Beautiful Crafts

Here are some inspirational images from The Beautiful Crafts Book published by Sterling Publishing in 1976.  I don't know if  I would call this stuff beautiful but it is definitely colorful and jumping with interesting patterns.

I especially love the black and white versions of the designs; they are all so intricate.

Aren't these birdies the cutest?  Tree ornaments for all year long :)

Love the hedgehog!

Great blackline drawings.

Comments

[andrea]

they definitelyy have a a folkish look. i like it :-)

[Wendy Todd]

this is so funny...i have this book and love it!!

[Nina]

I am so struck by the sweet simplicity of those leafy blackline patterns. I printed them off your site and Eva and I have been tracing them, drawing them...just playing.

[lera]

i'm dying at the 2-headed llama! for many, many years i thought llamas had 2 heads. like the push-me-pull-me thing from the original dr doolittle.

[Amy]

Vintage craft books are the best. Their colours and spirit are so free and lovely, aren't they? I have loads of them (I can't stop buying them off second-hand bookstores!)

[helle]

Terrific book.
The handpainted eggs, I think, are beautiful.

[Marianne]

In old books are a lot of beautiful pictures for other use then they are mentioned. They are very colourfull and the birdies are lovely!

Marianne
(from The Netherlands .. If my english is not right, you know why...)

[Angie]

Very interesting. But you are right the black line drawings could lead to something very beautiful!

[Scribbles & Bits]

That book looks like a lot of fun! I love going through old books for the patterns and drawings like that.

[Keri]

Those birds are terribly cute!

[clarice]

What a great book. Thank you for sharing. Clarice

[lisa]

i just love this, cassie! thanks for sharing.

[Heidi]

I'm also inspired by the black and white versions of the designs. I'd love to see you try your hand at embroidering them somehow!

[Ellen]

I like the folk-art feel they convey.

[erin michelle]

Don't you just love the marvelously goofy crafts of the mid-20th century? Definitley no fear of color or going over the top! Those birds are totally adorable and do-able. Thanks for sharing : )

[Rhonda]

Oh I love love the birdies!

[geek+nerd]

Oh wow, my parents have bird ornaments for their Christmas tree that look just like that!

[Sister Diane]

I have this book too! You've captured the mood of it perfectly: the colors are amazing, but I haven't quite bonded with anything in it enough to try to replicate. It's always a cheerful browse, though.

[biscuitbear]

Wow, beauty from the seventies is definitely different. The birdies have timeless appeal though!

[Nancy]

cute
thanks for sharing these pictures