in the union, so the latter half of the 20th century saw a lot of centennial celebrations.
Room to Inspire said…
Great post. Loved all the great photos - very fun.

Chelsea
Maureen said…
Hello - me again. I just wanted to let you know that in my post today, I passed along an award. If you've done it before, you can just link to your original post.
I just love looking at these types of things. I think you should try making the hand knit sandals this winter in your spare time :)
Lisa said…
Congrats on your blog award!
Oh Girl what a fun trip down memory lane for me today...and so many of those things my Mama did make...she was always with a needle doing something for her home...Girl we had doily's on every thing in the house...I remember her straching them with sugar water and I swear you could knock someone out with them after she was done...Hey I had one of the waist but then,,,but I was only 10 at the time ha ha!! Fun post girl...Love ya...Mom
bj said…
This post is toooooo cute!! I enjoyed every single photo and every single cute word you wrote.
Hahaaa...just precious. And, I'm not ABOUT to wear one of those waist thinner thingys...talk about uncomfortable! The older I get, the more I go for pure comfort!!
Thanks for this delightful post...
Happy day and love, bj
bj said…
I just spent some time going back to play catch up on some of your posts...you so make me laugh, Tootsie girl...I adore your cute personality!!
onlymehere said…
And to think I thought I'd tried every diet. The fat girls diet....I want to punch whoever wrote that in the nose! These books and magazines are a treasure for sure.
"Blossom" said…
As your blog mother; I don't want you to loss to much more weight. You will look like twiggy. I do love you hair. I wish I could stress the weight off; I never had a problem until I got older. It's aweful. Have a great week-end.
Trying to get my camera fixed today.
Hi Tootsie...

Hilarious! I love looking through the old magazines....sort of like a vintage comic book!

Hugs,
Spencer
siteseer said…
OMG to get a waist that small I'd have to have a few ribs removed!! Thanks for the trip down memory lane.
deb said…
Love checking old mags out! Too cool:~)
I also wanted to let you know that I have given you an "award"...hope you don't mind being tagged...come on over and check it out!
*hugs*deb
linda may said…
G'Day Tootsie, That's really cool! Comments are funny too.I enjoyed that. I have an old Womens Weekly magazine from around that time, but it is very brittle now days.
I had another go at your F.F. prompt.
Happy Friday.
Moore Minutes said…
What a treasure and what an intriguing post this is! I very much enjoyed it.
I have a set of the blue and white Currier and Ives china pictured in your book. That is such a cool book. Thanks for letting us get a peak at it. Blessings, Deanie