cathy of california

lejeune whitney griffith

as soon as i laid my eyes on swistraw and the studio twelve looms by lejeune (and maragret weymouth - please see yesterday's post for more on her) i knew that i had found my favorite craft book of all time. of course i then had to get my hands on everything else she did. i went on to discover that lejeune not only wrote all of her books but she also did the design, layout and photography.

she also distributed craft straw under the "swistraw" brand name. for those of you who follow my blog you know that i have a pretty big stash of vintage craft straw and i have to say that "swistraw" had the best range of colors and a texture unlike other brands of the time - it's my favorite. 

in looking at the design of lejeune's books and packaging it is evident that she was operating at a different level (use of color, typography,etc.) than her competitors. i get the feeling that she was aware of publications like craft horizons and drew ideas and inspiration from that world. even the projects in her books were more sophisticated - craft presented in a more artistic way. she aspired to a higher level and saw the connections between fine craft and the popular handicrafts of the day.

(photo of lejeune from macrame a new look at an ancient art by lejeune whitney, published by lejeune incorporated, sunnyvale, california, 1971)

margaret weymouth + studio twelve looms

margaret weymouth had a hand in almost every book in my collection about loomed flowers. she contributed to some of hazel pearson's publications (please see yesterday's post for more on hazel). in 1967 margaret co-authored (along with lejeune w. griffith) swistraw and the studio twelve looms which in my opinion is really the most comprehensive book on loomed flowers out there.

studio twelve is the company that manufactured the popular "multi-fleur" (that's the one i used in my video podcast), "magni-fleur" and "mini-fleur looms". they also published a series of flower loom project books (written by margaret) and produced kits that included a flower loom.

now i can't say for sure that margaret was the head honcho of studio twelve but it appears that she was most likely their creative director/head designer. there is really not much info out there on margaret but i continue to dig.

(photo of margaret from flower show #364 by margaret weymouth, studio twelve, costa mesa, california, 1972)

hazel pearson

for alot of different reasons i am very influenced by crafts of the 60s and 70s (as if you couldn't tell!) and have been for a very long time - even before i realized why. but it wasn't until i discovered the how-to books that hazel pearson (as well as the other ladies doing similar things around the same time) wrote and published that it suddenly all made sense. the projects featured in her books were the type of crafts my mom made while i was growing up.

as i dug a little deeper and found out more about her the more fascinated i became. hazel also manufactured and distributed craft supplies which were sold at small craft stores (and some bigger stores too). i have memories of going to "burt's craft supplies" on el cajon blvd. in san diego with my mother when i was very young. i am sure that the shelves were filled with hazel's products.

hazel was a trailblazer in an industry at a time when businesses where primarily run by men, appeared to be very successful and was in business from the late 40s until at least the mid 80s, possibly even later. her company was based in rosemead, california. i understand she is still alive and well into her nineties.

thanks hazel!

p.s. please take a close look at the flowers on the neckline of hazel's dress.

(photo of hazel from bloomin' pots book 1, published by hazel pearson handicraft, rosemead, california, 1969)

i'm ready for my close up (i think)

 

natalie from craft magazine just posted a video podcast that features me demonstrating how to use the flower looms. if you think this looks like fun please visit my shop where you will find the kits that i have assembled with all the the vintage supplies you'll need. i have also put together a few 3 packs of the craft straw too!

having trouble viewing the podcast? you might have better luck here on you tube.

UPDATE: thanks to everyone for your overwhelming response! my shop is nearly sold out. i am working fast + furious at putting more together. i will have them at renegade brooklyn june 14+15 and renegade san francsico july 12+13.

raffia

from raffia atlas handicrafs leaflet no. 42

poodle and crafts

of course this has the instructions to crochet a poodle bottle cover. wanna see the most crocheted poodles you'll probably ever see in one place? then you have to visit the world famous crochet museum in joshua tree, california. a crafty spiritual experience awaits you there!

(from patons bazaar novelites and gifts by beehive toronto, canada)

bright ideas with felt and burlap, 1972

from bright ideas with felt and burlap by design R crafts - fort worth, texas, 1972)

fantasy fur, 1973

"fantasy fur is a fascinating material with possibilities that only end with your own imagination."

(from fantasy fur published by harold mangelsen & sons - omaha, nebraska, 1973)

the jack frost rug book, 1971

with projects like "the regal eagle", "add a slice of orange", "american way pillow", and "let's do the shag again" who can resisit?

(from the jack frost rug book 1971)

even more stuff in my shop

you might recall the "serendipity in hi-straw" post i did a couple of months ago. well, i recently came across a box filled with a whole bunch of packages of the "perforated motifs" (AKA plastic canvas) just like the ones that were used in "serendipity in hi-straw".

since i'm not really a card carrying member of the plastic canvas cult (well i did keep some for myself-i really like those flowers) i just listed all of them in my etsy shop. please feel free to buy in bulk!