Dryad Handicrafts

An excellent booklet from the early Arts and Crafts days of Dryad.
These early, mostly black and white, booklets were far better than the later full colour ones produced in the 1980's; and this one is exceptionally informative.

I found the brief history about papier mâché very interesting, especially how Chinese warriors rode into battle wearing helmets made of exactly the same paper substance that we associate with the Victorians. Proving that making things out of paper and glue is not a show more new concept!

Recipes are provided for best papier mâché formula and from the projects for a Christmas Plaque, a Doll's Head and a pulped paper dog, the same techniques could be employed to produce just about anything you wish.

This 16 page pamphlet is real value; even, if like me, you 'think' you know all about papier mâché. show less

I find these early dryad leaflets of the 1950's both charming and useful. What could be more naïf than making printed paper and fabric with the carved end of a stick; but, the results are striking.

One should not dismiss something purely on the grounds that the technique is basic; as mastering such skills could take a person a lifetime if brought to its full potential.

A very fine catalogue from 1968, providing a list of equipment and materials available for various crafts from: soft toy making to raffia work, pottery and weaving - to name but a few.
Filled with clear illustrations and b/w photography and a full index in the back; this book still provides a fascinating glimpse into the various tools needed for different craft activities.

1968 also marked a sad end to retail sales from its London Showroom in June, due to traffic restrictions, especially show more around the Bloomsbury area where the shop was located. show less

During the 1940s Dryad periodically bound together batches of their leaflets as the book titled above.
Although they tried to keep them as similar as possible, substitutions were frequently used and copies of the book could range anywhere between 30-45 leaflets in size.
My personal copy containes 45 leaflets - although one (No. 125) was a duplicate (technically an edited repeat of leaflets No. 13 and No. 51).

Bound within my copy I found the following numbers (other copies of this book may show more vary)

(No. 2) Art, Handicraft and Education

(No. 13) To make the two-rod three-stroke plaited border (with complete instructions for a bread basket)

(No. 16) Re-caning a stool or chair seat

(No. 17) Pattern making with simple shapes

(No. 22) Stencilling on paper and fabric

(No. 31) Glove Making

(No. 39) New vases for old

(No. 43) Stool seating

(No. 51) To make the two-rod five-stroke plaited border (with complete instructions for a tray)

(No. 57) Stickprinting with a note on potato printing

(No. 74) Two methods for marbling

(No. 78) Embroidered flowers

(No. 83) Spinning wool

(No. 85) Rug weaving

(No. 86) More patterns for stool seating

(No. 89) How to weave on four way table looms

(No. 90) How to weave on foot power looms

(No. 91) Hand-weaving on two-way looms

(No. 92) Netting

(No. 93) Making papier mache

(No. 94) A plea for Freedom

(No. 95) Drafted patterns for elementary weaving

(No. 96) Painting for children

(No. 100) Card loom weaving

(No. 101) The craft of quilting

(No. 103) Colour printing by the screen process

(No. 104) More uses for coloured felt

(No. 105) Gold and colour tooling for bookcrafts, bookbinding and leatherwork

(No. 106) Linoleum cutting and printing incl. Fabric printing

(No. 107) Combined pattern papers

(No. 108) Pattern making with cut paper

(No. 109) Printing with rubber

(No. 110) Cross-stitch

(No. 111) Tablet weaving

(No. 112) Rush baskets and mats

(No. 114) Slippers fromfelt or suede

(No. 115) Some uses for coloured felt

(No. 118) Painting white wood ware

(No. 119) Felt flowers

(No. 120) Seven little novelties froma bundle of felt

(No. 121) Work with "Perspex)

(No. 122) Knitting for the services

(No. 123) Doll making with the professional touch

(No. 124) More felt flowers

(No. 125) Three canework borders with complete instructions for a Bread Basket and a tray

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