Hello! It's the 1970s calling ...

 

I shared images the other day of a secondhand craft book I'd spent a grand total of £3.50 on, and here's another bargain for the same price.  The previous book was from the '90s, but this one's pure '70s.  More of that in a moment.  

Firstly, how pretty is my corner of West Yorkshire?  The cow parsley's out, lining grass verges with clouds of frothy white flowers and lush greenery.

This horse chestnut tree in a local cemetery promises conkers will be abundant in autumn.  

In my small front garden the Love-in-the-Mist are starting to flower.  

Mexican daisies and Evening Primrose have self-seeded everywhere.

I should have peonies blooming soon, as well as foxgloves, calendula and goodness knows what else is in the mix.  

Indoors, all these blocks are sewn together, and I've about 40 more that are waiting to be added.  Hopefully I won't need to make any more blocks, and I can soon add a layer of wadding and sort out backing fabric to get this quilt nearer the finishing line.  I've also got a couple of small needlepoint projects that need completing, which neatly leads me on to ...

This book's from the '70s, and has the distinctly musty smell of an old volume.   The dust jacket was a bit raggedy around the edges, so I took it off and it looks much smarter without.  

The photo above doesn't show it, but the yellow cover's actually more of an egg yolk yellow than pale lemon.  The design on the front and back is a chocolate brown, so that's a real seventies colour combo.  

The book gives a brief introduction to the history of needlepoint, or canvas embroidery as it's also referred to.  Then we get chapters on design, colour and texture, stitchery and stitch patterns, materials & equipment needed, mounting finished work and ideas for what to make.  There are probably more black & white images than you'd finished in a modern craft book, but there're still plenty of colour photographs to linger over.  

I love this idea for a design based on clothes peg.  It's described as being for a collar, though I'm not sure who'd wear it.  Maybe adapt to make into a lampshade instead?  

Really like these geometrics.  They'd make a good pattern for a modern piece of patchwork and applique.  

Another interesting geometric shape, and I like the contrast between the blue and the stripes of yellow, grey and white.  

These needlepoint handbags could grace the arm of any modern fashionista, surely?  

Though I'm not sure about the bolero waistcoat at the top of this page.  Oh, what do I know?  Some retro vintage lovin' lass might be over the moon at unearthing that in a charity shop.  

Here's a covered box that you could make a needlepoint design for.  

I do like the idea of making little needlepoint paperweights.  I fancy making some that look like seashells, with soft muted colours.  These paperweights could be useful if you're a dressmaker, and need pattern weights to hold your flimsy paper pattern down while you're cutting material out.  

Or finally, how about a groovy lampbase to brighten up your sitting room?  They're really fun, aren't they?  Okay, perhaps they're not your taste, but 'Needlepoint, the art of canvas embroidery' by Mary Rhodes is worth seeking out.  Musty smell, or not, its contents are still relevant to today's needlepointers, so I consider that £3.50 well spent!   

Hope you enjoyed seeing those photos, and have a great weekend.  Fingers crossed the sun keeps shining.