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I’ve been having fun at Paperback Swap! Wanna see what I’ve scored recently?
A new one for my classic BHG collection, vintage 1978. I love how these old BHG books always have one or two really surprising ideas in them. (Working on something now from this book to show you later.)
Sunset books from the 60′s and 70′s are great fun, too. This one’s from 1977, and we had it in the house when I was a kid. I remember paging though it over and over. I think these big riding animals, made on sculpted blocks of foam, are rather wonderful (Bantha, anyone?):
Admittedly, sometimes you do get a little clunker through Paperback Swap. Users there don’t always provide all the details of the books they post, so sometimes you order them on faith. Design Crochet, by Mark Dittrick (Hawthorn Books, 1978), was one such clunker. Although, it’s very, very funny.
(Can I just call your attention to the inset photo there? Gad, if there were ever a more unfortunate spot for a focal point on a garment!)
And by the way, if you get a book you don’t love, you can always re-list it on Paperback Swap and trade for something else.
I fared better with Granny Crochet Favorites, by Jean Leinhauser and Rita Weiss (Sterling, 1989). There are several interesting patterns here, including these little pincushions.
These funny little granny-square slippers are calling to me for some reason as well. With a little development, they could be something cool.
And then lastly, here’s my mac-daddy score: Erica Wilson‘s Needleplay (Scribner’s, 1975).
Erica Wilson was a kind of needlework superhero as I was growing up, and there are quite a few books of hers out there. This one is a companion book to her PBS series of the same name. There are so many wonderful things in here!
Don’t you love those flowers?
And I think this little crewelwork tree is just lovely.
I’m telling you, you gotta get swapping! And be sure and thank Meg for hooking us all up.
Wow! great finds. The Soft Toys and Dolls book looks fantastic.
I’m in the UK and we have an equivalent to PaperbackSwap.com at http://www.greenmetropolis.com/. But yeah, I’ve had a few clunkers from there too ;)
Wow! great finds. The Soft Toys and Dolls book looks fantastic.
I’m in the UK and we have an equivalent to PaperbackSwap.com at http://www.greenmetropolis.com/. But yeah, I’ve had a few clunkers from there too ;)
I have that Soft Toys and Dolls book – it ROCKS! Great finds…
I have that Soft Toys and Dolls book – it ROCKS! Great finds…
Hey! I have that Better Homes&Gardens embroidery book, same edition! If only I knew how to embroider.
Hey! I have that Better Homes&Gardens embroidery book, same edition! If only I knew how to embroider.
is there something wrong with me, or does “needleplay” sound so dirty? ;)
is there something wrong with me, or does “needleplay” sound so dirty? ;)
All I gotta say is if you decide to go into mass production on giant stuffed Bantha toys, I am so in!
All I gotta say is if you decide to go into mass production on giant stuffed Bantha toys, I am so in!
I saw some of those slippers at a garage sale and they sure caught my eye!!
They are pretty neat!
I just love items that have interesting contruction!
I saw some of those slippers at a garage sale and they sure caught my eye!!
They are pretty neat!
I just love items that have interesting contruction!
the clown sweater dress.. OW MY EYES!!!
the clown sweater dress.. OW MY EYES!!!
oh! i just found the soft toys book at a thrift store the other day! i fell in love with the walrus on the cover. i love the little pincushions too, and i have to admit that i’ve made those granny square slippers – or a version of them. i found a pattern in a 1960s workbasket magazine, and made them for a friend http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=60481.msg613705#msg613705
a little too big, but she loved them anyways!
oh! i just found the soft toys book at a thrift store the other day! i fell in love with the walrus on the cover. i love the little pincushions too, and i have to admit that i’ve made those granny square slippers – or a version of them. i found a pattern in a 1960s workbasket magazine, and made them for a friend http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=60481.msg613705#msg613705
a little too big, but she loved them anyways!
erica wilson! one of my idols! what a good score.
erica wilson! one of my idols! what a good score.
p.s. just found a copy on ebay for 65 cents! thanks for helping me discover it!
p.s. just found a copy on ebay for 65 cents! thanks for helping me discover it!
I love craft books. I especially love the home and garden series, even their decorating books are crafty, err, I guess that’s the point of some of them though. hehe.
I love craft books. I especially love the home and garden series, even their decorating books are crafty, err, I guess that’s the point of some of them though. hehe.