Creative Crafts and Stitchery (1976) - Book Review

[godels_truth]

The book:  Creative Crafts & Stitchery, published by Better Homes & Gardens in 1976

How it came into my possession:  Dad's got a thing for auctions.  He acquired 4 boxes of cookbooks for about $15 recently.  There were some real treasures in there, including one by the Junior League of Baton Rouge; that one had lots of tasty gumbos and things.  Mom and I went through all those dusty books, and argued a bit about who got to keep each book.  The ones neither of us wanted were donated to the library.  Buried in with all those cookbooks was this little relic.  

General Review:  The book's got an identity crisis.  Half the projects in there are trying to be trendy (read "trippy").  The other half are distinctly for little old ladies.  There are enough neat ideas in here that I kept the book, but some of the projects will definitely make you wince.  

A choice selection of projects:

The perfect decor for you next stoner party


Or if you prefer a more "in touch with nature" groove


Stare at this too long and you're guaranteed to go blind


[insert joke here]


I didn't think that even in the 70's people would wear this in public


This is one of the neater ideas in the book, these are mandalas made out of feathers.


An early version of alternative/recycling.  Those "mirrors" are soda cans.  Blue=pepsi, green=7-up,...

[ally-oops]

Awesome!!! The book pics are grrrrrreat... You win, with your awesomely insightful comments! lol

[Purelectricity]

I found this book at a thrift store a few weeks ago!  I thought it had interesting techniques and more interesting pictures lol.  That butterfly with the soda cans is actually neat.

Thanks for posting this. 

[lilbandade]

i hate to say it but... that "stoner party decor" is actually pretty freaking awesome.

[somethingamazingbyvanessa]

i hate to say it but... that "stoner party decor" is actually pretty freaking awesome.

I know right? I totally wanna make that chair! AWESOME!!! But of course, I'm completely obsessed with the 70s.

[grendelsmom]

Thanks for the photos - I think that's my next-door neighbor on the seesaw!  I liked the butterfly too - in the 70's my family recycled and composted but we were the exception rather than the rule.  The trend was called "ecology" - anyone remember the big green "e"?  I do think some of these ideas could be amended to today's tastes without too much twisting.

[gannon]

Thanks for sharing--I love the feather mandalas!

[Teresa_T]

I'll agree, the decor is rather cool. I would not want the whole house looking like that but I still like it.

[kimski]

Wow, all I can say is wow!!! 

[wifeofbath]

You want to hear proof being a child in the '70s scarred me for life? I like all that stuff. The yellow didn't blind me even momentarily; perhaps growing up around it gives one immunity?