The Magic Shawl.

Copyright Lady's Circle Needlework Fall Winter (additional text by Madge)

Is this, indeed, a magic shawl?  If you crochet it and wear it, will amazing things happen to you?  I surely can't say.  I do think it's somehow all rather fabulous, don't you?  On a non-craft related side note-this model has a neck that rivals Audrey Hepburn's.  Wow!  Yes, I have added Madge text as I like to amuse myself with this kind of juvenile activity, I'm afraid it's far too late for me to grow up, so we'll all have to live with it.  This lovely handcrafted set is from the article 'Date Bait' from Lady's Circle Needlework Fall/Winter sometime in the early 60s.  I am afraid this little pulpy gem shall be mined further for blog fodder in the not so distant future. 

xoxo,
Madge

My Grandmother's Crafts.

Copyright-ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

This are my grandparents, Cis and Jim heading off to a Halloween costume party.  Cissy was a master steamstress and an all around crafty gal. Many of my favorite memories from childhood are the hours spent digging through bins of magical buttons and trims in complete and total wonderment with the steady whir of her sewing machine in the background.  I am sharing this picture because as you can see...Cissy is wearing a handcrafted leopard print ensemble reminiscent of yesterday's magazine cover, only I think this is far more clever.  Note the fit of the dress, the fabulous ruffle edge mask and her smart leopard print covered shoes!  I miss my grandparents terribly.  I spent many a weekend with them and fondly recall Sunday mornings with Grandad at one end of the table reading the paper and Cis at the other in her robe and slippers with her lipstick staining her coffee mug edges Go Go Pink.  (This particular shade was hoarded until it went out of production.)  I 'd give my eye teeth for a sewing lesson from Cis, but alas that window of opportunity has closed.

Crafting on the Wild Side.

McCall's Needlework and Crafts Fall/Winter 1963-4

The mustard yellow tights and mock turtle neck, the faux tiger fur dress with the 'up to there' slit, the flippy hair?! FABULOUS! She's rockin' the Betty Rubble vibe. Though she really needs a giant papier mache faux pearl choker to complete the look.

The 3-d floral sweater vest with matching petal pushers are divine! As for the crafts...well...maybe not so much, though the rooster caddy is intriguing.  I have never been a fan of clowns, clown crafts, clown paintings, clown 'objets d'art' and this little creepy clown is no exception. I do, however, wish to see more of this tin owl artwork she's slyly concealing.

More Pom Pommery.

 From Needle and Yarn Smart Fashion to Make and Enjoy 1963

(with a little editing by Madge...)

Now THAT'S a Pom Pom (or Pom Pon!)  Holy ginormous fringe, Batman!  I'd wear that little number in a heartbeat, probably not with brown gloves, I'd go with red and a jaunty matching knitted pill box hat.

xoxo,
Madge

An Iconic 1970s Craft: God's Eyes

All Images Copyright Good Housekeeping Needlecraft Fall-Winter 1974-5

Today's crafty blast from the past is relatively new comparatively speaking, this hails from a 1974-5 Good Housekeeping Needlecraft magazine. The tradition of making God's Eyes or Ojo de Dios is from Mexico, you can read about it above. This is a craft near and dear to my heart as I made this in art class and summer camp as a kid.  I LOVE the variations too! 

Linoleum Lobster Mosaic

Love this idea from McCalls Needlework and Crafts 1958-9.  Use a frame and fill in with cut pieces of linoleum, add grout to make a festive mosaic. A do r a ble! To read text, click on pop up image.  The entire room and her outfit was hand crafted, how cool is that? 

1938 Paris Marie Claire Alphabet of Style-Part Deux

Alphabet of Style 1938 Marie Claire Paris

Here's more DIY fashion from 1938 Paris, tres charmant, n'est pas?  What's not to love here?!  I must admit that I am rather smitten with the embroidered letter collar and the gloves with multi-colored flowers, but  honestly I love it all.  They stopped on the letter X...I suppose there were no more ideas for poor Y or Z?  Zut alors!

1938 Paris Marie Claire Alphabet of Style

Alphabet of Style 1938 January Marie Claire

On a trip to Paris several years ago, I scored a small pile of vintage French fashion magazines from the 1930s.  If I ever return, I shall scoop up as many more as I can.  They're absolutely delicious!  Here are some DIY fashion accessory suggestions from January 1938 Marie Claire.  I'll share the rest of the alphabet on Monday. Those of you who read my The Impatient Crafter blog will note avec amusement le collier en pompons.  "Tee hee!" or should that be "Hohn, hohn!"?

There is a lot of fabulous food for crafty thought here, a savvy, crafty fashionista knows you can spruce up any old ensemble with a little DIY spirit! 

Love
Madge

Howdy Do!

Well, hello out there! I'm so excited to share a sneak peek of this new site. This idea came from years of hearing marketing "geniuses" say, "This isn't your grandmother's...blah, blah, blah." and thinking how ridiculously silly and condescending that thought was.

Grandmother could craft circles around our asses. Seriously, people. Plus she looked a helluva lot better whilst doing it. I'm just sayin'.