Retro Tuesay with a needle and thread...

The Friday edition of Retro Tuesday all week long!

Vintage magazines not only give me clues to what woman bought a long time ago; they give me a clue about what they did.

And they did a lot.

One of the oldest magazines I have is a Good Housekeeping, 1949 and it really was about house keeping. Working a house, managing to get by and making it as lovely as you could while trying to enjoy the ride.

I thought Martha Stewart invented the term, Housekeeping, but really - these people were doing all of that a very long time ago. I love Martha. I love her desire to do these things even though she doesn't have too and her ability to make it current for the times but really - In 1949 these woman did this every day.

Every. Single. Day.

And they really had very little help in the way of what we think of modern conveniences. There is an ad for a Wringer - not a dryer. A wringer. There were very few ads for luxuries except the things that were probably seen as luxuries like smart white leather gloves and silk stockings. But there were a lot of ads for sewing items... I can only guess many woman made the bulk of their clothes...

I know my grandmother did...

This fabric ad is FULL COLOR and must have cost a lot.
Almost all ads are black and white or one-color.



Like this one for 2 looks from one pattern.
I want that coat/swing coat by the way...



Ads in newer magazines weren't for useful things like potholders...




They were for crafts like wall hangings or stuffed toys.
And okay that eggplant is pretty scary - But I like Miss Tomato



And I love these aprons.

And what can I say about these?



This must have been a totally different time.
Ads for buttons. I don't even know the name of
a current button company let alone seen a button ad.



But here they are and really well thought out...



All different... all appealing in their own way.

My magazines are something I really enjoy. Having them has given me something I never expected. A peek inside the lives of my grandmothers. And how difficult the times must have be - some of them. And also how rewarding for them. And how truly talented they both were.

And I didn't have a clue.



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