Whenever I'm flicking through my 70s Golden Hands craft books and partworks magazines which, let's face it, is quite often, drawings by one particular illustrator always catch my eye.
Her name is Anna Kostal and she's credited in issues of the publication dated 1972-1973, but that is all I can find out about her.
As well as loving all the clothes, accessories and hairdos she chose to illustrate, I also adore the style of the drawings, the movement and interaction between the figures – but mainly the attention to detail.
I know that when you're illustrating stitching techniques for craft books and such like, it's essential to emphasise the details – but this lady has really gone to town. For instance, can you spot the heart-arrow brooch in the 'collars' picture below? Nice!
I also really like her use of colour for the main articles of clothing and black and white for all the rest.
I mean, checked shirts, tweedy skirts, capes, chunky tights with sandals, sailor collars, clogs, pockets on everything... what's not to like?!
In fact I loved these drawings so much that when I recently found a duplicate copy of Golden Hands magazine, I carefully removed the Anna Kostal pages and had the images framed, and they now adorn my landing wall just outside my bedroom!
I actually stumbled upon another couple of Anna Kostal drawings in a 1978 book called The Encyclopaedia of Advanced Dressmaking...
She isn't even credited but these artworks are clearly by her. I think they'd been reproduced from Golden Hands...
I'd love to know what happened to this brilliant artist after the Golden Hands 1972-1973 heyday, whether she carried on drawing and where she is now. Anna Kostal, if you are out there, I hope you are still doing what you do best!
Of course, 70s craft books are one of my major influences - like Anna Kostal I put pockets on almost everything and I love a feature collar...