NOTE: See my P.S.  at the bottom of this post your for Stripped Down Patchwork tour update! I’ve been doing a lot of thrift shopping lately.  I went to one of my top secret sources the other day and picked up this Clark’s ONT crochet edging booklet from 1947: When I opened it, I discovered that the previous owner added a homemade sample book page of 6 different patterns…. …on Soule Steel Company memorandum paper, no less… (Yes, I looked up the address – from what I can tell on Google street view, it’s not standing anymore at 3003 NW 35th in Portland. Bummer.) I first read about sample books in the July/August 2010 issue of Piecework magazine. Remember it? (If you want to know more about samplers or sample books, you might want to check out this tutorial about how to make your own proper sampler book designed for tatting samples here at Shade Tree Art.  No memorandum sheets or staples are involved – she gives instructions for a more 1900-20′s version, like the ones they used to have students in handwork classes make.) Back to the 1947 Clark’s ONT Edgings book.  Like many of my vintage pattern books, there were little notes in the margins offering clarifications, modifications, row count tick-marks and editorial corrections.  What made the marginalia exceptional in this case was the inclusion of a much sought-after mom recommendation. See the “Mom’s good —>” on the far left?  I live for this type of historical “evidence” of crafting, LOVE IT.  I will have to snuggle this one next to the rest of my favorites in my vintage craft periodical collection.  (I organize by title – like with like – but then I break it down by how much I like it…of course…) I also found these molded and painted paper doll heads…. LOTS of them….. What the heck should I do with these? <3 Erin p.s. Today’s host for day #8 of my blog tour for Stripped Down Patchwork is Banana AKA Brenna of A Green Banana.  Brenna is a fellow seamstress and patchworker from Alabama with a beautiful crafty vision.  She did a super sweet review of my book, you should definitely check out her site if you haven’t already!!  Some of you fellow vendors will really appreciate her latest portable dressing room tutorial. =) Thanks for hosting, Brenna!!

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