Two very talented ladies (”very talented” doesn’t even begin to describe them, actually) are coming out with new craft books this year.  I’m very crafty myself (um, yea?) but I don’t own very many craft books.  Nowadays I tend to only get the ones I really, truly want; too many craft books in my collection have ended up on the local library steps (figuratively speaking) and that can get expensive (although I’m always happy to donate useful things).

And the books I’m referring to are about two of my favorite things: embroidery and paper dolls!  Both so dear to my heart, perhaps because they remind me so much of my childhood art-making.

My friend Alicia’s “Embroidery Companion” is such a beautiful book, due out August 10th.  I mean, look at the cover!  Sheesh, I love that skirt.  I want that skirt.  We need to embroider more, don’t you think?

Emily Winfield Martin (I just had to mention her middle name, as it is the best ever), also has a book coming out on November 2nd called “The Black Apple’s Paper Doll Primer.”  This book looks like so much fun for both little and big kids (I.e. moi).   I bet you could get lost in it (which is fine by me, especially if that sweet little white bunny led the way).

Both books are available for pre-order if you want to make sure you get a copy.  And don’t forget to click the above links to find out more info and see some sample projects!

Me thinks my room is turning into a little museum.    What is it about these lovely and well-loved old things?  I know I’ve said this before but I adore vintage and antique things that are a little worn and imperfect.  But a couple of these recent finds are very worn and must surely have been deeply loved!

The best part is I got this old blouse, bag and hankie for $15!  Is it just me or is that a good deal?

The ’20s handbag is my favorite.  I really love vintage mirrors, especially when they’ve become foggy with that greyish cloud of a patina.  I also love old rhinestones, foil-backed buttons and sequins for the same reason.  Especially in silver and gold tones.

This bag sat forlorn in the corner of this antique dealer’s booth.  Sad and ghost-like.  I picked this up along with the pretty grey-blue and cream hankie.  The bag is actually in pretty good condition with just a few beads missing and some tiny stains on the interior (and again, I love that the foil in the sequins is very worn and old looking).

So I opened up the bag and spied a little mirror inside!  It’s foggy too although there is a clear spot on one side so that it’s actually still usable.  Snap works great.  And there’s a handle in the back - it’s too small to put my hand through so I suppose you can hold it or perhaps it could go on a belt?  Did they wear their bags on the hip like that back then?

I was interested in this Edwardian (?) blouse for its parts (re-purpose?) but got even more excited about it when it was apparent that it would fit me.  (An extreme rarity.)  But I don’t know if I could or should wear it, it’s so delicate.  The collar is yellowed and shattered and the front hem has been torn away.  And yet I love it so much it was meant to come home with me.

Here’s the back view (Edited to note: Lisa graciously has pointed out that this is most likely the front of the blouse, and I concur after trying it on again.):

Well for $15  for the whole lot , I couldn’t say no!  And speaking of decrepit things, I picked up this brass floral necklace piece from another dealer:

I like how the pearls are all but completely missing but then again I might replace them with new pearls or rhinestones; we’ll see.  And I might just remove the connectors and make a necklace out of the pendant.  The connectors I can use for a bracelet or two, or maybe a fancy brooch.

Ok, back to work I go, for it is Monday afterall! 

a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_M5dKBd5_Vfk/SG1A1_AsePI/AAAAAAAAAQc/CTErYp_MV0U/s1600-h/embroidery-test.jpg”img style=”margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;” src=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_M5dKBd5_Vfk/SG1A1_AsePI/AAAAAAAAAQc/CTErYp_MV0U/s400/embroidery-test.jpg” alt=”" id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218898839383865586″ border=”0″ //abr /Last night as I was sketching some images for a project idea I kept thinking back to my plans to turn some of my drawings into embroidery designs. Although I’ve designed my own cross stitch patterns before, I haven’t yet made anything with one of my drawings.br /br /This little girl above is one of the sketches I started to do after my trip to the a href=”http://thefabledneedle.blogspot.com/2008/06/my-trip-unfolded.html”redwoods/a. Lots of characters and scenarios thought up on many a hike through the trees. Nature is, of course, so inspiring and I think I must have gotten a Pacific northwestern bee in my bonnet! Anyway, work has proved too hectic to go any further with this at the moment but we span style=”font-style:italic;”are/span on the cusp of a holiday weekend.br /br /Which reminds me - another a href=”http://thefabledneedle.blogspot.com/2008/04/i-made-it-monday-1.html”I Made It Monday/a next week!