The Family Creative Workshop
The Family Creative Workshop is a 24 volume craft encyclopedia from the 1970s, edited by Allen Bragdon and Steven Schepp. It contains entries on “traditional and contemporary crafts” that range from Acrylics to Zoetrope Toys. Each one is written by an artist or craftsperson familiar with the medium and contains general information about the craft as well as projects you can complete.
From Bragdon’s introduction: “What counts most is the sure knowledge that few things work as well as our own hands. The satisfaction of making something ourselves – something lasting, something beautiful, something only we could have made – is rich and rare.” A sentiment I wholeheartedly agree with!
It’s an absolute gem of an encyclopedia: at once completely inspirational and hilariously dated. I often think about what a craft encyclopedia would look like in today’s world. The topics in this version are listed below.
A
Acrylics
Afghan Stitch
Airplanes of Paper
American Indian Crafts
Animal Dolls
Ant Farm
Antiquing Furniture
Applique
Astronomy
B
Baby Food
Basketry
Batik
Beachcombing
Beadwork
Bean-Bags
Belts and Buckles
Bicycles
Birds and Birdhouses
Birthday Celebrations
Block Printing
Bonsai
Bookbinding
Bottle Cutting
Bottle Gardens
Boxes
Braided Rugs
Breads
Bread Sculpture
Brewing
Button
C
Calligraphy
Camera
Candlemaking
Caning and Rushing
Canoeing
Cardboard
Card Tricks
Carryalls
Cartooning
Carving
Casting
Ceramics
Cheeses and Churning
Christmas Celebrations
Clambakes
Collages and Assemblages
Colonial Crafts
Color Psychology
Confections and Comfits
Cosmetics
Costumes
Crewelwork Sampler
Crochet
Cryptography
D
Decoupage
Diorama
Dollhouses and Furniture
Dolls and Doll Clothes
Dried Flowers
Dulcimer
E
Egg Decorating
Embroidery
Enameling Metal
F
Flags and Banners
Florentine Stitch
Flowers (Artificial)
Foam Forms
Folk Art
Framing
Furniture Refinishing
Fur Recycling
G
Geneaology
Gingerbread
Glass Working
Gold Leafing
Gold Panning
Granny Squares
Greenhouse Construction
Greeting Cards
H
Hammocks and Slings
Hardanger Embroidery
Heraldry
Herbs
Hibachi and Hot Pot Cookery
Hooked Rugs
I
Ice Cream, Sherbet, and Ices
Ikebana
Inkle Weaving
Insects
J
Jewelry
Kaleidoscopes
K
Kayaks
Kilns
Kites
Knitting to Fit
L
Lace
Lamps and Shades
Lapidary
Leaded Glass
Leather Working
Lighted Indoor Gardens
Linoleum and Woodcuts
M
Machine Stitchery
Macrame
Magic
Maps and Pathfinding
Marmalades and Preserves
Marquetry
Masks
Mineralogy
Mittens and Mukluks
Mobiles
Models and Mock-ups
Molding Methods
Monoprinting
Mosaics
Music Making
N
Napkin Folding
Neckties
Needlepoint
O
Oil Painting
Ojo de Dios
Organic Gardening
Origami
P
Papermaking
Papier-Mache
Parades
Pasta
Patchwork
Perfumes
Pet Habitats
Pewtersmithing
Photographic Printing
Pickled and Canned Foods
Piloting Small Boats
Pinatas
Pin Striping
Pipe Making
Plastic Pipe Constructions
Plywood and Foam Furnishings
Pod and Cone Art
Potpourris and Pomanders
Pottery
Preschool Activities
Puppetry
Puzzles
Q
Quilling
Quill Pens
Quilting
R
Raffia and Straw
Rag Dolls
Recycling Clothes
Repousse and Chased Metal
Reverse Applique
Ribboncraft
Rockers and Cradles
Rope Knotting
Rosemaling
Rubbings
Rya and Flossa
S
Sail Making and Repair
Samplers
Sandal Making
Sand Casting
Sand Characters and Castles
Sand Painting and Layering
Sashimi and Sushi
Scrimshaw
Sculpture
Seashells
Seed Sprouting
Serigraphy
Sewing without a Pattern
Shadow Theater
Shaker Furniture
Shelters and Tents
Ship Models
Silhouettes
Silversmithing
Skin Painting
Smocking
Soapbox and Skate Vehicles
Soaps and Bath Products
Soft Sculpture
Soups
Spinning
Spool Toys
Sprang
Square Dancing
Stagecraft
Stained Glass
Stamp Decoupage
Stenciling
Stone Painting
Street Games
String Art
Structural Furnishing
Sugar Shapes
Sundials
Supergraphics
Swedish Huck Work
Swings
Syrups
T
Table Games
Tables and Benches
Tablet and Frame Weaving
Tambour
Tatting
Tea
Terrariums
Terrines and Timbales
Tie Dyeing
Time Telling
Tin and Pierced Work
Tin Painting
Topiary
Totem Poles
Toys
Traditional Knitting Motifs
Trapunto
Tree Houses
Treen Ware
Trellises
Tropical Fish
Tying Flies
U
Upholstery
V
Valentines
Vegetable Dyes
Vinegars
Vivariums
W
Walking Sticks
Watercolors
Weather Forecasting
Weaving
Whistles and Flutes
Wind Harps
Wine Making
Winter Sculpture
Wire Sculpture
Wok Cookery
Wood Assemblages
Woven Tapestries
Wrapped and Coiled Work
Wycinanki
Y
Yard Toys
Yarn Painting
Yo-Yos
Z
Zoetrope Toys