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...

Never Forget

Movie Trivia Answer for 9/6

Well, we had a winner! Lori, the Dakota City Quilter, got it: Leaning on the Everlasting Arms. I've never been able to hear that hymn without envisioning that movie.



Robert Mitchum, who also played in the original "Cape Fear", once said Harry Powell was his favorite role. It's bizarre that he had to direct the children in this film, as the true director, Charles Laughton, had a personal dislike of all children.

Makes you wonder what it did to those kids' psyche doesn't it?

Oh, and to creep you all out even more, this story was loosely based on a real person: Harry Powers of Virginia.

New question on Saturday!

Saturday at the Movies

I'd like to say I took a break from the Movie Trivia game last Saturday because it was Labor Day Weekend, but the truth is--I forgot until at work that night, and then it was too late to do anything about it.

But let's resume tonight.

One of my favorite chillers is the black and white film, Night of the Hunter, with Robert Mitchum. I remember seeing this as a young girl, and it really creeped me out, especially the scene where the exhausted children are sleeping in the barn, and Harry Powell (Robert Mitchum) is seen in silhouette riding through the night, relentlessly pursuing John and Pearl.




What is the hymn he sings?




Answer on Tuesday.

Countdown

Halloween is coming! This year's theme is Mad Scientist's Laboratory. I've got some ideas and have been halfway searching yard sales for props, but the search starts in earnest now.

I'm looking for odd and large jars and bowls for specimens. In a month, I'll start carving apple faces to dry, but not sure what else I can use for body parts.

Also on the list are some old lab coats--the more stained, the better. And maybe old rusty yard tools.

I'm hanging bones from the trees this year, but I think I need to buy another bag. Anatomical Chart Company used to sell them pretty cheaply, but their prices have gone up. Ebay has some, but those are mostly foam, and the plastic ones are pricey, too. This might require some real searching.

Maybe I can get some old lab equipment and old x-rays from work, as long as no names are visible.

What do you think? Suggestions welcomed and appreciated!