bits and bobbins

aesthetic inspiration via the LIFE magazine photo archives

(photos via the LIFE photo archive @ google.com)

a recent post on the craft: blog mentioned the LIFE photo archive @ google.com. it’s a huge collection of historic photographs that were published in the famed magazine in years past. one can virtually dig through said archive using keywords.

i had a fun time plugging terms into the search field on the site, such as: sewing, fashion, dressmaking, crocheting, knitting, needlepoint, needlework, quilting…and i got a kick out of the images that turned up (the results of some of those searches are shown above).

interesting, inspirational, and fun to look at, eh?

November 26 2008 | Posted in amazing art, check this out!, crafty cool., this inspires me!

1. November 26 2008 at 7:55 am

   vasiliisa

   Oh, I love these, especially the crafty men. I once had a man that could sew but I let him go… I guess I’m still not sure it was a good decision

   
   

2. November 26 2008 at 9:01 am

   Ruby

   Rosey Grier doing needlepoint! I only even know who he is because my dad was a big guy who had a crewelwork phase, and everyone compared him to Rosey Grier. What a funny little memory to uncover.

   
   

3. November 26 2008 at 6:17 pm

   shrinky

   I know Rosey Grier only from his having appeared on Free to be you and me!

   
   

4. November 26 2008 at 8:19 pm

   jocelyne

   These photos are great. I love the guys with the dresses and the guy with the needlepoint. SO fun!!

   
   

5. January 4 2009 at 4:57 pm

   Phalla

   wow. I have that exact dressform in the last picture. i mean the exact same dressform! It’s probably that old too because it’s literally falling apart.

   
   

6. February 2 2009 at 7:50 pm

   SwanDiamondRose

   wow! i LOVE the sneaker needlepoint. where i work we have a lot of needlepoint & rughooking & paint by numbers. i love them but i really don’t like the designs. i love more 70s designs for all of these. this guy is great!