Decorating & Craft Ideas

I have several old issues of decorating & craft ideas from the 70's. I've always loved old magazines and books about decorating and crafting, even as a kid. I was always inspired by the images in them, including the ads. These are some from the early and mid 70's and I thought you might enjoy a peek in them. They have some really dated looking stuff, but they also have some stuff that's popular again these days. But they're always full of inspiration.

I remember using these roll-on paints in Home Ec!

I love how this model below is posing "so naturally." I know I always stand around with my purse on my arm like that!

This one is a great idea. I think I'm going to make the pear!



Wonder what happened to this magazine? Anyone know?

Victoria Magazine

Well, here's interesting news....Victoria magazine is planning a comeback. I'll be taking a wait-and-see attitude since there doesn't seem to be any mention of Nancy Lindemeyer or other longtime Victoria editors. Several magazines have tried to duplicate what Victoria had and they always seem to be just shy of the mark, you know what I mean?

But, if it works...woo hoo! Because I love my old Victoria's!

Spin it

Well, I did it...I bought a drop spindle kit. It arrived a couple of days ago, and I've had two evenings of (cough) 'spinning.' Let's just say I'm going to need lots of practice! The kit from here came with a basic spindle, some roving and the book Spin It by Lee Raven. It has lots of good information in it, and seems pretty easy to follow. So I jumped in...and made some rope. Definitely wouldn't call it yarn.

So I did a little more research online and discovered I needed to do a LOT more in the way of preparing the fiber before I tried to spin it. Especially the roving that came with the kit, which comes pretty compacted. So I split it into several lengths, then pre-drafted and pre-drafted again, then tried to spin it. Much better! Still pretty thick, but not 'rope' thick.

Spin-Off has some good articles on their website, and Grafton Fibers has a great description of the process, as does Lollipops.

I'm using the 'park and draft' method, because boy, there's a lot to coordinate. Very addictive, though.

I'm using this purply-blue roving first, because it's definitely coarser than the other roving that came with the kit (unfortunately, it doesn't identify what they are). So I'm saving the softer stuff for later when, hopefully, I'm better.

But all in all..fun, fun, fun!

Knitting rules

I just finished reading this book by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee. It's a great book and a fast read. It makes me want to knit -alot. Unfortunately, I only have the one project going on right now. And apparently, I'm not 'Miss Speedy' when it comes to knitting. I assume I'll get faster as I get more experienced and I'm not really concerned with my slowness, other than the fact that I keep seeing things I want to knit. And it's getting to be a long list! Not to mention, that I still enjoy crochet, quilting, sewing, embroidery, cooking, decorating and other things I'm sure I'm forgetting.

But knitting is the current 'obsession' with me. I love how versatile, yet practical it is. Not only do you get to play with yummy yarn, but you end up with something you (or somebody) can use! That's one of the things I love about quilting. But I gotta say playing with yarn is even better than playing with fabric...I'm hooked!

I got a few magazines when I got the book, too...

I have to say, being the newbie that I am...I really like Vogue's KnitSimple. It suits me right now. And yes, that is a Spin Off magazine tucked in the middle there. Yep, the thoughts of making my own yarn are swirling around in my head. Good golly, I've hardly had any experience in knitting or crocheting different yarns, and I'm already thinking of spinning. But as usual for me...I just go with the madness and enjoy the ride!

Book worm

January always has that "snuggle in with a good book" effect on me. So, in that spirit, that's what I've been doing. I've been re-reading this book

Jenny Walton's Packing for a Woman's Journey by Nancy Lindemeyer. I love this book. It's got a very definite optimistic outlook on life, which is similiar to mine. And of course, Nancy Lindemeyer was the editor of Victoria magazine, my all-time favorite magazine ever published. I could go on and on...and on... about it, and the impression it made on me. I have almost every issue. I think I'm lacking 3 or 4. And I still get them out quite often. They're like old friends. If you're a fan, you know exactly what I mean.

Along that line, I picked up a couple of things at our library's book store this weekend. One was this book (sorry for the blurry picture)

The Heritage Sampler, A Book of Colonial Arts & Crafts. It looks pretty interesting from this light perusal I've given it so far. I'm a big fan of Revolutionary-era history (why yes, I am a big geek, thanks for asking) and all things colonial.

And I also found this, for 50 cents:

Holly Hobbie's Home Times magazine. The first issue. This completely surprised me...I have never heard of this magazine, do not remember ever seeing it before, and I am loving it! It reminds me somewhat of Victoria magazine, especially the earliest issues. But a little different. I'd love to know if anyone has ever heard or seen this magazine before.