Recent Acquisitions…

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.