cathy of california

a pretty bag crocheted with snow-white yarn having surpisingly ample space inside, 1966

"enjoy crochet with teijin custom yarn with pearl-like luster. because of it's softness, and ideal amount of resistance as well as bulkiness, you can knit or crochet with ease and get a fine finish. it is free from thread-splitting and napping, and you are free from ironing or washing problems." how could you ask for anything more?

there was no date given on what i think is probably my new favorite craft booklet of all time. i was able to date it by the magazines the brilliant stylist chose to use for the back cover photos. that's the feburary 1966 issue of "seventeen" magazine.

("teijin ribbon straw custom yarn" booklet 1966)

burlap fish tote, 1964

my collection of vintage craft publications is a never ending source of inspiration for me. they are chock full of so many images of amazing craft projects. but i have to admit that sometimes i'm a little bit frustrated. it's great to see a professionally styled shot in mc call's but sometimes i wonder who really made those projects and how did they turn out?

well, my friend charles phoenix is occassionaly able to help me out with this problem. charles has an unbelievable collection of vintage slides. you can imagine how thrilled i was when he showed me this one of the lady with her lovely fish tote!

tote image from "mc call's needlework & crafts" spring/summer 1964
vintage slide courtesy of charles phoenix

on vacation in mexico, 1960s

isn't a floral print dress, cat eye sunglasses and a little sparkly tote is the perfect outfit to wear while sightseeing? i wonder if she made her owl bag from a kit?

(image courtesy of charles phoenix)

p.s. that's a 1958 pontiac

glazed ceramic wall by stan bitters, fresno 1970s

i first saw the work of stan bitters in the california design series catalogues. i am the proud owner of 3 of his bird houses which i was lucky enough to scoop up right before the company that was producing them closed down.

pictured here is a 14' x 22' wall he did for the duncan ceramic products main office in fresno. this is a larger scale version of what he did for the nut tree restaurant (as mentioned in my previous post). the work he did for duncan was quite extensive. i am in total awe.

i understand that much of his work for duncan is still intact. i think i need to take a trip to fresno.

and what a coincidence! duncan ceramic products is now called duncan enterprises and is the manufacturer of our beloved aleene's tacky glue!

(from "environmental ceramics" by stan bitters. originally published in 1976 and was long out of print until it's recent reissue. it's kind of hard to find but i was able to get a copy at ten/10 in silver lake.)

maureen and enid 1977

i am obsessed with enid collins handbags. i am the proud owner of 3 (and counting).

i often wonder what type of woman carried them when they first came out?

well, here's maureen, marchioness of dufferin and ava, with her enid bucket bag. isn't she lovely?

(from "checkered past" by peter schlesinger)

p.s. not an endorsement of fur!