Serendipity Handmade

Book Reviews + Giveaway: Connect the Shapes Crochet Motifs & Crochet One-Skein Wonders

2013-05-11T22:23:00.003-07:00

Although I own a lot of vintage crochet pamphlets, you might be surprised to know that I actually only have a few contemporary crochet pattern books on my library shelf. I generally don't pick up newer crochet craft books for the simple reason that the projects in modern books aren't usually that different than some of the vintage resources that I already own. However, I found that both Connect the Shapes: Crochet Motifs (Edie Eckman) and Crochet One-Skein Wonders (Judith Durant &...

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Fortunate Finds: the Lady Ellen Pop Up Hair Salon

2013-05-03T18:06:00.000-07:00

As a woman who is fascinated by the beauty rituals of yesteryear I happened to pass by a small plastic box at an estate sale. It looked a bit familiar to me, so I opened it up and discovered that I had a Lady Ellen Pop Up Hair Salon in my hands: This compact little box doesn't look like anything special on the outside, really, but I think this set is a triumph of mid-century design (probably made around the late 1950s or early 1960s or so). This box of hair curlers looks...

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Essentials for the Forces and More: free 1940s Knitting Patterns

2013-04-25T16:53:00.001-07:00

Did you know that the Victoria & Albert Museum has digitized some World War II-era knitting patterns and made them freely available on their website? The patterns hail from 1940s publications such as Woman's Weekly and from booklets like "Essentials for the Forces" by Jaeger Hand-Knit in support of the war effort. This booklet in particular includes many patterns designed for men and women in the service (such as helmet liners and balaclavas) but there are some...

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{Giveaway} Atiliay Mother's Day Gift Package to Benefit the Women of Freely in Hope

2013-04-22T19:36:00.000-07:00

It's time for a very special Mother's Day-themed giveaway from atiliay on Etsy! Serendipity Handmade is partnering with Olivia Lin, founder of atiliay, to help spread the word and raise funds for Freely in Hope, a non-profit organization that provides opportunities for young women in Kenya to reach their educational goals in a safe, secure environment. When I met Olivia I was very impressed by her commitment to people in need through her work at atiliay (formerly the Yummy Year...

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Crochet WIPs

2013-04-18T21:16:00.001-07:00

Working on some simple crochet projects this week, as I'm evaluating another book which I'll review for you later. I wanted to test out the instructions in this particular book, and I followed the directions to make a simple granny square and also made a rather complex triangular shaped motif: I've never made crochet anything into a triangle before and it's harder than it should be, believe me. Frankly, I have no idea what could be made out of a bunch of triangles...

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Madison Avenue Monday: Sunbury Felt

2013-04-15T05:00:00.000-07:00

This ad makes me want to go for a ride in the sunshine. The cute fuchsia jacket is made from vintage jacket pattern Vogue 9057. From Needlewoman Needlecraft no.82, 1960-61

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Re-purposed Vintage: the Art-o-Mat Vending Machine

2013-04-09T18:03:00.001-07:00

Restored vintage cigarette machines + art = the Art-o-Mat! Art-o-Mat at the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco. Photo via Facebook I do believe this is one of the coolest re-purposed/recycled vintage projects I have ever seen. These former cigarette machines now vend a cellophane-wrapped carton of art! The Art-o-Mat is the brainchild of Clark Whittington from Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He refurbished his first cigarette machine in 1997...

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Spring Cleaning?

2013-04-05T05:00:00.000-07:00

via Pinterest It's that time of year, isn't it? And it's never as fun as she makes it look in the photo. I thought I'd re-post Peg Bracken's snarky and fun housekeeping tips from the I Hate to Housekeep book again this year for the reluctant housekeepers among my readership (we are a silent minority, I think!). Reluctant to clean or not, everybody likes to live in a tidy space even if we would rather pursue our hobbies than clean house. As such, I find some...

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Adventures in Pompom Land: Book Review + Freebie + Giveaway

2013-04-03T05:00:00.000-07:00

Just when I thought I had already seen every possible to way to make a small furry animal figure out of yarn or wool, Lark Books sent me a copy of Adventures in Pompom Land: 25 Cute Projects Made from Handmade Pompoms by Myko Diann Bocek. Talk about cute overload! If you like to knit or crochet amigurumi I think that you will love the little creatures in this book. Take a look at a few of the adorable projects: At first I was a little dubious about the idea of...

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Madison Avenue Monday: The Fresh Material - Young America Creates

2013-04-01T17:17:00.004-07:00

A Celanese Fortrel ad for the Young America Creates series of Butterick patterns, which as I mentioned before in this post was probably the early roots of what would eventually become reality shows like Project Runway. Cute concept too: the designers as a band, the ad as an album cover. From the Butterick Home Catalog, Summer 1970 You can see some of the actual patterns at the Vintage Pattern Wiki on the Young America Creates category page.

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Happy Easter and Spring Holidays

2013-03-30T11:34:00.001-07:00

via Pinterest Wishing you and your loved ones a pleasant and beautiful weekend!

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WIP's and a Finished Project

2013-03-28T05:00:00.000-07:00

This week I took stock of all of the WIPs in my house. Um...I have a lot of WIPs. So many that I don't want to own up to the total number, so I'll just show you a couple of the sewing WIPs. But at least I have made some progress, however s-l-o-w, on a couple of projects. I finally tacked in the angel back on Pauloa 901A. This is the view of the back of the dress pinned to Esme: And I photocopied and enlarged the Adjust-for-You dress illustrations from...

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Survey Says: Reader Poll Feedback

2013-03-25T05:00:00.000-07:00

Have you been waiting to hear the results of the Serendipity Handmade reader poll from last month? Maybe...maybe not...but here are the highlights anyway! Thanks again to those who participated; I've been thinking long and hard about making changes to the blog as a result of your feedback. Question 1. What are your favorite regular posts at Serendipity Handmade (choose up to 3): Fortunate Finds (vintage items in my collection or that I discover at thrift...

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Madison Avenue Monday: Fluffy is the One!

2013-03-18T00:30:00.000-07:00

What goes around comes around.... Chevron prints are huge in fashion this year, and I like the color contrast on this 80s sweater from 1984 (though I can do without the massive shoulder pads): Via McCall's, Oct. 1984

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Toy Sewing Machines

2013-03-14T18:38:00.003-07:00

Did you have a toy sewing machine as a child? Today's sewing machines for children seem to be little more than disposable plastic junk that may or may not actually sew, but the toy sewing machines of yesterday are really a work of art. I recently had the opportunity to see the incredible private collection of some expertly restored antique toy, portable, and cabinet sewing machines that dated from the 1850s to the 1950s. I really am amazed at the number of working sewing machines that...

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Madison Avenue Monday: Make-It-Yourself with Wool

2013-03-11T17:23:00.002-07:00

Yesterday's time change here in the US has brought me to my knees yet again; it's like having jet lag. So this week's MAM is brought to you by Olympic Airways and the American Wool Council, who sponsored a design contest with a grand prize of two weeks in Greece and Spain: From McCall's Patterns, Fall-Winter 1967. The suit jacket reminds me a bit of this beautiful pale blue wool suit designed by Seymour Fox and photographed in Vogue around the same time period. I wish I...

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Wee Felt Worlds: Book Review + Freebie

2013-03-07T18:27:00.002-08:00

Have you ever tried needle-felting? I've been interested in trying out this craft for a few years but hadn't done so until I had the opportunity to take a look at Wee Felt Worlds: Sweet Little Scenes to Needle Felt, edited by Amanda Carestio. What a fun book! There are over 50 mini-projects to make with wool roving that are suited to both beginners and advanced needle felters. The projects have a retro, kitschy vibe and include dinosaurs, pirates, scientists, and robots. ...

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Madison Avenue Monday: The Treat is "Hours"

2013-03-04T16:33:00.003-08:00

This week's MAM is a charming ad for Capital Airlines (now United) from Ladies Home Journal, March 1954. Capital served the U.S. Eastern seaboard in the 1950s and 1960s. This ad seems to suggest that a couple could hop a short Capital flight into New York to go to dinner and a show. But the incredible evening gown, designed by Ceil Chapman, is what is most striking about this ad. I'm sold. And so were Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor, Aretha Franklin, Grace Kelly, and...

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Field Trip to the Cut! Costume and Cinema Exhibit

2013-03-02T14:22:00.000-08:00

As I mentioned in my last post, I thoroughly enjoy a good costume exhibit. The Cut! Costume and the Cinema Exhibit at the Bowers Museum was no exception. Most of the featured costumes were worn in period films that won their designers Academy and BAFTA awards. Cut! is one of several traveling costume exhibits owned by Cosprop Ltd., a well-known and renowned British costumier for television, film, and theater founded by John Bright in 1965. Do you remember the...

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Field Trip Coming Soon...and a Recommendation

2013-02-25T23:42:00.003-08:00

Long-time readers know that I make a beeline for movie costume exhibits. This is just a short post to let you know that I'm working on a new field trip for you this week! Here's a little teaser: I recently had the opportunity to to see the wonderful Cut! Costume and the Cinema exhibit at the Bowers Museum featuring costumes from twenty-five different films (including some award winners). I now have over 300 photos to sort through (yes, I take too many photos...

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Madison Avenue Monday: Revlon Aquamarine Lotion

2013-02-18T12:56:00.000-08:00

Isn't the model's outfit cute? I particularly the ball trim around the v-neck blouse and full skirt. And the advertising script, "Why treat your hands like a stepchild?" is just so funny. I can't argue with the ad man; from a beauty perspective we should definitely treat our hands as well as we treat our faces! Via Ladies Home Journal, March 1954

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Meet the Artist Giveaway: Sage Beauties

2013-02-14T14:17:00.004-08:00

Happy Valentine's Day! I have a little treat just for you: a Meet the Artist giveaway courtesy of my very creative friend, Joy Sage of SageBeauties. Allow me to introduce you to Joy: ...pictured here in her booth at the recent Mercantile Flea Market in Fullerton. Collette: How was SageBeauties born? Joy: I started making jewelry when I saw a very simple glass pendant hanging from a ribbon on sale in a store for twenty...

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Madison Avenue Monday: Skippies by Formfit

2013-02-11T15:02:00.002-08:00

Skippies, for young moderns. Burn your corsets, ladies! From Ladies' Home Journal, March, 1954.

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February Days: Dessert and Table Decor for Valentine's Day and More

2013-02-09T19:05:00.000-08:00

The Better Homes & Gardens Holiday Cookbook is such a enchanting mid-century cookbook (published 1959) that it is one of my favorite vintage books to share with you. I often look through it for holiday inspiration. The section for February included some charming home decor and food ideas for Valentine's Day and President's Day. I now wish that I had a heart-shaped cake mold because this pink Valentine Cake is so delightfully easy to make (original recipe below) and...

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Sewing Practice: Introducing Prudence and McCall's 8186

2013-02-07T19:00:00.001-08:00

Prudence is a chic 16" fashion doll. McCall's 8186 is a chic little "Adjust for You" dress pattern from 1968. So how do these two things relate? I was checking vintage patterns the other day and found out that the very cute McCall's 8186 has a full set of tissue pattern fit instructions with sample drawings. I immediately thought that I could make one of the dresses on a smaller scale to get in some sewing practice with another vintage pattern, while...

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