cathy of california

yuletide project book by aleene, 1962

yep it's almost that time of year again! here's just a little sneak preview for you of some of the vintage holiday crafty stuff i'll be sharing with you from my ever expanding collection of craft how-to books from the 60s + 70s.

don't you just love the illustration of that tree? i just found a HUGE stack of some of the most wonderful publications by aleene at a thrift store. i just about passed out.

but for now i'm totally swamped at my "regular job" getting all of my clients ready for the holidays. see you real soon!

(cover of "yuletide project book" by aleene, 1962)

bead simple

i was so excited when susan beal asked me to design something for her new book, "bead simple". it looks like i'll be in really good company among the 39 fantastic guest designers that susan chose to create projects in addition to the 111 projects that she created herself.

"bead simple" will be at your favorite bookstore on march 28, 2008 or you can pre-order it on amazon.

happy thanksgiving!

hope you have a fun + relaxing day with your family + friends.

(thanksgiving dinner image from "cutco cook book - world's finest cutlery" published by wear-ever aluminum, 1972)

thank you thank you thank you

i just wanted to thank everybody who stopped by my table at felt club yesterday! it was a pleasure meeting you.

all of the vendors worked so hard and i was so delighted to see all of the many amazing things they made for the show. i am sure all of the shoppers scored some great holiday gifts and a few goodies that they will be keeping for themselves.

felt club is tomorrow

please visit the felt club website for everything you need to know!

please stop by my table and say hi!

sneak peek #2

i've whipped up a few ribbon straw brooches that i'll be selling at felt club on sunday.

sneak peek #1

here's a preview of some of the items i'll be selling on sunday at felt club. i'm sure it's no big surprise that i have a ton of vintage craft supplies. i thought it might be fun to try out a few kits.

each kit has everything you need to make loomed flowers - a loom (or looms), instruction book and 3 skiens of ribbon straw (but you can also use yarn). everything is either vintage or new old stock.

(sorry for the sucky photos. the reflection form the vinyl was a bit of a problem.)

studio twelve flower looms, early 1970s

i just love these close up shots of flower looms from the covers of studio twelve how-to books.

(from "flower loom projects from studio twelve" 1971 and "flower show from studio twelve" 1972)

flower loom, 1971

the lovely model is demonstrating how to make an "ombree afghan" using a hiawatha brand flower loom.

(from a columbia-minerva leaflet, 1971)

ronco flower loom kit TV commercial, 1980

it's so easy!