It’s been a while since I’ve posted anything vintage. Mainly because I haven’t been into an op shop in quite some time BUT, fear not, Vinnies aren’t the only ones with old school patterns. I have a feeling that Macrame is about to make it back into fashion – call me crazy but it’s old and ugly enough to have a cool vibe. I found this Macrame christmas tree from old craft patterns, there’s a free version for you to make here…

http://www.free-macrame-patterns.com/hanging-christmas-tree.html

I’m staying at my mums place at the moment with Mr Schmaft and the munchkins (long story) – perhaps I’ll get her to have a crack at the tree with me. After all she was the queen of Macrame in the 70s. Mum, you up for it?

This was my farewell card from the folks at Tequila. You’re looking at it going, cool, that’s great… felt tequila bottle, buttons for eyes. The thing I have to tell you is that grown men (straight ones!) made this – men who dazzle you with their creative talent in the pixel department, not the pins and needle department. To make the greatest card ever Mr Frozen Trousers actually went to spotlight to purchase supplies and with Mr ggommezz stitched the fabric, felt and buttons to foamcore board and embellished it with embroidery.

It doesn’t get any more Krafty Kool than that people.

I have a bit of a thing for casette tapes. A nostalgic love for mix-tapes that remind me of the 80s when I was a kid. Am LOVING this cassette tape work by artist iri5 (via make do and mend). What a fantastic use of old cassettes. Lots more pics on flickr here.

Image via Twig & Thistle

I feel like I should sew a love letter to my husband. I’ve been working like a madwoman at work (my day job as an Art Director) with a big pitch on and have left him to look after Oscar all weekend. To top that off over the next few weekends I’ll be getting ready for the Stitches and Craft market. Super cool embroidery via Twig & Thistle. I love that even the notepad lines are embroidered.

I was looking at this great list of 50 laptop bags when I spotted the cassette tape. So retro… so ridiculous… so wonderful. Actually it’s not even a laptop bag but I think I may have to purchase.  On the handmade angle there’s also the Applesac in hessian.

I’m on a bit of a London reminisce this week. Probably because it’s turned all grey and rainy out there and it reminds me of London weather – I lived there for four years and I still miss it.

Super Kool hand embroidered architecture by Charlene Mullen.

That is probably one of my more bizarre blog titles. There’s a company in London called  Bompas and Parr who create bespoke Jelly moulds. They write that English Jelly is enjoying a renaissance across the country thanks to the slow food movement and molecular gastronomers (blimey say that 10 times fast!). Apparently the victorians used jelly as centrepieces – I’ve always used it as a vehicle for vodka myself but there you go. I love that all the old school things are staging a comeback. Spectacular imagery.

Found via Wee Birdy – an Aussie blogger in London.

I seem to be drawn to photography of quilling at the moment, which is a little strange as I haven’t played with paper like this since I was at uni studying Visual Communication. I remember we had this project to explore paper and I ended up doing this giant quilled poster in reds and oranges and a stop frame animation with little paper twirls leaping off a quilled diving board. To be honest I think it was a very last minute thing – mum was quilling cards at the time and I just sort of pulled it together from some of her supplies. The funny thing is I got a distinction for the project because it was so different from everyone else’s 90′s grunge collage. Anyway, with all this beautiful photography of quilling I’m tempted to have another go… although the LAST thing I need at the moment is another unfinished project!!

I would have loved this when I was backpacking… stitch the route that you’ve traveled directly onto the post card. What a great idea. Found via dropular (my new favourite media bookmarking site) on uncommon goods.

I’m starting a collection of modern takes on crafting. As much as I love cute craftiness for bubbas and kids the other half of me is really interested in where craftiness and the digital world or advertising meet. Embroidered text messages, by Ginger Anyhow, is an oldie but a goodie.  Twenty messages tell a love story. She’s even go to the point of showing the reception and battery levels. Super cool.