Oh dear – we’ve been AWOL again haven’t we with Ladybird Tuesday. This new school routine has taken a bit of getting used to since September, but with half term now out of the way it’s time to crack on until Christmas.
And talking about Christmas – as my email inbox appears to be doing already this morning – it might be time to start thinking about presents. Ladybird have got this covered with their 1978 book handily titled How to make Presents. Now this title was part of series 633, but one of the additional titles that was brought out in the 1970s. The series was originally called Hobbies, and featured some overlap of titles with neighbouring series 634 (Learnabout). It originally ran through the 1960s and into the early 70s, before it was extended with a load of new titles from 1972 onwards. The latter of these were all “How to make” books and at some point the series name seemed to change to How to make to account for this, yet there were still new titles in the series that were not in this from, e.g. Car Games and First Book of Crosswords. In other words, it’s like so many things about Ladybird titles and series – illogical!
It’s fair to say that How to Make Presents is very, very of its time in terms of the way the book looks, and also some of the projects it contains. My memories of crafts from childhood featured lots of coloured paper, PVA glue, homemade pompoms and using lots of random things that my mum had about the house – and that’s pretty much what this book contains to help you make presents for your nearest and dearest. It’s a far far cry from the pre-organised craft kits that you can buy for children these days.
Now, quite who would be grateful to receive some of these presents I’m not entirely sure in this day and age, but Blue Peter presenters always used to tell us that it was exactly what your mum or dad would have wanted and I’m sure anything home made is treasured by parents the world over. Or not, as the case may be!
Whoever you decide to give your gifts to though you have to admit that there just aren’t enough pompom animals in the world anymore are there?
And who doesn’t want a milk bottle top wind chime to hang outside their front door?
I’m also thinking that a wall pocket might just be the answer to all my organisational problems about the house. Especially in such tasteful shades of 70s brown!
Ladybird Tuesday is a weekly look by at my vintage Ladybird book collection. It’s been running for years – basically whenever I get the time and inclination to do so. It’s also the most informal linky on the internet. If you want to write about your own old Ladybird books then just feel free to do so and link back to me somehow. That’s it!
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