The Dark Underbelly of Vintage Knitwear Design

Spinnerin published my favorite vintage pattern books. Their books usually gave cute names to each design. Examples might be 'convincingly coy', or 'delightfully daring'. Their pattern books usually really captured the spirit of their time (plenty of examples to follow some other day).

With this particular book however, the veneer has been stripped away. The niceties have been done away with. No adjective-laden names* grace these designs, oh no. I think that will be how I sum up this pattern book: Oh, No.

*these sweaters are identified only by number; like prisoners.

The belted cardigan is shocking. It elicited a peal of laughter from my husband. It is chrome yellow. It is crocheted. It has a belt. I have to say that twice; it has a belt. A crocheted belt. It uses yarn called Frostlon or another option is Featherlon - yarns from the age of Aquarius. I scorn this sweater.

This one is my favorite/most-hated ever in my whole life. It's really the glasses/hair/pipe combination. Another unlikely color for a male.

He's well-groomed.

Victim of a well-intentioned woman who believes she knows what looks good on him. Worn on christmas day only.

Such sad eyes.

acrylic yarn + turtleneck + densely crocheted fabric = volcano heat

The Aran sweater has the special hugs & kisses cable (xo) down the front.

Missing the sky in CA

~ The Game* ~

*flickr meme

How to play:
a. Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search.

b. Using only the first page, pick an image.

c. Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into fd’s mosaic maker).

The Questions:
1. What is your first name?

2. What is your favorite food?

3. What high school did you go to?

4. What is your favorite color?

5. Who is your celebrity crush?

6. Favorite drink?

7. Dream vacation?

8. Favorite dessert?

9. What you want to be when you grow up?

10. What do you love most in life?

11. One Word to describe you.

12. Your flickr user name

Sculptural Wire on Etsy

Treasury West - curated by hmsdesign

New in my shop.

After a long pause, I've listed a few items in my etsy shop.

A bit more Eames

*click for detail

I'm in possession of the stamps. If I buy a second sheet, I may begin using them.

My friend at Piety Hill gave me a link to the Library of Congress Eames exhibition. Sections in the exhibit include Biography, Space, Culture, Beauty, Furniture, Science. Please do take a look. Today my appreciation is directed at their materials; molded plywood, fiberglass, wire.

Hey! Ray-Bernice Alexandra Kaiser Eames was born in Sacramento, California.

Elephants on Etsy

curated by Koosi, a window decorator & graphic designer from the Netherlands - & yes! She creates items full of color that will make people happy.

Eames Stamps; Tuesday, June 17

A friendly inside source at the USPS (code name Vo) has informed me that tomorrow is the issue date for the new pane* of sixteen .42 stamps celebrating the designs of Charles & Ray Eames. Walk, don't run (I want to get there before you) to the Post Office tomorrow.

If you happen to be in the Santa Monica area you may attend the official USPS dedication ceremony from 11a.m. - 1 p.m. Stamps and sheets of stamps with all 16 stamp designs will be sold at the celebration. Also available are first-day-of-issue hand cancellations with a special Santa Monica Post Office First-Day-of-Issue cancellation design. This event will be held at the Eames Office, 850 Pico Blvd, Santa Monica.

Satisfy your craving for Eames at eamesd's Flickr photostream ~

*stamp-talk

~ Happy Father's Day ~

In the Garden

I planted eight new dahlias this year. My climate is borderline too hot for them, especially in late summer. I have to try though - - these flowers are my favorite. It's pretty cheap fun too.

Library Windfall

I really scored in the 'New Non-Fiction' section today. I was going to wait in the car while my daughter went inside - - I am not really seeking out more reading material. I don't go to the library as much as I used to for that reason. However; my daughter asked me to go with, so I did & here is what I found.

some nice techniques, new to me.

ditto.

This has some very nice crocheted clothing - need I say more?

British knitwear design + knitting history = good times.

May have more to say on these, won't know for a bit.

Vintage Monsters

Ultraman with three points of articulation!

(he was in my stocking)

Godzilla & my new Asian little person

from Monster Gallery on etsy

Blogger is beastly recently, by the way.

Thread~a Matic

I thread many needles. No longer is this as simple as scissors, needle, & thread. Now additional tools are needed.

My choices:

1. The Thread~a Matic; 'a precision instrument which, if operated with care and according to instructions will give you years of faithful service'. This was thoughtfully set aside for me by a friend out of his grandmother's estate.

~ OR ~

2. An increasing assortment of spectacles. I haven't thought of the word 'spectacles' for a long time, but circumstances beyond my control have necessitated that I purchase reading glasses. 'Spectacles' suits them. I've gone with the obligatory sparkly rhinestones & tacky faux tortoise shell glasses chain, but in no way does this indicate enthusiasm.

After fiddling with the Thread~a Matic, I'm going to have to go the glasses route.

My Art Car

The BMW art car collection has inspired me...

Andrew Calder, 1975

David Hockney, 1995

Andy Warhol, 1979 (took 23 minutes to paint his car. My favorite)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I'd like an art car. I plan to use this pinewood derby Gran Prix racing car.

Stay tuned.

Giving away...

I sometimes wonder whether others regard my vintage collections as I do; very cool! Packrats think their stuff is cool; yes? Otherwise it wouldn't be painful to be rid of it.

If you would like to own some very cute & quirky vintage coasters, or a set of vintage picnic plates, please leave a comment to that effect, & I will send them to you. It's that simple!

~ choose one ~

~ Welcome pink kitty (12 for .29 a House of Napkins Product) ~

~ Souvenir of Hawaii (8) Made in Japan ~

~ Midcentury Roadrunner (12) ~

8 - 6 inch party plates, highest quality .29