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Archive: Vintage
November 13, 2009
Three Scoops, Please!
This three-scoop ice cream cone was crocheted in the late 70s by Pepperknit's mom. [Via Inspire me, now!]
Posted by Becky Stern |
Nov 13, 2009 07:15 AM
Amigurumi, Crochet, Vintage |
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October 24, 2009
The Detailed Beauty in a Crazy Quilt
My mother-in-law has a stunning antique Crazy Quilt that hangs on the wall in her home. I was visiting there today, and I caught my self inching closer and closer to the quilt, in an attempt to discover all of it's amazing details.
The tiny flower embroidery is so charming.
The discord is the one common thread. The shapes of each patch are just odd. And the colors, prints and textures match by not matching at all. When I look at these patches, I like to think about the special occasion dresses that gave up their velvets and taffetas, and all the well-loved items that went into this quilt.
The only identifying mark, and the only actual literally story reads: Fargo District Epworth League Convention- Ellendale June 30, July 1
Posted by Brookelynn |
Oct 24, 2009 06:00 PM
Fabric, Quilting, Vintage |
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October 14, 2009
Ask CRAFT: Suitcase Decoupage
If you have a question for Ask CRAFT, shoot me an email at becky@craftzine.com, or drop us a note on Twitter! We'd love to answer your crafty questions on any topic: technique, projects, crafty culture, or anything else! Each week the answers are here; include your name, where you're from, and your website or blog if you have one!
Anita in Denver, CO writes in:
I saw a show on the PBS channel that featured a lady putting neat old pictures on an old suitcase, then using shellac and sealing the old pictures permanently on the old suitcase. I want to do that project so badly this winter when it is snowing outside. I cannot find it anywhere. Can you help?
You can get shellac at the hardware store, with the liquid wood finishes. They make it in brush-on and spray varieties. It has a yellowing effect usually (which may be what you want), and is a water resistant finish. If that's not what you're going for, try Mod Podge, princess of all craft adhesives. You can brush it on as an adhesive and finish for affixing and sealing old pictures to the suitcase. Just make sure the suitcase and pictures are clean (and dust free). You can wipe the suitcase down with a damp cloth and then let it dry, or try a can of compressed air (from the office supply store, usually for cleaning computer keyboards and the like), then use any number of the vast plentitude of decoupage tutorials online to make your own!
- Going to Grandma's Laptop Case (pictured above)
- Cathy Callahan's Old School: Decoupage
- How-To: Decoupage Lamp
- How-To: Make a Decoupage Stool
- How-To: Make Decoupage Coasters
Posted by Becky Stern |
Oct 14, 2009 09:00 AM
Ask CRAFT, Refashion, Vintage |
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October 2, 2009
Intern's Corner: Cocktail Hats, Anyone?
Every other week, CRAFT's awesome interns tell about the projects they're building in the Craft: Labs, the trouble they've gotten into, and what they'll make next.
By Lindsey North, projects intern
So your best friend calls -- you're to attend a fancy dress party, costumes mandatory. But you have nothing to wear! However, you see fun beads and feathers sitting on your crafting table ...
From these small items, along with a clothes hanger, a headband, and a few scraps of fabric, you can make the perfect cocktail hat. (And if you want to make it completely outrageous, you can cover it in peacock feathers and sequins.)
In CRAFT Volume 10 we featured a Fancy Cocktail Hat and showed readers how to make a basic hat form. You start with a piece of metal wire -- an old clothes hanger works wonderfully, since it's light enough to bend easily but strong enough to hold its form.
Read full story
Posted by Keith Hammond |
Oct 2, 2009 10:03 AM
CRAFT Projects, Intern's Corner, Parties, Sewing, Vintage |
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September 22, 2009
St. George and the Dragon Flip Doll
I love Laura's softies over at the We Wilsons blog (the pig with wings! The turtle coming out of its shell!), but Laura has totally stolen my heart with this fantastic St. George and the Dragon flip doll. Aside from the fact that the flip itself is hilarious (is the dragon digesting St. George? Or the other way around?), the details are incredible: the visor lifts, St. George has a dapper mustache, and the dragon has rickrack spines. I am totally inspired. What other flip dolls could/should exist? Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde? The Little Mermaid in both her guises? The Frog Prince? I could go on all day...
Be sure to check out the Wilsons Etsy shop; you can buy many fabulous softies (more flip dolls, too!) or pdf patterns.
Posted by Arwen O'Reilly Griffith |
Sep 22, 2009 05:00 PM
Plush, Sewing, Vintage |
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September 11, 2009
Checkin' In: Bon Vivant Matt Maranian
Matt Maranian has contributed so many swanky projects to the pages of CRAFT magazine that they are perhaps too numerous to list here. Check out his author page for the whole array. Among my favorites is the Bibliophilic Stash Box, a sneaky little cache made out of vintage hardcover books, from CRAFT Volume 09:
I also love the Camp Lamp Chandelier from CRAFT Volume 06, where Matt taught us how to scavenge just the perfect branches and combine them with classic camp lanterns to make this rustic, kitschy delight:
Another one of my favorites is the Curio Case Table, which I featured as a Flashback last month, meaning you can access the whole project and make your own.
Matt's aesthetic is unique, and he never ceases to amaze us with what he could come up with next. We touched base with him recently to see what's new in his crafty world, and he was excited to announce the release of his newest book, L.A. Bizarro: The All-New Insider's Guide to the Obscure, the Absurd, and the Perverse in Los Angeles.
This is what Matt had to say about the book:
This is the much anticipated, totally revised, and munificently expanded edition of the #1 Los Angeles Times bestseller that I wrote with my longtime pal Tony Lovett, which was originally published in 1997. Although technically a "travel" title, L.A. Bizarro is actually our sardonic, irreverent, perverted, sometimes loving, oftentimes loathing, treatise on greater Los Angeles, disguised as a guidebook. It's a vicarious joy ride (or horror show) through Los Angeles culture and it's colorful, lesser-visited cracks and crevices. Having relocated to Brattleboro, Vermont, to open my new, used, and vintage clothing store Boomerang in '99, I had to jump back into the Bizarro saddle with a vengeance, taking a month-long research trip which had me hopping from nudist RV park to professional dungeon to colon hydrotherapy session, all the while cramming in as many dive bars, vintage diners, and third-rate tourist attractions as possible in my down time — all in the name of research of course.
Fun! Sounds right up my (dark) alley! In addition to the book, as Matt mentioned above, he and his wife Loretta Palazzo stay busy with their shop Boomerang in Brattleboro, Vermont.
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Posted by Goli Mohammadi |
Sep 11, 2009 05:00 PM
Vintage |
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August 29, 2009
DIY Vintage Book Table Numbers
Here's a super easy way to make table numbers for a wedding with this DIY vintage book table numbers project by Bird and Banner on Once Wed.
Posted by Natalie Zee Drieu |
Aug 29, 2009 06:00 PM
Vintage, Weddings |
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August 28, 2009
Vintage Spool Peg Rack
Vintage Spool Peg Rack
By Jessica Wilson
Little makes me happier than looking at a jar of vintage goodness. From bottle caps to bits of ribbon to an enormous jar of doll parts, I have quite a collection. This year I am pushing myself to move beyond the happy collections in the jars to actually doing something with them. What good are they really if they just sit there collecting dust? So, now and then, when I put together a gift or trinket for someone, the lids come off the jars and I rifle through them searching for the perfect encore. I may still add to the jars, but more often than not, I am using them and that is just dandy. As a crafter and maker of homemade goodness, I strive to use as much of my stash as possible. Here is an easy project for you to use up and display some of your prettiest vintage wooden spools. You can, of course, use any spools you have but the vintage ones will need no treatment, as their happily old fashioned tops are magical to begin with. When you are finished, you will have a vintage-pretty peg shelf to hang even more of your vintage lovelies.
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Posted by Natalie Zee Drieu |
Aug 28, 2009 11:00 AM
CRAFT Projects, Home Decor, Home Sweet Home, Vintage |
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August 20, 2009
Revamped Doctor's Office Cabinet
When we added a bathroom a couple of years ago, I had visions of a nicely painted white wooden cabinet with frosted glass doors. I'd seen them at Crate and Barrel and IKEA, and thought they'd be perfect. But I couldn't find the right size, I was worried the IKEA cabinet might not last (I have 2 boys!), and it didn't end up feeling like a good match with our fairly rustic bathroom design.
So I searched Craig's List for inexpensive options. I ended up with a cute metal cabinet salvaged from an old doctor's office. I love that the top drawers flip down instead of pull straight out, and the old Formica top brings up fond memories. But I was worried about how metal would look in the wood-heavy bathroom.
For starters, the bright blue and stark white paint didn't match the pale green and rich rust that we'd gone with in the bathroom. It was time for another painting project! In the end it worked well, and I decided to use one of the wall paint colors combined with some semi-gloss paint we'd used to faux finish some beams in our living room several years ago.
Since the metal was already painted, I didn't have to use any special metal primer, and since I wanted a rustic look, I didn't have to paint carefully (not my strong suit). After my mom and I painted the different colors on, we took sandpaper and rubbed off the paint in a few spots.
I'm really happy with the results, and it's so much more personal than a cabinet bought at a department store. It's a good reminder to me that devoting a couple of hours to a project is more fun, more meaningful, and more satisfying than pulling out the credit card to buy something that looked good in the glossy catalog. And now my little metal cabinet matches the room!
Posted by Shawn Connally |
Aug 20, 2009 12:00 PM
Design, Home Decor, Vintage |
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August 12, 2009
Knitting Vintage Tutorial Series by Kristen Rengren
I'm a big fan of vintage knitting and have a few books and patterns myself in my collection. It's always hard though to figure out how to knit the pieces for correct sizing in today's terms. Vintage Baby Knits author, Kristen Rengren is here to help! Check out her in-depth 10 part knitting vintage tutorial series that covers everything you need to know.
Kristen writes:
The Knitting Vintage Tutorial Series covers everything you need to know about how to knit from vintage patterns and alter them to fit - without losing one bit of vintage style. While it's geared toward the vintage knitter, the information in these articles will help you alter any pattern - vintage or modern - with clear explanations of all the finessing and all the math involved in knitting pattern alteration.
Next Friday, we'll be featuring a pattern from Kristen's book, Vintage Baby Knits! Take a preview inside the book and see how vintage can be très chic for the wee ones!
Posted by Natalie Zee Drieu |
Aug 12, 2009 10:00 AM
Knitting, Vintage |
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July 1, 2009
Crafty Home Etsy Video
Tara Young at Etsy writes:
Three years ago, Alice Saunders, a.k.a. Forestbound, and Francesca Zmetra, a.k.a. Thirteen Eighty-Five, became roommates in an old house in Jamaica Plain, MA. They didn't know each other at the time but because of their similar styles, they bonded instantly and became close as friends and creative colleagues. Alice's aesthetic tends toward old military Americana with a collection of canvas bags, found bones, birch bark, vintage lace and postcards. Francesca's taste is more feminine, influenced by wartime beauty parlors and apothecaries.
Check out more about these two lovely ladies.
Posted by Becky Stern |
Jul 1, 2009 04:00 PM
Home Decor, Video, Vintage |
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June 23, 2009
Antique Bottle Collecting
Gareth @ MAKE writes:
Antique bottles have always fascinated me. Here's an amazing site with pretty much everything you need to know about identifying and dating "historic bottles." The site is maintained by the Bureau of Land Management.
More:
HOW TO - Make a Sea Glass Necklace
Posted by Becky Stern |
Jun 23, 2009 08:58 AM
Vintage |
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June 16, 2009
How-To Tuesdays: Vintage Teacup Pincushion
Thrift stores and yard sales are full of orphaned teacups, and I can never resist bringing them home. However, I don't think I could ever drink enough cups of tea to make my collection really worthwhile. So I found a way to repurpose these pretty vessels and turn them into something I'll use every day: a pincushion! The supplies to make these are cheap, but the results are adorable, making them an ideal last-minute gift. Here's how to make one of your own.
Read full story
Posted by Jenny Ryan |
Jun 16, 2009 12:00 PM
CRAFT Projects, Recycle, Vintage |
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June 9, 2009
How-To: Steampunk Spats
I just finished watching this video tutorial on Threadbanger with Zoh Morrigan on how to make stylish victorian spats for your boots, and now I want to go make a pair! I think I'll try making colorful fabric ones for my all-black Chuck Taylors.
Posted by Becky Stern |
Jun 9, 2009 02:00 PM
Fashion, Vintage |
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June 4, 2009
Blinking Doll Eye Ring
Ginga Squid Studios in New Zealand makes these custom vintage doll eye rings that blink when you move your hand. So lovely and creepy! Via Street Anatomy.
Posted by Becky Stern |
Jun 4, 2009 04:00 PM
Jewelry, Vintage |
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May 8, 2009
Checkin' In: Vintage Crafter Cathy Callahan
The fabulously retro Cathy Callahan is no stranger to the pages of CRAFT, having projects published in six out of ten issues. She filled the Old School column in style, each installation featuring a different, neat craft from the past. Where does she come up with all of her old school crafty ideas? From crafts she and her super crafty mom would make together back in the day as well as from her collection of vintage publications and ephemera.
Here are some of my favorites. Back in CRAFT Volume 05, Cathy showed us how to take old magazines headed for the recycling bin, add a few crafty bits, and make this Folded Magazine Cat:
Then, in Volume 08, she showed us how to take our favorite flowers and preserve them with silica gel and a microwave:
We checked in with Cathy recently to see what she's been crafting lately, and here's what she wrote:
"My big news, of course, is my Martha appearance in March. Here are my blog posts about it: how it all came to be, how it went down, and the video itself.
Susan Beal took photos of her TV while I was on:"
"One of my favorite things that I have been doing lately is teaching craft classes. I absolutely love working with the students and am thrilled to see what they do. So far, I've been focusing on the basics of how to use a flower loom and papier-mâché (jewelry and accessories), but hope to develop more classes in the future."
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"My next papier-mâché class is at Reform School/Home Ec in Silver Lake, Calif., on May 14 and 21.
And I'm so excited to be doing a papier-mâché workshop at Maker Faire on Sunday, May 31st at 2:00 p.m. in the CRAFT area in Expo Hall.
I have also been taking classes. While I was in New York, I took Denyse Schmidt's "Improvisational Patchwork" workshop. It was amazing experience! Denyse is so talented and I am so inspired by her work.
And when I am in the Bay Area later this month for Maker Faire, I'm going to head over to Berkeley to take the Natalie Chanin workshop. You choose a project from her book to do in the class. I'll be doing an appliqued scarf. I have been a huge fan of her work for many years and am really looking forward to the class.
I am a contributor (covered button necklace photo below) to the recently released Button It Up by Susan Beal
(available here)."
"I am also a contributor to a couple of upcoming books to be released this fall. For Kayte Terry's latest book Applique Your Way, I made an Enid Collins-inspired clutch bag. Also, Meg Mateo Ilasco interviewed me about craft fairs for her upcoming Craft Inc. Business Planner.
In addition to my Etsy shop, some of my favorite stores are now selling my flower loom kits:
Tinsel Trading in New York
Reform School/Home Ec in Los Angeles
The Curiosity Shoppe in San Francisco (where I will be doing a workshop/demo in July)."
"I have just applied to both of the upcoming west coast Renegade Craft Fairs, LA and SF. Keeping my fingers crossed that I am accepted.
And of course I've been picking up more vintage craft books and other stuff that I will be blogging about soon."
Thanks, Cathy! You can keep up with Cathy Callahan by reading her blog:
http://cathyofcalifornia.typepad.com/.
And make sure to pick up any back issues of CRAFT you may not already have in the Maker Shed.
Posted by Goli Mohammadi |
May 8, 2009 05:00 PM
Vintage |
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April 29, 2009
Thrift Store Plate Mirrors
Monica from CraftyNest shows you how to make these cute thrift store plate mirrors. I'm loving the flower shaped plates she scored at the thrift store!
Posted by Natalie Zee Drieu |
Apr 29, 2009 08:00 AM
Home Decor, Vintage |
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April 27, 2009
Naughty Secretary Club: Costume Jewelry Collection
Jennifer Perkins at Naughty Secretary Club has some new additions to her shop! I am loving her vintage jewelry collection in her Les Classiques section of her shop where all pieces range in age from the 1940's to 1970's.
Posted by Natalie Zee Drieu |
Apr 27, 2009 11:00 AM
Bazaar, Jewelry, Vintage |
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April 25, 2009
Grafica Fidalga Letterpress Video
Cool Hunting Video got up close and personal with the three men who run Grafica Fidalga, a printing press in São Paulo, Brazil. They use a machine from 1929 using hand-cut wooden letters. The way the machine works is mesmerizing.
More:
A Visit with Hello Lucky - CRAFT Video Podcast
Posted by Becky Stern |
Apr 25, 2009 12:07 PM
Printing, Technology, Video, Vintage |
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April 23, 2009
Made With Love by Hannah House Tour
Etsy just did a video tour of the home of Hannah from Made With Love by Hannah. The video shows off her truly epic stash of nicknacks and kitchy art collection.
More:
Revamp Thrift Sweater Vest to Dirndl Bodice-Like Top
From the pages of CRAFT: 06:
"Made With Love by Hannah" by Jenny Ryan, pgs 26-28. Buy the back issue in the Maker Shed.
Posted by Becky Stern |
Apr 23, 2009 01:07 PM
Video, Vintage |
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