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Looking for some small paint brushes, i came across a few small styrofoam wreaths in my craft supply stash. Perfect to make a variation on the vintage inspired pasta Christmas trees i made recently! I quickly forgot about my search for the brushes and started digging further to find some small figures to place in the middle of the wreaths. Vintage mini birds! And i knew i had a little bit of red and white bakers twine somewhere. That would work to get them hanging.
A little paint, glue and time later and all done, ready to go up in the Christmas tree!

To make these pasta Christmas ornaments, just follow the tutorial for the Christmas trees, only starting out with the wreaths as the base instead of the cones. Finish them off by glueing the bakers twine (or other string) in a loop at the back, and attach the birds (or other miniature) in the middle with some more white glue.

I’m spending a lot of my time lately getting ready to launch Retro Resin in the shop, but I’m definitely still also very focused on my regular vintage shop activities.
I don’t know if i'm unconsciously out looking for vintage resin, or that it is the universe bringing it to me at this time, but on my latest treasure hunt I came across this wonderful bunch of vintage resin flowers.

I remember as a young girl having a small resin paper weight with a real seahorse embedded in the clear resin. I wish i still had it. Will have to be on the lookout for a similar piece. Will find it someday. I did find this round paperweight with flowers embedded inside.
I might list it in the shop at some point, but for now it stays here with me. Retro Resin inspiration on my desk.

And for more resin inspiration, my treasure hunt also brought me several early 1970s vintage craft magazines, in them a few great resin articles and advertisements.

Article on how to make resin paperweights with small items embedded.

The Art of Embedding, Capture Memories crystal clear with American Handicrafts supplies.

A gift only you can give ... something you've made. Buy a gallon of Clear Cast resin, get a mold for free.

I'm going to list some vintage goodies in the shop now, and prepare to add the first pieces of Retro Resin later this week!
More pictures and updates on Retro Resin on Twitter and Facebook.

I scanned this image from a vintage crochet magazine a while ago, didn't write down from which one.
I like it.
Especially now, it kinda looks like a Dutch landscape. And i'm still dreaming of making it to Amsterdam one of these days! Oh, i'm getting so sick of talking and tweeting only about volcano's and airplanes! By the way, the KLM has sent its first flight from Amsterdam to NY this night, so that's a good sign of things to come.
But let me stay focussed on this picture, i think it's so funny that just to show off the crochet bedspread project, they carried out that entire wooden bed and side table (looking heavy!), and they even thought about bringing out the water bowl and pitcher!
It's lovely.

From Ariadne Craftmagazine September 1971

Really? If i could knit better, i could knit this coat?
I would wear it everyday! With pride and a smile.
And that belt! I adore!

Dutch Phildar booklet, not dated, looks to be from the 70's.
Mom, i want to knit too...

Very cute and clear explanations into the basics of knitting.

And it ends with a couple of adorable easy patterns for doll knitwear.
Guess it's time i pick up knitting again...

This is what i do when i get hit by a car and have to rest and not move around:
I crochet a huge decorative throw for the couch!

I found the pattern in a Dutch vintage crochet magazine and it was meant to be a large round tablecloth.
But who says you cannot place a tablecloth on the couch and call it a throw?

The final piece measures almost 35" in diameter, so you know i've spent quit a few hours working on it! When i start a project like this, at first i think i will never get to the end, but then when its finished i know i'll miss working on it.
Stitch found his way into the picture. He likes to have his picture taken. Still wearing his NY Yankee shirt. Did you see him celebrating when they won the world series?

PS I got my MRI scan results and there are fractures in my pelvis and from my pelvis to my hip. That explains why my recovery is taking such a long time! Not fun.

Vintage craftbook 1978

Whenever there are photos of young kids in vintage books, i always think of what their current age would be and how they will look now, what they are doing and if they themselves still have a copy of that book somewhere in their bookcase. Is that weird? That my thoughts go there?

If i would be better at woodworking and if i had a work space that could handle heavy working like that, i would definitely make on of these kids body length measuring things. I love the design and the pretty flowers and ladybug painted on it. For my US friends: don't be confused, those measurements are obviously marked in centimeters.

New designs in 1974 for babies' and toddlers' hand crochets.

I think they look adorable. If i had a little one i would take my crochet hook and yarn out right now!