I can’t even express how pleased I am to be on the Chronicle Books tour for Vintage Craft Workshop. The book is by Cathy Callahan (also known as Cathy of California), and she is one of my heroes. I’ve even gotten to meet her in real life! Cathy is absolutely amazing and I wish I could be just like her. To this day, I haven’t met a craft of hers I didn’t want to make. This book is filled with 24 projects inspired by the 60s and 70s, but with a current twist. Cathy grew up in Southern California with a very crafty mom. I had a very similar experience growing up. I have fond memories of crafting as a child, and one of my favorites is making fruit leathers in a dehydrator. What can I say, my parents were complete hippies. Without further adieu, here are my five favorite things about this book.
1. The profiles of women crafty entrepreneurs throughout the text. We’re women, and we’re pretty awesome (don’t you think?). We rock the crafting world, and I love reading stories about women just like me who made a creative hobby into a business. All I can say is that I want to be like these women someday. Their stories are inspiring.
2. The use of Mod Podge (and other glues). How could I leave this out? You can do so many vintage crafts with Mod Podge, including several in this book. And to reference my point above, a woman named Jan Wetstone invented Mod Podge about 43 years ago in her home. She covered a car with bedsheets!
3. The bright colors. The crafts of “yesteryear” have a delightful color palette, and Cathy has updated them for the contemporary crafter. Each project has an accompanying picture that shows the inspiration, and it’s fascinating to see how Cathy and her contributors have interpreted them. Amazing, really.
4. YOU can do these projects. I’m not quite sure what it is about 60s and 70s crafts, but they are all accessible. Cathy and her team completely figured it out – they know what people want to do and they show how to get there easily. I don’t feel overwhelmed by any of the projects, and I even want to give paper mache a go. I’ve never wanted to try it before, but now I want to be the perfect vintage crafter.
5. I can apply the designs to other things. I could sew the fish from the “Gone Fishing Tote” onto a tote as shown, but I could also sew them onto a shirt. Or a girl’s dress. My mind is spinning with ideas; I only have one problem – what will I do first? I’m seriously considering using the florals from the wastebasket above on clothing (shirt?). Done correctly, wouldn’t it be so awesome?
I’m going to tell you with the utmost confidence that you need this book. It’s become, in a short time, one of the most important in my craft library. I’m happy to be giving a copy away to a reader. Yay!
1. Comment on THIS blog entry and tell me why you would like this book.
2. Only one entry per person.
3. Contest will close this Tuesday, May 24th at midnight (EST).
4. PLEASE leave your e-mail address if it’s not attached in Blogger – I need some way to reach you.
Full post disclosure here.
Blogger who loves the color blue and sock monkeys. You can find me in public easily— I'm wearing glasses and lots of stripes.
Love some of the projects highlighted and its my Birthday today and I would love to have a copy of Cathy’s book!!!
As a child of the 60′s and 70′s, this book brings back lots of crafting memories. It would be great to have in my collection of craft books. I can’t wait to try some of the projects in it!
bghenson1@yahoo.com
This reminds me of Amy Sedaris. She’s a big time 70′s crafter. (as well as hi-larious)
Signed, Kerry
verykerry17@gmail.com
I have a collection of actual vintage craft books and it would be awesome to add this book to it!
I’d like to try some new crafts to add to my bedroom to liven it up!
Despite my rather large library, I actually own zero craft books and would love to win this one.
I always enjoy reading new craft books for inspiration! It would be awesome to be a winner.
‘Cause I’m totally crafty
Book looks so colorful. But truthfully, if I won it, I would give it to my daughter, who is crafty too 
(diane@webers.org)
I would love to win this book!!
emilyeakin@yahoo.com
Count me in! I need this book because you can never have enough craft inspiration.
Thanks for sharing
fee x
ps yep, pretty awesome…
I need some new inspiration. This book would be very welcome.
This craft book flashes me back to my childhood and my first experience with Mod Podge!
That beautiful funky mushroom on the cover is reason enough to want this book! It looks fabulous!!! I love vintage crafts – the bright colors, the whimsical designs…sounds perfect to me
Jessica D.
info(at)funkyfinds(dot)com
not much i can say that hasnt been said already. i just want the book bc i love crafting and the 60′s and 70′s theme. crafts rule!
madsky@wowway.com
This book would be so great at giving me inspiration to a group of young people that I am involved with through a community ministry. I have done crafts with them at an after school club through my church and am needing some new creative ideas! Thanks for the chance to win! Love Mod Podge and the fun stuff we have done already!
Man I would love this book because one CANNOT have too many craft books. I’m constantly on the lookout for inspiration. Also I was born in the sixties, the era that inspired the book, so ya, I think I’m the perfect candidate!
Thanks for this Amy!
I am so in love with the vintage look. What a fun book this would be.
Making fruit leather in a dehydrator is crafting? Wow- I crafted even more than I thought in the 70s! I’d LOVE this book. I’ve been revisiting a bunch of the crafts of my childhood on my blog and would love the inspiration.
I love vintage crafts, and I love doing “random” crafts. I also collect vintage craft books, so this would be perfect.
Who doesn’t love vintage & crafts, better when they’re together! I need some fresh ideas for my living room. Thanks for the giveaway hun!
This looks like such a fun book. Thanks for the chance to win!
I love doing vintage crafts! In fact, they’re pretty much all I do anymore! I would *heart* this book!!!
growing up in the 60s and 70s – I would love to do crafts to bring that look about – I so need (and miss) that inspiration…so much fun!!
What a great book this looks to be, Amy! And a great addition to any crafting library….mine included! =)
I would love to have this book because It would remind me of when I was a young girl in the 60′s & &0′s and how much I loved crafts back then and still do! I could re-create some of those awesome projects!
I remember one time at Vacation Bible School I made a wooden decoupage plague with Mod Podge and I kept that thing for years. I loved it and had so much fun making it!
Lisa H.
lisastuf.blogspot.com
lisastuf at gmail dot com
I want to win this book because I haveeee to make that awesome snail pillow!
quixoticdreamer(at)hotmail(dot)com
…Because I Mod Podged today:)
Debbie
I would love to have another Crafty book around. I love Vintage taking after my mom who has done ART for 30+ years. I need ideas of how to turn things vintage or make them look good!!
blog@mydiabetesaffair.com
I have barely scratched the surface with what I can do with ModPodge and I love vintage crafts!! I need this book
russeyj(at)gmail(dot)com
ooh – who wouldn’t like this book? i know i would – i’m always looking for more creative inspirations!
I’m Diane, and I would love to have this book, especially since you’ve said it is now the most important one in your collection.
I, too, am an aging hippie and would LOVE this book.
sweetiesuzy@aol.com
I love Mod Podge and the vintage look! I would love to have this book!
terosenlund@hotmail.com
I love to mod Podge and would love to have this book!
You never can have too many book or anything that pertains to crafting! LOVE LOVE LOVE to win it.
I love crafty books!! What’s another one to my collection?
I’d enjoy this because as a teacher I have a summer ahead of me and will need some breaks from planning/prepping for next year!
I’m old enough to have lived through the 60s and 70s; for me, this is nostalgia! Even the use of Mod Podge….
I AM a vintage crafter – in every sense of the word! LOL I would love to see what has been done to update all of those crafts I did back in the 60s and 70s.
WOW…what could be more perfect???….I am guessing most of your ModPodge followers who are a child of the 60″s feel like I do that this book is all about ME!..Thanks for the opportunity to win!
A new craft book is a mighty exciting thing, especially if it is vintage!
Kims2312@verizon.net
I love mod podge! and thanks for the chance to win this great craft book:-) I too grew up during the 60′s and remember seeing a lot of the projects in the book! good luck to everyone!
: brunetteinnoaz@yahoo.com…peace and love..
This post brigns back memories! I grew up in ’70s Southern California. My parents were hippies and granola bars too. I didnt even try box mac and cheese until I was 13!
I love the flower trash can It reminds me of a mobile I had that was 5 mirrors strung together with heavy pink yarn looped in a daisy pattern. My parents made colages out of tissue paper and sold them as high end art pieces.
I am a decoupage girl now. Being on a tight budget means getting something for cheap and then spending weeks figuring out what to cover it with. I think this book you are offering would help wet my creativity.
Thank you for offering and sharing with us your awesome ideas!
My sweet mom was the frugal, creative, recycling crafter I learned from & she’s in heaven now, probably crafting!
I grew up in the fond early 70′s yesteryear. I would so love to revisit the sweet, bygone nostalgia of these crafts. Blessings & many thanks, Julie H. 
Wow! This book looks amazing, Amy!
I would love to win it to craft some nostalgia for myself. And introduce my niece to some of the things I got to do as a child.
Thanks for the opportunity, Amy!
Shoni
shonijunk (at) yahoo (dot) com
This book look so inspiring. I am in a crafty mood and need some new inspiration.
I have been doing so many Mod Podge crafts lately, and I would just love to have this book! Thanks for the chance to win it.
This comes at a perfect time for me! I’m about to embark on a Great Mod Podge Adventure, redoing my dining room table AND bedroom walls using Mod Podge. I would LOVE to have this book to get some ideas from! Plus, I have picked up some old boxes, a tray, a package of enamel cabinet knobs, and other items at Goodwill that I want to upcycle using Mod Podge! So I’m going to wait until this contest ends before going a step further. Thanks so much for the chance!
Christine Gant
gant2@charter.net
I have to have this book! Even if I don’t win I’m going to buy this book. I’m such a hippie myself and need a bit more inspiration in doing some new crafts…it looks amazing!!
Leigh Buehler-Rappold
LeighB82@hotmail.com
I’m always looking for crafts idea and this book will be a great resource to have …
Thanks for the giveaway
I love working with Mod Podge. This book would be such a treasure for me to have. I enjoy this blog and will be back.
My Mother taught me to sew when I was 5 years old. I had one of those metal mini Singer machines that really worked. My doll had a great wardrobe
On weekly trips to the local library (way before places called Barnes & Noble entered our lives), I scoured the shelves for arts & crafts books. Each week I leafed through the books and chose a few projects to create. Years later, I am still crafting! This book would be an incredible addition to my collection. Thanks for the opportunity!
dozeedo@gmail.com
I WOULS LOVE TO ADD THIS BOOK TO MY COLLECTION, AND IT WOULD BE NICE TO WIN ON MY FIRST TIME COMMENTING ON THE BLOG : )izrblew@yahoo.com
Looks like an awesome book with some great ideas to revive. would love to use some of the ideas
This book looks like it has some awesome ideas in it! I’d love to try it out!
Cara
http://miscellaneousme.wordpress.com
I’d love to try it, the bright colors are just my style.