“Simplicity of life, even the barest, is not a misery, but the very foundation of refinement; a sanded floor and whitewashed walls and the green trees, and flowery meads, and living waters outside.” -- William Morris


I just splurged and purchased a book from my LYS, "The Art of William Morris in Cross Stitch". (It was 50% off, I guess not many people buy cross stitch books in knitting shops, but oh well, my good fortune!)

I have been a fan of WM for many years. I love his philosophy of the dignity and worth of handmade ojects. His beautiful designs rooted in nature always inspire me. Not only is this great for X stitch projects, but his color combos will be great for knitting inspiration as well.

I also rewarded myself with a few old knitting design booklets that I found at a thrift shop for 25 cents each. They are from the late 50s to the mid-sixties. Some of the designs are laughable (along with the models), but there are a few that are classic and some that actually are back in style. In addition to the designs, some of the ads and the editorial content are really interesting from a sociological and cultural point of view. Ads to turn your old fur into new fashion for instance, or Earn Money Now From Next Season's Hats! Lots of ads for ways in which women can make a little money on the side. Not much has changed, except the methods of achieving the same goals.