Sara emailed me recently about pipe cleaners. I know that I find them often and ramble on sometimes about the virtues of the vintages ones. So today I am sharing that collection.
I collect pipe cleaners in two categories. I use them for crafting and I love the graphics on the old boxes and containers.
Pipe cleaners were originally manufactured to clean pipes and date to the early 1900s. Dills was one of the earliest brands and is still manufactured today. I have a stash of those.
But my heart really belongs to those that are colorful! I like to craft with them organized by color. I organize by color family in each can.
If they come in terrific boxes that is an added bonus!
In my mind I prefer vintage pipe cleaners for crafting due to their colors and the thinner manner they were manufactured in. Sometimes they even came in a stripe!
Boxes come with all kinds of suggestions to use the pipe cleaners for.
Often with instruction booklets tucked in the box.
I am glad I have never encountered a lamp at an estate sale that had this as inspiration.
Bryco had 100 to a pack and in terrific colors that you don't find anymore.
The Long company of NY manufactured them both in colored packs and in a solid white pack.
I love that these were called "Twisticks".
Sometimes I get lucky and find a box of them. These were made for the hardcore pipe cleaner user...buying in pipe cleaner bulk!
A horse and a goat(?) crafted with skinny old pipecleaners...vintage, as found.
Pipe cleaners were also popular in another form called "bump chenille". This is a small part of my stash.
Bump chenille was often sold my the yard and was called bump due to the in and out bump of the chenille stem. The bumps also came in different lenghts - there are bumps about an inch long and bumps up to three inches long. The length of the bump actually makes a difference when crafting a project.
Flowers were a popular craft with bump chenille.
I do love my pipe cleaners!
If you have an idea for a future collection challenge leave me a comment and finish the sentence "Show me your collection of _____". I've been stumped with some suggestions ,but fun to see what I can come up with.
What a fun stash! The goat made me smile....love his little beard!
Happy 1st day of summer!
Posted by: Lisa | June 21, 2011 at 10:03 AM
Wow, I feel truly educated on the subject of pipe cleaners! Thanks.
Actually, they bring back fond memories of my Dad cleaning his pipe with them. The little animals are great.
Thanks for a great Tuesday show and tell.
Posted by: janet | June 21, 2011 at 10:31 AM
I only hope I have enough to craft one of those delightful steering-wheel covers - comfort AND style!
Posted by: barbara | June 21, 2011 at 11:32 AM
The colors are gorgeous. Packaging is a bonus. You are a lucky lady to have found so many. Just glad you share with all of us. Beautiful! Smiles..Renee
Posted by: Renee | June 21, 2011 at 11:36 AM
My dad also used those short, plain white ones to clean his pipes. Every once in a while if I thought it would go unnoticed, I'd slip one away to play with...we weren't to waste things you know!
Posted by: Angela | June 21, 2011 at 12:20 PM
Pipe cleaners are just neat looking and I do buy the old ones when I run into them - even though I don't actually make anything out of them - LOL! I think Laurie buys them so they must be cool so I have to buy them too. Please don't show your collection of refrigerators!
Posted by: Kathy | June 21, 2011 at 07:14 PM
Laurie - I love your pipe cleaners too ! I also love the boxes and the instruction booklets .... a pipe cleaner steering wheel !? Wow ! How funny is that !?
Posted by: Lisa W. | June 21, 2011 at 08:00 PM
Laurie I don't think I've ever seen so many pipe cleaners how fun ! E in TN
Posted by: E | June 21, 2011 at 08:17 PM
Laurie,
What a fun AND informative post. I have always been drawn to them, not sure why, I think they remind me of childhood art projects. Plus they are just darn fun to play with! Thanks for that post, I really enjoyed it!
Posted by: Marci | June 22, 2011 at 08:08 AM