Once a commonplace site, cigarette vending machines are a thing of the past (haven't really thought of them since I was a chid!), but recently they have been spotted in the wild with a clever new product being delivered - works of art!

Art-o-mat^® machines are converted retired cigarette vending machines that have been retooled to vend art. The machines are essentially little art stores. Slip $5 into the machine (a donation to Artists in Cellophane - the organization behind the project) and crank the handle to receive your very own original, random handmade piece of art - anything from paintings to jewelry to little sculptures, or drawings.

With more than 400 contributing artists from 10 different countries, these machines are popping up all over the U.S, with oover 100 locations nationwide.(Find one near you!) Unfortunely we don't have one in Vermont yet. Hmmm...