My Love Affair With McCall's

I have a large collection of vintage magazines. I use them for robot candy. Though they are a necessary part of my business, they are heavy, bulky and difficult to store. I've been paring down my collection recently because as I mentioned in previous posts, I live in real fear that I may one day be crushed to death by a towering stack of Life, Better Homes and Gardens and The Saturday Evening Post. This isn't even factoring in the ever growing collection of Martha magazines.

My favorite of the vintage magazines is McCall's Needlework and Crafts. These were published biannually and were packed full of craft, sewing, crochet, and knitting patterns. I have made many projects from the patterns, but mostly I use them for inspiration.

I just finally decided to inventory them as I was quite sure I had some duplicates (did I ever! at least 12). I was surprised and delighted to learn that my compulsive hoarding had paid off, I have every issue between the years 1949 and 1974 + several of the Annuals which were published around the holidays. I'm only missing one from 1954 but I'm sure I'll come across it. If you ever find one of these at a tag sale or thrift shop, pick it up, you won't regret it. Not only are the projects amusing and often adorable, the ads are great too!

A Knit Wit and Other Treats

This afternoon I hauled 5 bags o' craft supplies and fabric to the craft supply swap. It was so great to get some of the stuff out of my studio space that I've been holding on to for years and pass it on to someone who will use it. It was also fun to "shop" for free. I got quite a few little treats, a Knit Wit, which I was watching on eBay for months and finally gave up on, some thread, zippers and a few other little goodies.

I spent most of my Saturday working on a custom order for some little girls' bedrooms. It reminds me of how much I'd love to get started on my Handmade Nursery idea. I love the idea of making things for a baby on the way that isn't all Gerber if you know what I mean. One room is in a Little Red Riding Hood theme for which I made a lamb plushie and wall hanging. The other room is cupcakes and sweets! Adorable. I made a giant cupcake plushie, a pillow and a wall hanging.

Then tonight we had dinner at a good friend's house. Dinner at Allison's always means waddling out to the car totally full on great food and conversation. Tonight's menu included copper river salmon, especially delicious tonight, marinated in shoyu and maple syrup, yum!

Zakka Sweet Zakka

My latest creative endeavor has been making these sewing kits. It's really a most delightful project. Each kit includes a pin cushion, a fabric covered tape measure and six illustrated pins. The boxes are lined with parchment from the new Martha line (LOVE! but that's a topic for another day). I'm not totally in love with the white boxes. I have been looking for some in kraft but to no avail, so for now they are white. These are available in the shop.

Have a nice weekend, I'll be holed up in my craft room working on some custom orders and getting ready for the etsy sale.

My Blue Egg

This is my egg. My friend Nicole gave it to me when I was visiting her. It must be so lovely to have some sweet little chicken friends leave pretty blue eggs for you every day. Sometimes, I think that I would like to have chickens, but they seem like a major commitment and I'm just not sure I could give them the time they deserve. Instead, I will treasure my one blue egg. Am I crazy for not wanting to ever crack it?