Be Still My Heart. . .

by Sister-Diane on January 25, 2008

I’ve been doing a lot of Paperback Swapping recently, and have made lots of good scores. Let’s look at my very favorite first! The McCall’s Book of Handcrafts. . . .

What a gorgeous 1970’s cover! (The original publication was in 1954, so perhaps this is a redesigned cover?)

There are lots of pretty ceramics in here. These little dragon/unicorn things make me smile.

These cute birds are made by paper mache-ing tissue paper over old incandescent light bulbs. I think that the little glued-on trims really make them work.

I love the weaving chapter in this book! It’s all off-loom techniques, using simple tools. These rounds are simple circles of cardboard, with thumbtacks holding the warp yarn. They’re potholders here, but with finer yarn and smaller circles, could be coasters. I’ve got three words for ya: Church. Of. Craft.

You know, when I teach my blogging classes, I always tell people to find a theme for their blogs. Well, it appears that this blog has just become the Official Blog of Macrame People. Woo!

More vintage crafty-book posts to come . . . .

meggiecat

Love the birds and am crazy to make paper mache anything. I've paper mached over floral trim birds (like the ones sold here: http://www.floraltrims.com/feather-birds.html). They are lovely shapes and pretty as they are but glue paper over them and paint ... they sell like crazy. People at craft fairs would always ask how I got those great bird shapes and I never told anyone until now.

cathy

oh golly got to get me a copy of that one............

asterismos

I love this book too and I have a copy of it my library. Found it in a thrift store. It has some pretty cool projects but the macrame ones are my favorite. Very retro! Also, I have been listening to your podcast for a while through iTunes and just love it. Hope you bring us many more crafty pods in the future.

Cami McC

Hey Sister D! I have to tell you those potholders are really rad. I love the weaving technique. I'm looking forward to crochet... sometime. I'm so behind on all of my crafts, but I lean toward paper, not as much fiber. But I must admit, you are opening my mind!!!! I love your podcast. In fact, I am addicted to it. It really rules. Craft on, sister d, craft on! whoot whoot

-Cami

Fanie!

This book is awesome! :-D They should think about re-printing it. I am sure it would sell like hot cakes. (At least... *I* would buy it.)

When you think about it, the macramé people could be pretty cool at Halloween. Just change the yarn color and add a some scary features. And voilà! :-)

Hope

the macrame people are scary. I'm scared. You scared me.

Edie

wow, I love the round potholders!
Coincidentally I just finished viewing a blog using CD's for embroidery - http://cdhistoires.blogspot.com/
I'll bet you could make the loom from a CD; instead of using thumbtacks, cut notches in the CD and wind the yarn on both sides, then do the weaving. I think the "getting the CD out" part needs a little work tho! But it could be a decorative item or you could sew a whole bunch together for a curtain or room divider.

Megan

I just saw the paper-cricle weaving thing at a homeschool co-op and have been meaning to try it -- they used little slits around the outside I think. Those macrame people remind me of the macrame owl my mom made when I was little -- I loved that thing, but it got lost in a move.

Average Jane Crafter

:D

Those are AMAZING projects! I'm so jealous of your book collection. I've *got* to get my stuff updated on Paperbackswap .... :)