Homemade Robots

Whimsical robots made from old cans, tins, and leftover bits and bobs have become somewhat of a cottage industry lately, and can be found everywhere from Etsy to your local craft show. Here are a few I found recently at a small town art gallery.

The largest robot is 12 1/2 inches tall.

 

 

 

 Mr. Half and Half has a themostat head and arms made from socket wrenches.

 

 

 

The Clock Bot has a vintage alarm clock head and arms made from can openers.

 

 

 

 The tiny T&T robot has a spice box body, a film canister head,

and a clever hat made from a sink strainer.

 

 

They are adorable, and ready to take over the world.

 



I Know Halloween Is Over, But....

I found these two fabulous jack o' lanterns at an antique show yesterday, and I just couldn't wait all the way until next October to post them.

The one on the left is German, made in the 1920s from a pressed and folded cardboard similar to thin papier mache. His yellow face (meant to represent glowing candlelight?) is unusual, and adds a creepy quality. His jollier friend on the right was made in the United States in the 1950s of a pulp material. They both have their original paper faces and wire handles, and the taller lantern is just under 6 inches tall.

Antique Halloween Witch Postcard

Just a classic Halloween witch image, circa 1910, 

to wrap up this year's October posts.

 

Happy Halloween everyone!

 

 

 

Halloween Fortune Telling Cake Charm Set

These fortune telling charms were typically hidden in slices of cake at parties and were a favorite Victorian holiday custom; this set is circa the 1940s. If the recipient managed to not swallow the charm, they could look up its fortune on the enclosed sheet. The thimble meant you'd be an old maid, the button indicated a bachelor was looking for you, and the baby predicted...well, babies.

 

These charms look like they've seen a lot of cakes.

1920s Halloween Nut Cup

This delicate paper nut cup was made in the 1920s.

About 3 inches tall, it features beautiful lithography,

and was one item in a set of party supplies featuring this fairy design.