Welcome The National Handcraft Society
This page is dedicated to all who seek information about The National Hand Craft Society, also known as The Fad Of The Month Club.Here you will find information about the Handcraft Society and the products it had to offer.
If you are like me, and wonder what ever happened to this fine organization, handcraft club members, and whether or not there are any craft kits still in existence, you have come to the right place.
History of The National Hand Craft Society
The National Handcraft Society was established in or around 1947. The Handcraft Society was comprised of members who joined to receive the surprise craft kit of the month.
A Note From Club Secretary Nancy Lee
Each month, members would receive a letter from club secretary, Nancy Lee who would touch base with members with the latest notes about their Fad Of The Month Craft Kit.
National Handcraft Society Membership Information
As a member of The "Fad Of The Month Club," you were deemed the privilege of being a member of the National Handcraft Society. The craft kits were as shown in the catalog published by The National Handcraft Institute of Des Moines, Iowa.
Membership was available in two forms: The $7.50 Membership was ($6.00 for 6 Surprise Kits plus $1.50 to cover postage, handling, and insurance) for six surprise kits plus one FREE PRIZE. The second membership available was $12.50 ($10.00 for 10 Surprise Kits plus $2.50 to cover postage, handling, and insurance) for 10 Surprise Kits plus TWO FREE PRIZES.
The surprise kit was like the Forest Gump Box of Chocolates -- You never knew what you were going to get. But when that little box arrived, you knew you were getting a kit that included everything from start to finish to complete it. The package was well prepared, and often came with a full set of instructions, and a full color post card of how the kit would look complete and on display. Of course, a member's satisfaction was of utmost importance. Members were protected with an UNCONDITIONAL MONEY BACK GUARANTEE.
Regardless of which membership package one chose, the FREE GIFT was the first item one would receive, along with a "Welcome" letter from Nancy Lee. The welcome letter also provided the means for enabling one to earn premium gifts by enrolling friends on the Special Membership Agreements. One could also provide Nancy Lee with names and addresses so friends could receive an invitation anonymously.
Gift Craft Catalog from The National Handcraft Institute
Hand Craft Popularity
This is just a sample of what we can do . . .
The best part of hand crafts in the twenty first century is that the crafts we learned yesterday from our elders can now be shared with the world on video.
YouTube has many resources for how to hand craft everything from apple dolls to engraving zippo lighters. With the media's focus on economic trends, this year more people than ever are making their own Holiday Gifts.
The video below is one example of many by Cool2Craft. This episode features Eco Heidi Borchers (Remember Alleen's craft show?), with ideas about how to turn an empty plastic water bottle into something cool and useful.
Thanksgiving In The Handcraft Institute Catalog
Hand Crafts In The News
Due to economic trends and industry changes that have left many people unemployed, many people have taken it upon themselves to literally take matters into their own hands. Here are the latest Google news headlines about hand crafts.
- Lenoir City Arts and Crafts Fest grew from homemade goodies and clothes-pinned art
- Artisans today bring a broad range of crafts and products to the Lenoir City Arts and Crafts Festival. The only stipulation is that they have to hand-make or embellish the items they sell. The visual arts are alive and well at Lenoir City Arts and ...
- Peddler's Village Celebrates Arts and Crafts
- Aside from the presentations, live entertainment and children's activities where they will get the opportunity to make their own crafts will also be on hand. Peddler's Village on an ordinary day offers a scenic array of colonial-style buildings, ...
- Woodstock-New Paltz Art & Crafts Fair at fairgrounds May 26-28
- Artem Repin's hand-carved flutes are sleek, polished works of art in African mahogany, curly maple, black walnut or other exotic wood. They fit easily into your hand, and they have a soul ? at least, so it seems when you hear the melancholy sounds that ...
- DIY Beauty: Homemade Lip Balm with Herban Crafts
- The duo is creating eco-friendly craft kits for folks who want to make their own beauty supplies but don't know where to get started. Herban Crafts was kind enough to send me a kit to try out, so earlier this week I tried my hand at making my own lip ...
Steam Punk Antique Cars Fad Of The Month Craft Kit
Fad Of The Month Club Items On eBay
Members of The National Handcraft Society will probably remember the joy in receiving a surprise box once a month in the mail. In the early 1970s, I was a member of The National Handcraft Society, and once a month I received a surprise craft kit. Members who were faithful for a whole year received a National Handcraft Society Pin.
For collectors of the antique National Handcraft Society kits, below are items currently available for sale on eBay.
Christmas In The Handcraft Society Catalog
Different Handcraft Kits
Completed Auctions eBay Auctions
Below is a list of the completed Fad Of The Month handcraft kits that were for sale on eBay. The items shown are no longer available for sale on eBay. This information is provided for educational purposes only, and not to be misconstrued as being guaranteed or exact.
The reference material here may be helpful for those who wish to learn about the craft kits, themes, and contents made available to the Handcraft Society Fad Of The Month Members from 1947 through the mid 1970s.
Fun Handcrafts From The Fad Of The Month
Handcraft Kits In The News
Members Of The National Handcraft Society Unite
Friends Of The National Handcraft Society
We'd Love To Hear From You
All the information contained herein is from my own National Handcraft Society kits and personal experience. Based on how difficult it was (and still is) to find relevant information about "The Fad Of The Month Club," this page was constructed for the benefit of all who have inquiry about the hand crafting group that existed for more than twenty five years and disappeared without a trace. The purpose of this page, most importantly, is to assemble information about the National Handcraft Society to be shared with all for historical purposes.
If you were a member of The National Handcraft Society (Fad Of The Month), your knowledge and information are welcome here. I would love to hear about your crafting experience, craft kits, and how the National Handcraft Society was part of your life. Also, if anyone knows whatever happened club secretary, Nancy Lee, it would be great if you could share your information here with fellow former members, as well.
It is amazing how many links to the National Handcraft Society are obsolete, or non existent. This page was designed to provide you and the internet with a real and relevant source of information about this topic. Thank you for taking time out of your busy day to visit this page. May all who visit feel welcome, and may all who seek information about this topic find it helpful.
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jan Holliday
May 14, 2012 @ 5:27 pm | delete
- My daughter, Liane, and I so looked forward to receiving our kit each month. It allowed us to spend time together doing something fun. One of my favorites was a sail ship made with gold foil. It was exciting and fun for us to spend time together working on the projects and holds many cherished memories for us.
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Ginger
May 12, 2012 @ 11:32 am | delete
- i was hopeing to find you still in business so i could again join. i was a member back in the 60's and loved it..virginia wilkinson
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Leslie
Apr 28, 2012 @ 7:12 pm | delete
- Eileen - what's Feminine Flattery? I don't know that kit! I've seen pictures of the Spanish Leaf chest, but have only been able to find the Royal Rose one that matches it. What fun that you still have the instructions!
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Eileen
Apr 28, 2012 @ 4:54 pm | delete
- Wow talk about old memories! I was just cleaning out a box in my basement and found the instructions for some of the kits I had done back in 1975 75 snd 76.There is s Country pump planter followed by a Spanish leaf chest. Then there is a Photo go round. I have Dahlia delight and part of Feminine flattery. Handy hoppy was a frog that held coasters and my final instruction set is for an Old Glory Box. I remembrr them all fondly.
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Nancy
Apr 25, 2012 @ 1:00 pm | delete
- When I was a kid, my mother was a member of The National Handcraft Society. I LOVED when that box showed up and she'd let me open it at the kitchen table (so I wouldn't lose any of the parts and pieces) to see what the craft was for the month. The pictures of the old cars on the red felt background hung in my brother's room for years and seeing the pictures here brought back a lot of memories. I found this website because I was looking for something similar now...I'd love to find a monthly craft club that gives you all the parts and pieces you need to get from start to finish. Thanks for the memories!
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My Craft Of The Month
The Posy Place
Hand Made Crafts From Every Day Items
National Handcraft Society on FaceBook
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