NEEDLE BOOKS FROM J. MEGAN MAYS
July 10, 2009
J. Megan Mays is one of my favorite customers at Pine Street Art Works. She gets what I'm doing - and shares my passion for ephemera. Last week she brought in a disc of scans from her collection of vintage needle books so I could share them with you. Yay Megan, thanks so much for spreading the love of mid century needle book graphics.
The first three are just graphically stunning and simple. They are unusual for the genre because they do not feature people. I've never seen another one like this homage to sewing accessories.
Needle book. Collection of J. Megan Mays. Made in USA.
Needle book -Ideal Laundry. Collection of J. Megan Mays
Woolworth Needle Book - Collection of J. Megan Mays. Made in Western Germany.
Typical for needle books is the travel theme because a needle and thread can be so handy on a journey. Railway, airplane, ships, even rockets are common themes for travel in needle land. This family seems on a mythical trip through the Alps.
The Silvertown, needle case. Collection of J. Megan Mays
Here is the same family in a different, probably earlier guise. You often see the same graphic worked and reworked by different artists and factories.
This family of four is traveling by air. Or maybe they are welcoming Daddy home after an arduous journey by propeller plane. Gone are the days when we dressed up to travel.
This couple is off to the stars on their own private rocket.
Meanwhile, back home, we revisit the theme of women and children sewing. Or, in this case, Mom is sewing and the kids are fighting.
And here we are back to one of the endless variations of a group of women sewing and embroidering.
So, thanks to Megan for letting me use her collection and I hope you enjoyed it.