BUTTONS, BUTTONS AND MORE BUTTONS

I recently found a bag of fancy yarn that had been 'put away safe' until it was wanted and as I was having a knitting phase, thanks to to wonderful OWL mug warmer and fingerless gloves in MOLLIE MAKES, I started knitting.

I made several pairs of mitts and then made a pair with a matching collar.   The asymmetric design needed a button to complete it.  http://www.creativestores.co.uk/new/clothing/women/handknittedcollarandmitts.html 

  Finding the right button was hard and the search triggered a slight button obsession and the buying of a couple of bulk bags of assorted buttons at Hobbycraft.

Sorting through the buttons took me back to childhood and the pure joy of 'playing' with Mum's button box.   A treat usually saved for when we were unwell.

tiny tiny buttons

I found buttons that had come as cover gifts.

The packs sold for scrapbooking and cardmaking.

 Some needle felt brooches that I decorated with buttons and beads.

http://www.creativestores.co.uk/new/accessories/pins-and-brooches/dreamsofmidnightblossom.html

from when I was making most of my clothes

The beautiful Fimo buttons that my Dad brought me over twenty five years ago.  Still unused because I love them so much.

Buttons are big - there are even card buttons.  Not quite sure why.

 I re-discovered these belt buckles in my button box.  I have no idea how old they are.  I brought them in a little shop in King Street, Ramsgate in the early to mid-eighties.  I used to buy mother-of-pearl buttons and cut work collars from there as well. 

ITS CHRISTMAS

IT'S CHRISTMAS and I did manage to be ready - I had doubts if I would be especially as I was lent seven Game of Thrones books at the end of november.  First two lots of presents are now opened, the cat is curled up at home and we are waiting for dinner.  Then later today we will be at my sisters for the evening and more presents.
I am hoping that people like the mug cosies I have made and the Owl fingerless gloves (from Mollie Makes) which to be honest were a bit of a nightmare (must improve knitting skills I kept dropping needles - in my defence sometimes there were five).  Looking foreward to crafting my little heart out in the new year and hopefully improving my online store so things really take off.
I brought my knitting with me today but I am sharing the chair with a dog so that will be for later.

MUG COSY CRAZY

When I saw the cover of issue 21 of MOLLIE MAKES I really liked the owl wrist warmers.  They looked so cosy and the owls design was very eye catching.

I didn't have the right size double ended needles to make the wrist warmers right away so I decided to start with the mug cosy by the same designer,  TANYA ANTONOVA.

 I didn't have the right wools or needles for that either but I thought I would give it a go.
 I have made a couple of mug warmers prior to this that I had designed myself using a cross stitch design of a reindeer to make them Christmassy.

 I am not a very fast knitter and I would never call myself an expert.  This is a very easy pattern to knit - if anyone has been wanting to try cable and thinks it is complicated then this is the item to make a start with.  

I had it completed in under 45 minutes (as I said I am not a fast knitter).  And it was such a fun design as well.  

Beginning to cast off.

To the right it is almost finished and below is the completed piece before sewing it up and attaching beads for eyes.

 The owl would have had better definition if I had used a thicker wool  but I am quite pleased with how this has turned out.
Today I am going to buy the right size needles and some chunky wool and have another go.

New tales and crafting adventures

Thank you all for your patience concerning the lack of new blogs.  I will be writting again soon.  I have been busy crafting away making various items for my shelf at ROUGH TRADE, my on-line shops and as presents.  I also seem to be in complete denial about Christmas.  I only baked the cakes on tuesday, I have not made any cards yet and have a multitude of other things that I usually bake cook or craft yet to do.  I think the only way I am keeping sane is by not counting days.  On top of this I have just been lent seven books of the GAME OF THRONES series.  Enjoyable reading but really not helping me get on with the pre-Christmas tasks.

WISH ME LUCK
and I will let you know how I am getting along

BUSY BUSY BUSY

I HAVE HAD A BUSY few weeks as I had committed myself to delivering some Christmas themed brooches to Jemima's Locket, Minster-in-Thanet 
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jemimas-Locket/173724836012474

The shop closes at one o clock on a saturday so I had to make sure I made my deadline.  I wanted to make a dozen brooches.  I also had some hair clips part finished and thought that they would be good to try as well.

I have also been needle felting little gingerbread men for brooches. Some of these have already made their way to ROUGH TRADE in Margate. I want to get some made for Jemimas Locket before Minster's late night shopping night.

Today I weighed out the ten kilo bag of sugar nibs that I brought earlier this week.  I feel happier now it is out of a paper sack and into plastic boxes.  Much easier to store in my cupboards and lots of glorious baking to look forward to.

It was very important that I made some jam as we had run out  completely.  That was squeezed in as well and there are now five jars of Strawberry/Raspberry jam and five jars of mixed fruit jam.  I think I see scones in the very near future.

 

Pincushions

I found while making my needle felt creations that I needed a pincushion.  This made me look at the collection of little tins that I had been saving in a new light, it seemed like the perfect combination.

When I had made four I decided to look on Etsy and Folksy to see what sort of things were available.  It has been a while since I last looked at Etsy as I have been very busy making things for my shelf at ROUGH TRADE http://www.roughtrademargate.co.uk/#!  and for the shop I have at CREATIVE STORES http://www.creativestores.co.uk/DREAMTIMEMAKES/Accessories-Category/  It came as a bit of shock to find pop-up adverts on the pages of Etsy as I was trying to look at things.  I found it so very annoying and off putting. I found out what I wanted to know and the adverts made me realise that I have made the right decision to leave Etsy on the back burner and concentrate on other outlets.

First few tins  to make into pin cushions.

Making a start. 

First pincushions compleated.

 TODAY I WENT to Margate to give my shelf at ROUGH TRADE a bit of a Christmas makeover.  

While I was waiting for my lift I noticed what a lovely place this area of Margate is.  Known locally as Margate Old Town it is full of beautiful

buildings, charming squares,tiny streets and alleyways.  Situated close to Margate Harbour and the Turner Contemporary every corner hids a new treasure.  And it is here slightly off the 

 beaten track that ROUGH TRADE can be discovered - a collaborative trading area. http://www.roughtrademargate.co.uk/#!

Stalls include  MODS AND ROCKERS (a hairdressers, bespoke silver designs, vintage items, upcycled curios,and various other interesting stalls and items.  A "pop up shop"  way before Mary Portus came to Margate.

 CIGAR BOX BAGS - THREE DIFFERENT DESIGNS, an ALICE BAND with a needle felted flower and some of my LEOPARD PRINT FLUFFY PENS.

 There are a lot of needle felted items here.  SEAHORSES, HEARTS, A BLACK COIN PURSE WITH CHERRIES and my new line of CAT CHARMS. A CAT FOR COMPANY for all of us cat lovers.

A UNION JACK paper mache bag with a London Transport theme, a JAR OF SEAGLASS, SNAIL FRIDGE MAGNETS, and a notebook showing my wonderful cat Bruce sleeping.  

All manner of goodies fridge magnets, Christmas brooches, purses and seahorses.

 A CAT FOR COMPANY currently three designs on sale here at ROUGH TRADE. Marmalade, Perfect Grey and Lucky Black.  There will be more designs to follow.

Just behind the notebook with Bruce is a box of needle felt Christmas brooches. Comets, holly leaves and Christmas Trees.  I keep trying to choose a favourite but haven't managed it yet.  Each brooch is different. 

 AN OVER VIEW OF MY SHELF.  JUST ABOVE IT IS THE ONE SHARED BY MY NIECE AND HER FRIEND.  I think their items are lovely.

LUCKY BLACK CAT

The WHAT'S YOUR POISON BAG has a glittery sheen giving it an unearthly appeal.

The two hearts here were needle felted, then had needle felt flowers and leaves attached to them.  Both have a ribbon loop for hanging. 

One of the Christmas Trees.  This one has bead garlands.