Deep and Abiding Chenille Love . . .

I’m working up a craft project for an upcoming event this morning, and have been rooting through vintage craft books for inspiration. But then I struck my rather embarassingly large collection of chenille-craft books, and decided to procrastinate — um, share — instead.

Chenille Kraft was the book that started me down this road. (Copyright 1958, Barry Products Company.) I mean, who didn’t love pipecleaners as a kid? And this book has all these cute little things to make out of them. But it’s not the easiest title to get — I lost four eBay auctions before scoring this copy.

. . . And once I did, I was hooked. Here are some of my favorite things from the stash:

Tiny chenille people, for every season! (From Chenille Party Favors & Novelties, Copyright 1985, Harold Mangelsen & Sons.)

Fairly complicated-looking leprechaun and woodland critters! (From Chenille Critters, Copyright 1977, Harold Mangelsen & Sons.)

Dollhouse Furniture! This book has room upon room of cute miniature furnishings, including a pipecleaner davenport, chandelier, and toilet. (From Build a Chenille Dollhouse, by Dorothy English. Published by SEI Craft Publications.)

Chenille Twists offers up all kinds of forms you make from pipecleaners that you’ve pre-wound into little spiral . . .well . . . kind of cow-pile shapes, actually. I’m so sorry. No other analogy really comes to mind. (Copyright 1976, Harold Mangelsen & Sons.)

Chenille-a-point details how to cut pieces of chenille to size, and then glue them in shapes and patterns onto a background of burlap. I LOVE this idea. And I love that this cover photo has a paneled wall for background. And I love that typeface. (Copyright 1971, Harold Mangelsen & Sons.)

. . . Speaking of cover-love, we have Chenille Bloomers (Copyright 1974, Harold Mangelsen & Sons.) I think Harold Mangelsen must have been a pretty cool guy. This photo has just the right edge of sci-fi monster movie to it.

. . . But inside, you’ll find a pretty amazing array of different flower designs to make.

Okay, one last photo, and I’m stopping myself! Was anyone else into this style of doll-head as a kid? I loved them. Now, they seem like a kind of great-grandmother to anime. (She’s from Creations in Chenille, by Phyllis Simone. Published by SEI Craft Publications.)

Whew. Back to work with me . . . .