Collecting the Props

Well, I couldn't find anything for the Mad Scientist's Laboratory at the flea market last Saturday (except a bag full of books on tape which I will listen to when I sew), but a trip to Goodwill was pretty productive.

First, these are the jars and containers I found for the laboratory specimens.
I like this one, not only because it has a lid, but for the writing on it:



It's hard to tell, but this is the size of a fishbowl:

Maybe it was a fishbowl.

This is a candleholder and frame I found at a yard sale earlier in the summer and have left it out to rust. I had thought to use it as a large test tube holder.


Then, at Goodwill, I found the perfect container to sit in the candleholder part itself:


Don't you just love this carafe-type thingie? I think a small can of sterno will fit underneath it, so I can fill it with colored liquid and maybe it'll steam.


I bought this tall jar earlier in the summer for spaghetti noodles, but then found the smaller one at Goodwill. AND, look what I found at an Etsy shop--a disembodied tongue in a very tiny replica of the larger jars:




I thought this candleholder looked a bit mysterious, too.


Here are some books for the mad scientist's bookshelf:



Some of them need to be aged a bit, but one of the books is yielding some great pictures so far:





Most of the items will be donated back to some thrift store afterwards, so I think I might photocopy the pictures so as not to ruin the books. Then I can dusty them up, maybe sear the edges and put them in old frames. Or assemble them into a "journal" of sorts.

I scored a ripped, unusable hospital gown from work, and found a lab coat at Goodwill today, but it wasn't in poor enough condition--so I'm going to have to rip and stain it. Maybe I should save it for one of those frustrating times when a little wanton destruction can be productive as well as rewarding.

I'm starting to get excited...