Ad for Walco Bead Company from McCall's Needlework & Crafts, Fall-Winter 1954-55.Little known fact: The “Glamour for Pennies” business was a cut throat, dog-eat-dog, fight to the death back in the 1950s. How do we know this? Walco Bead Company was forced to register "Cork ’n Pompom" as a trademark.
Because goodness knows, back in the day everyone wanted to cork ’n pompom. It was all the rage, and why not? Cork ’n Pompoms can be dangled from your wrists, your neck, your ears. You can use them as curtain pulls. Hang them off the cat’s tail. Glue them to the toes of your husband’s shoes. He’ll be thrilled! And if not, your Cork ’n Pompom pasties are sure to restore domestic tranquility.
For more snark:
However, cork ’n pompomming was not a hobby for the faint of heart. Unlike modern instant gratification crafts, these glamorous pearl, sequin, and rhinestone encrusted cork balls were not glued together, they were sewn. One heartbreakingly, miniscule bit of bling-bling at a time.
So chic... so sophisticated... so very OCD.
Be sure to save up those pennies. You'll be needing a lot of them!
found your blog through ravelry (im microgirl) and i could not love it more. please keep posting! in the meantime ill concentrate on upping my sophistication factor with cork n' pompoms.
ReplyDeletejillian
Hi! I'm so glad you're enjoying my blog. I'll be rotating through ads, patterns, and every now and then, a DIY (something made from a pattern posted here). I've got lots of material, so the posts will definitely keep coming.
ReplyDeletePompoms, they're a girl's best friend! ;-)