Vintage Craft Workshop: Fresh Takes on Twenty-Four Classic Projects from the '60s and '70s [Paperback]

Cathy Callahan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 4, 2011

Macramé, appliqué, decoupagé, and more! Cathy Callahan, founder of the popular blog Cathy of California, brings a fresh look to crafts from the '60s and '70s in Vintage Craft Workshop. With an eye toward style, not kitsch, superstar contributors including Diane Gilleland, Jill Bliss, and Derek Fagerstrom and Lauren Smith offer their unique interpretations on 24 vintage projects. Brimming with inspiration shots straight from Callahan's vintage craft books, color photographs of the finished projects, profiles of the original crafters, and tidbits about this unforgettable era, this spirited book makes vintage crafts perfectly stylish for today. Plus, it's easy to get started with step-by-step instructions, how-to illustrations, perforated template pages, and a handy back pocket. Papiermâché never looked so good!

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Cathy Callahan is the founder of CathyofCalifornia.com and has been featured on the Early Show, the Martha Stewart Show, and in Sunset Magazine. She lives in Los Angeles.

Meiko Takechi Arquillo's photographs have appeared in numerous magazines and books in the U.S. and Japan. She lives in Los Angeles.

Product Details

• Paperback: 142 pages
• Publisher: Chronicle Books (May 4, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0811875326
• ISBN-13: 978-0811875325
• Product Dimensions: 7.2 x 0.5 x 10 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #951,671 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Raised by a super-crafty mom in suburban Southern California during the 60s-70s, Cathy Callahan can't help but be influenced by the crafts and design of that period. She gets inspiration for her work from her constantly expanding collection of vintage craft books and magazines. Cathy has appeared on the Martha Stewart Show and her work has been featured in Sunset, Los Angeles Times, New York Times, and Craft Magazine. Her products have been sold at shops such as Tinsel Trading, Curiosity Shoppe, Reform School and the MOCA store. She also sells her crafts at indie craft fairs such as Renegade Craft Fair and Felt Club. Cathy has contributed to several craft books such as "Crafting a Meaningful Home" by Meg Mateo Ilasco and "Applique Your Way" by Kayte Terry. "Vintage Craft Workshop" is her first book.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars I love my vintage craft books and this modern addition as well October 21, 2011

By Shala Kerrigan TOP 50 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

Vintage Craft Workshop by Cathy Callahan takes projects from the past and updates them to today's materials and style.

I've been collecting vintage craft books for years, and this book takes a lot of it's inspiration from my favorite time period, mid 1960s to the late 1970s. A heyday of crafting that matches today's recycling and DIY ethics perfectly. With themes that are whimsical and earthy both, based frequently in things found in nature interpreted in bright happy colors.

The whole book is filled with photos of vintage crafts as well as their modern versions and tidbits of information about groundbreaking artists and craft designers.

The crafts are wonderful. The author collected some of the best designers around for the projects.

Each chapter has a few projects with well written instructions and there is a pattern section in the back of the book.

Chapters and my favorite projects in them-
Burlap, which features that adorable mushroom pin cushion that's on the cover. It also has a cute fish purse inspired by a vintage photo that is one of my favorite projects in the book.

Raffia and Yarn has flower loom projects, wonderful crochet projects and my favorite project, designed by Diane Gilleland of CraftyPod, plastic canvas placemats that really make you rethink both canvas and raffia.

Crewelwork, Craft Kits and Appliques has a snail applique and embroidered pillow that's just wonderful as well as an apron with great big tulip pockets.

Craft Trends of the '60s and '70s is all about those crafts that you most associate with the era. Bottle cutting, macrame, string art, that sort of thing. The macrame plant holders are made more modern with nautical rope and knot tying techniques. They are very clean looking and would fit into a masculine decorating scheme very well. I also love the glass bottle wind chimes.

Paper has a tissue paper painted mosaic pizza tray. If you can find a steel pizza tray, this would be perfect with marble magnets as a bulletin board.

Paper mâché has darling butterfly scatter pins made from one of my favorite craft materials, lightweight cardboard packaging. These would be wonderful as a gift pinned to a card and a great project to do with children for a grandparent.

If you love vintage crafts as much as I do, you'll really enjoy this book.

My reviews are always my personal and honest opinion. I recieved this book from the publisher to review for my craft site, Don't Eat the Paste.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars ehh March 3, 2012

By ceceliahl

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I was a bit disappointed by this book- I felt like I took a chance spending $20 when it's not even a hard cover- The problem is, that while this gives a few very good ideas, it doesn't give any where near enough instruction. For example, it will say what type of embroidery stitch was used to make something, but then instead of giving instructions on how to do that stitch, it gives you sources to look up how to do it yourself. I have had better luck finding DIYs for similar ideas of what is in this book, online.

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Five sparkling gold gems! April 24, 2011

By Kathy Cano-Murillo

Format:Paperback

Inspired by the crafts her mom made during the '60s and '70s, Cathy Callahan has become the ultimate craft historian. We've seen the proof for years in her beloved blog, Cathy of California. She knows the history, designers, trends, techniques and materials from yesteryear. In her new book, she combines her love for vintage crafts with her meticulous expertise to deliver a collection of retro-inspired projects that fit into today's contemporary style. From applique to decoupage, Cathy infuses personal anecdotes and specific history pertaining the projects. Personally, I'm drawn to the macrame projects because as a kid, my mom used to make huge macrame plant holders and hang them from the ceiling all over the house. I can see where this book will unite different generations of crafters, as well as conjure up fun family stories and memories! I'm excited to buy a copy for my mom!