Beautiful Buttons

I have been collecting Donna Hay magazine since its inception. The images, the styling, and the bright colours (especially that 'Donna Hay Blue') are devoured by Mr BB and I regularly. It is because of her recipes that he loves making ice creams and gelato so much.

It was thus with great delight that I received this parcel from Mum recently. They're edible cake decorations! Too cute to use? Fabulosity that I love seeing every day in my kitchen, and remineders of the beauty of the button.

J

I see red, I see red,I see red...

I love this, so decided to keep it for myself. Full of vintage only buttons, many of which are glass. The photo hardly does it justice, but given the screen on the camera appears to have died (half the screen is dead anyway), it may be time for a new camera. Must write to santa...

Button necklace for a dear friend

It's been a while since I made any button necklaces. This is mainly due to the fact that I am low on truly vintage buttons. I don't tend to like the modern plastic button necklaces - I am picky. When I first got into making vintage button and buckle brooches, 5 or 6 years ago, I didn't have such trouble locating buttons.

I save my vintage ones now for special individual pieces, and commissioned items. The cost of the buttons and the time taken to locate enough of the right colour can be great.

A dear friend of Mr BB and I has just recently turned 40. She is an amazing woman who lives in the Barossa Valley in South Australia. Conjure up romantic images of vineyards, old buildings, produce markets, and that's pretty accurate! After asking what colours she wears most often, I settled on a subtle pink creation for her. 1930s, 40s and 50s buttons star in this as I know she loves this period. In particular the kitsch button of the grapes... Also a hit with this one, a magnetic clasp. Much easier to use and easier on the wire.


Happy Birthday dear Em - so glad to hear you have been able to wear it out in public!

Blogtoberfest Dropout....

Not sure where time goes... I have been absent from computer world for a couple of weeks. Mr BB has been overseas, Miss 3 has been unwell, visitors have been staying, unpacking house has been continuing. It all just got too much! When I'm not making anything, I feel like there's nothing to blog about, so I don't.


After some tea, coffee, and a long lie down however, ready to relaunch.




Made 2 button necklaces which should be finished today and feel re-energised and renewed. Buttons are so therapeutic!

xx

Spring - sew what?!

Little efforts to share from today. Found myself frogging the lace... this is all that's left... only 135cm to go...

Clips for the new do - not used to hair out! Got to get moving on my button orders anyway, so great to dust off the population!


Skirt for me, matching dress for Miss 2 (yes, I HAVE read Mommy Dearest - no Joan Crawford here!) Spotlight has this cheat's skirt fabric, already elasticated/gathered, ya just hem it for a quick bit of satisfaction. Fun for us and rather Summery, just right for our upcoming visit to the coast.
Bunting for a market I am selling at prior to Christmas - cute fabric, needs to be on display. Forgot I had it until the recent airing of the stash...


Miss 2 found the fabric paints I have for a secret Christmas project for family down South - shhh! Pity this isn't on fabric...

All in all a good day's work. We are rather pleased! Off to finish off some album-cover art to adorn the walls - stay tuned!

j

A Bag for the Cat Lady

My dear friend K with whom I toured Rutherglen recently, was exceedingly generous in her gifts to me.

K had spent a couple of weeks in Japan with family, and had bought me an entire stash of fabric, and a box of little origami fabric, waiting to be made into buttons, brooches, etc. I was quite overcome! As all good bloggers, out came the camera. This amused K, as she is not familiar with the blogging thing (a blogger novice - must get her hooked!)


As a thank you, I have made a little bag out of the fabric, finished the inside seams with a Japanese binding technique, and put a HUGE vintage button on the front pleat as a little adornment. K's favourite colours are RED and GREEN, so I hope she likes it!!!!


I have broken two needles trying to finish the top seam (two denim needles.....) and so it remains pinned whilst I drum up the courage to complete it. I had hoped to send it last week but alas.... Still, I am very happy with it! I want to whip up another tomorrow for my Sister-In-Law's birthday on Wednesday!

The Button Collection

Many of you (especially those that know me in real life) know my love for All Things Buttony, and also of the loss of my sewjo *(Ingrid has coined this great expression!) when it comes to new buttony creations at the moment.
In fact my first foray into etsy was for a buttony print of The Button Collector by Black Apple - remember this? I so love it, it makes me grin like an idiot actually!


Well I was again moved by the brilliant creativity of Miss Emily Martin (Inside a Black Apple) some time ago by this.

So Thank You Emily for letting me post the photo here for all to enjoy. I have not yet finished my version, and am unsure if I will be able to carry it off, but you continue to inspire, and I am grateful for all you share!

Thanks Em!

As we say here in Australia - Love your work!

What did YOU do today??

I got Miss Buttons, some Aunty Cookie, and another little cutie in the mail - I'm very excited to have Miss Buttons, but I may leave her in the pack for a while - Angela has put together such a lovely kit that I just like looking at it!

I made a couple of hair clips and re-glued a brooch for the beret -

And got cracking on some new creative ideas for the button business -

A bit of sorting is in order though...

I have been asked to share with you where I find my treasures, and which op-shops are my preferred ones. I will do so!

x

A Rainbow Of Buttons

No creations as yet, but I couldn't sleep with excitement about the stash I just (very gratefully) received!


Dear Tank Girl (another blog mention!!!) has a very community-minded neighbour who has donated a mass of buttons to the crafty girls I create with, and we pored over them tonight. I could visualise the creations already. So many Feature buttons that will be front and centre in the next batch of stock.

The best thing about buttons is looking through tins of them. I wonder what their history is, what item of clothing did they grace? Who wore them? My Nan was a super stylish lady who appears in a multitude of photos in shoes, dresses, and buttons that amaze me and take my breath away. I love looking at these photos, and Mum recalls the outfits in detail. The colours, fabrics, occasions. I Love looking through them with her when the kids let me have a moment with her!

I recently cam upon a book called the Button Box, by Margarette S. Reid, published 1990 by Puffin. It has superbly evocative illustrations by Sarah Chamberlain. It tells of a little boy who loves going through his Grandma's button box, imagining, sorting, learning history, and best of all, spending time with her. Highly recommended!

As an aside: I wonder what the collective noun is for a group of buttons??!! A clatter of buttons? Any ideas? I may have a competition with a give-away as the prize! Who wants to join in? Add a comment with your suggestion to win! Drawn in one week.

Back to Basics - My Button Necklaces

Procrastination has kept me away from the button stash lately, today being no exception...

Before I start anything else, I must go through the buttons, and lay out some designs for some new stock. It is nearly time for school to go back, so the routine will return, and my Craft Girls and I will hopefully be returning to the local Gorman House Markets. The button necklaces were received pretty well there, so I shall get back into it. I am also thinking of the Bus Depot Markets at Kingston, although that's a pretty scary commitment. I don't know if I am ready for that yet. LOTS more stock needs to be created.

Buttons really are my first true love, and I want to keep using them to express creativity, new life to old things, refashioning, and that beautiful things can come from ordinary items.

That sounds kinda ridiculous, but that's how it is!!!