Happy New Year!

Here's another old card I picked up along the way somewhere. Galleons are often seen on greeting cards of the 30s and 40s and I never could understand their significance but this New Year message says it all I think. So Happy New Year to us all and I hope 2016 will bring a peaceful end to at least some of the world's troubles - sadly I doubt it!

But to all us crafty types we can at least hope for a creative year ahead and perhaps a new string to our bows! Not sure what mine will be yet..... so much to choose from.

On the fifth day of Christmas..... Away in a Manger

If you are following me on my Facebook crafty page you'll see my peg fairy and angel but I've posted them here before so today is something I haven't made - yet.  I love old women's magazines and spied this charming nativity in the 1975 Christmas edition of Woman & Home.  You can still buy these small wooden people blanks easily in craft shops and on line (my favourite shop is Myriad - love their felt!).  

Here are the instructions in case you want to make one.  Unfortunately the prices quoted have risen somewhat!  I have a sentimental fondness for peg dolls - something I liked making when I was a child and I've collected a whole Pinterest board full of them to please and inspire me - and you!

More fairings

I've made these bookmarks before and they were quite popular at a previous craft fair I seem to remember.  I use images from my collection of Dover Publications copyright free books, print a few on a sheet of card, use the bookmark die from Papertrey Ink to cut out, then colour with Copic markers.  Felt or fabric sandwiched and machine stitched between two layers of cardstock creates quite a robust bookmark that can take a bit of wear and tear - travelling in a suitcase for holiday reading perhaps!

Christmas 1968 - and Merry Christmas!

A Very Happy Christmas to all my blog friends - I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season and a very Merry New Year!

I've just time to manage one last vintage Christmas post - this one from Honey magazine December 1968.  And yes, all those "young, gay and get-ahead" trendy young things (me included!) were being crafty even then!  And in case there are still one or two last minute gifts to wrap or cards to give here's an idea or two for a swinging Christmas 60s style.

In this issue, as well as fashion and make-up advice for looking your very best for the festive party season, ideas for presents, romantic stories and yes, hints on how to get your man, inside there was even a papercrafting gift.  I've had a go at making the man-you-want-for Christmas paper mobile but I was doing it late at night and in a hurry (as always!) so its not perfect.  Perhaps you can do better.

Four 60s favourite men are gifted here - Dustin Hoffman, Donovan, Michael Cane and Christopher Jones.  You've seen these optical mobiles before I'm sure.  Just print out on copypaper, cut out, stick back to back and score zig-zag style - I used my score board.

There are another four pin-up men on another page and if one happens to be your vintage favourite I can scan it if you wish to have him hanging over your bed or laptop - Hywell Bennett, David Hemmings, Terence Stamp and Steve McQueen.

There are even some paper dolls dressed of course in the height of 60s fashion - here are two: Gypsy Rose Raver and Jenny Jones Harlow!  Oh happy memories of my youth.  I seem to remember I even enjoyed the odd Christmas party or two in 1968 - I was just 20 years old and compared to girls of the same age today, very naive, but I think we all were unless you shared a flat in "Swinging 60s London" - something we all aspired to!  But of course it was just fantasy.

I hope you've enjoyed my glimpses of Christmases past.  I'd like to thank all my faithful blogger band for encouraging me in my ramblings during 2012.  Here's to a Healthy, Peaceful and Happy 2013!

Christmas 1933

Firstly, I would like to thank Godelieve for sharing her lovely Christmas banner with everyone this year.  I always admire her seasonal banners but never get around to making one myself.  Its gorgeous Godelieve and I'm proud to have it on my blog this Christmas.

And now for more inspiration from Christmas past.  Here's another lovely Bird's Custard advertisement - this time from the December 1933 issue of Needlewoman magazine.  Unfortunately the cover of the mag is completely destroyed so I can't show you it here, but you might like some of the Christmas gift projects.

I really like this crochet book cover and think it would make a lovely present for a book lover.  As always if you right click on the image, open in a new tab and then enlarge you can read the pattern or save and print the page.

And what do you think of these knitted toys?  The Jack and Jill dolls are very sweet, though a simpler embroidered face would be more appealing today.  Knitted doll's clothes and rabbits are always popular and timeless gifts for little ones - but Bill the Lizard looks more like a crocodile to me!  I love little green Esau - I'm just not quite sure what kind of an animal he's supposed to be!

There are a few nice little cross stitch charts - motifs that have been used to make calendars for 1934.  Two very 30s sailing ships, a silhouette of a crinoline lady at a spinning wheel and two trees (below).  The funny little chart for the bookends is rather cute too.  If you fancy any of the charts or knitting patterns let me know and I'll send you a scan.

And here's another very stylish crochet gift.  I know tobacco pouches are a very niche gift in the 21st century but you might still have a tobacco smoking Grandad.  My Dad was a pipe smoker and on the very rare occasion a whiff of pipe smoke floats by I feel Dad must be just around the corner and I could catch up with him if I could get there fast enough!

And of course it would make a very nice change/makeup/bits and bobs purse.

Christmas 1946

 

Fellow crafters!  You know how it is at this time of year - so much to create, so little time!  And what you do create you can't share on line as its secret until 25th December.  I'm busy getting ready for another craft fair on 15th too.  I'm aiming to really get down to my family and friends' gifts after that - but only 10 days!  I'm definitely in panic mood - but hey, what's new, I kind of like it that way.  It wouldn't be Christmas without a few all-night crafting sessions!

But what to blog about?  I thought I'd share some of my old magazine collection again over the next couple of weeks.  The first is this edition of My Home magazine from December 1946.  In the UK wartime rationing was even tighter during the years following the declaration of peace so it was another "Make Do & Mend" Christmas for all.  I can imagine that home was where everyone wanted to be, with family and friends and thoughts of those lost held close.

Almost everyone was a maker in those days.  Mums knitted and sewed, Dads made things with wood, tin and other scraps.  Children loved to make presents and decorations and there were a lot of secrets to be kept and half made gifts hurriedly hidden when someone came into a room unexpectedly - happy times!  I love this knitted teacosy and only wish I had time to make one.

Turning the pages of old magazines really does bring the past alive for me.  I love reading the stories, finding crafty ideas and patterns, even following the recipes on occasion.  I love the adverts too.  Here are two products I still use every week and we always have a tin of Quality Street chocolates to dip into on Christmas day.  That distinctive tin is a tradition in our family and in many other families too I'm sure - though perhaps its not so much of a once a year special treat as it was when I was a little girl!

And if you want to see these pages up close right click on the image, from the drop down menu pick open link in new tab, click on the new tab and then you can zoom in.

June

Another new month and a look back at the old.  This time I've stuck with Carina Gardner's design for June instead of adding my own background and elements. I really like this lime and aqua page...... ok - I didn't have time to be original, but I really do like the look of the June page from the Design a Year digi kit.  Its not too late to catch up if you want to design your year and the kit is discounted by 40% at the moment!

And if you are looking for the next in my series of pages from Children Month by Month, here is the July design.  In March we were able to go paddling here in the UK but since then it has all been down hill weatherwise!