Friday, June 19, 2009

Vintage Crochet Booklets--Star Books

Well, I finally took some time away from my school work to inventory some of my Vogue patterns. I just love them. The styles of the outfits are incredible to say the least. I just wish I had enough time to sew some of them. I came into some wonderful old pattern booklets from the 1940's and 1950's. They are for crocheting and tatting. I already listed one of the booklets on Etsy; it's called Pot Holders: Hot Plate Covers, Swedish Embroidery. It has directions for numerous pot holders, a BBQ mitt for Dad, and directions for Swedish embroidery. What fun! The other booklets I will be listing in the Goofing Off shop are "Handkerchief Edgings" from 1948, "Handkerchief Edgings" from 1953, "Spreads that are Different in Motifs easy to make" from 1949, "Pillow Cases, Decorative Crochet" from 1950, "Ruffled Doilies and the Pansy Doily" form 1948, and "Crocheted Chairbacks, Church Laces, Shade Pulls" from 1954. With the exception of Pillow Cases, these booklets were published by the American Thread Company of New York and are called Star books. Each one is numbered as in a series. Take a look. They are very unique with lots of wonderful patterns that can still be fresh today.

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Royal Floss Society Embroidery

I went to a church rummage sale and came across some wonderful embroidery patterns. A couple were already started but not completed. A couple hadn't been touched. They are printed on linen, the real deal linen, not the hybrid stuff with polyester added. Check them out. They are so cool.

Monday, June 8, 2009

Learning to use new tools

OK, I am hooked. I don't really need another hobby but metalwork, whether it's jewelry or decorative is so cool. I learned to use a plasma cutter yesterday. It was awesome! I am still on the low side of the learning curve but I was able to cut out numbers and fish. I have a long way to go but we are going to enamel the numbers and fish and put them up on our mailbox. Way Cool!! I also put it to use cleaning up the yard by cutting up some tin for art supplies. I hope someone can use them. Sea trees (they are so beautiful) are some of the most amazing things on the beach. They wash up on the beach after storms and the colors are always different. They are known as soft coral. I think they are just sea plants that grow on the ocean floor that sea creatures attach to and grow, like coral colonies. They are amazing but fragile if out in the sun and weather. Indoors and protected, they can last a long time. They are among my favorite things.

Sunday, June 7, 2009

Showing off should be my middle name. These are a few of the things for sale from the MetalWoodsnWater shop. Shells, coral, and deer bones all picked up on walks in the woods or on the beach.

Goofing Off Art Supplies-- New listings!

Finally had the time to start doing the inventory on the shop. Some of the most beautiful dress patterns, wedding gowns that is, just left the shop but there is still a lot more. Wonderful stuff. More patterns to post, fun stuff for summer wear. Sewing your own is a great way to save money, especially in these tight economic times. Great to make something special and one of a kind. For you knitters and crocheters, I am destashing the stash. Too much stuff!! Beautiful boucle and fun fur yarn in jewel-like colors. Knitting needles, too. Save money and get the good stuff. Dan-the-Man just opened his own shop back in February called Metal Woods'n Water. It features the things he loves to do, being in the woods, on the water, and working with metal. So far, his shop has been a hit. People just love bones. Gives him a chance to show off his metal work, too. He was surprised people love the wrought iron quilt rack he made for me. Here's the links to our shops: http://MissEileen.etsy.com http://GoofingOff.etsy.com http://MetalWoodsnWater.etsy.com