artsy-crafty babe

a little something

When a friend has an upcoming birthday, the first thing I think of is 'what can I make?'.  I can't help it, that's how my mind works - and that's just what I did.  Never mind that my house looks like a sty, I have a gift to make!  For my friend Melissa I made a pendant and some earrings.  I hope she doesn't mind that I made her jewelry last year.  It must be something with this time of year.

Before I could make her gift, I needed a little practice (it had been a while), so I made a little something for me.  There's nothing wrong with that, is there?

Happy Birthday Melissa!

preoccupied

I'm cheating on my fabric.  I'm kind of cheating on my buttons, but they're involved.  I've developed a love affair with beads.  Not just any beads, vintage plastic & glass beads.  Oh, how I love them!  What initially attracted me is how well they match my vintage buttons.  It's a match made in heaven. 

It all started when I stopped in a local bead shop that had some of these beauties.  Then I started searching on line.  Oh boy!  I have to control myself, really.

Look what I made. There are more in the works, along with lots earrings.  I find putting these together very therapeutic, though I must admit that I'm starting to miss my fabric.  By the way, these are in the shop if you're interested.

Lucky me, I have a friend who's supporting my habit.  Thanks Susan, I LOVE them :)

buttons & beads

So, I made my first button pendant with my favorite orange button as the centerpiece.  I couldn't wear it alone, could I?  No, I had to make a pair of earrings to match.  I love it!  It isn't too springy, but I could totally see this with a brown linen sun dress.  I'm warning you now, button pendants and earrings are addictive...

revisiting the buttons

Ever since I washed up those buttons, I've been thinking about what to do with them.  I decided I wanted to make some pendants. 

Much to my surprise, this is proving to be a little harder than I thought.  I think I'm having a hard time parting with these old beauties, there seems to be such a finality with using a vintage button - or maybe I'm having a tough time because of the colors.  Most of these old buttons are very earthy in tone, which makes them not so interesting when put together.  Maybe I should have attempted this project in the fall when I'm influenced by more of an earthy color pallet.  Regardless, I'm moving on, crossing another thing off my "to-do" list.  Let's face it, playing with buttons, no matter how challenging, is addictive. Vintage button pendants to come!

bouton de fleurs

Happy, cheery button flowers :) Ooo la la, these little guys are so fun to make!

My last crop is just about gone, so it was time to replinish.  I work on these at night while watching trash TV.  This is the perfect project for that.

These make cute little gifts and are the perfect addition to my purse orders.  With Easter and Mother's Day on the horizon I figure I had better get busy on them now.  You know how it goes, you blink and a month has passed...

P.S. I'm pretty sure these little pretties quickly transitioned me from February Funk to Spring Fever! Yep, spring is happening all around me - thank goodness!!!! 

buttons

Months ago I won a big lot of vintage buttons on ebay.  When they arrived, I was quite disappointed in what I had won.  I quickly went through them, throwing the more interesting ones in a pile.

This morning I finally took a look at the interesting ones.  They were filthy.

As I soaked and gently scrubbed them, I discovered that I had some real jewels.  Some of these old buttons are stunning.  I wonder what garments they once adorned?

Now that they're all cleaned up, I need to come up with something to do with them.  I'm sure I'll figure something out...

uninspired, sort of

I haven't been uninspired to create, but I have been uninspired to take photos, blog, and answer email. What's up with that? Just last week I deleted over 300 messages, and now I'm already back over 100. I feel bad deleting, really I do. I'd love to respond to every one of them (most are your lovely comments), thanking you for your kind words, but there isn't enough time in the day.  Having said that, if you asked me something, please email me again, I promise I'll answer!! 

I don't know why I'm not in the mood to take photos.  I was really getting into it, participating in a 365 self portrait challenge, but that has fallen by the wayside.  I just don't feel like it anymore.  Maybe I'll pick it back up with a 52 weeks challenge.  Right now that sounds much more manageable, or maybe I'll just turn it into a 365 anything goes challenge.  Yeah, I've got it together...

Since Monday I've been trying to come up with something to blog about.  I think this may be one of the first time I've had blogger's block (is that what it's called?).  I've not come up with anything interesting, so I just decided to pick up the camera and take a few photos of the things that have been keeping me busy and blather on about nothing.

Even though I haven't been feeling "right", I have accomplished the major feat of having all my laundry washed, folded, and put away, I am all caught up on the dishes, the house is fairly neat, AND I've been sewing for at least an hour every night.  What???  Where is the Beki I used to know?  Oh wait, take a look at that sewing room...

One more random tidbit - I think people use the word amazing too much.  If you've made it this far, I think you're amazing.

**more buttons

**the easter egg themed short & sassy pleated bags

**my messy sewing room

good use of buttons

After seeing meg's lovely wreaths, I couldn't resist.  I had to make one.

I don't think I can put this away when Christmas is over.  I'm pretty sure I can find the perfect place for it in my studio, oh yeah.

back at it

I'm still in love with my buttons, only now I'm combining them with wool felt.  Ahh, can you stand it?  I can't stop myself, really.  I want to cut and cut, and sew and sew.  This stuff is so freakin' addictive!  I'm sure some of these will make it to the shop, but most of them will be toppers on gifts.  Won't they be pretty on a wrapped package?  A gift on a gift. 

With this batch I did a little more digging in my "good" button jar, which consists mostly of vintage buttons.  I love to think about what garment these buttons once adorned, and who they belonged to.  It's easy to get lost in that.

Look at this one, an old Girl Scout button, I believe.  It's been a while since I was a Brownie, but I'm pretty sure I recognize that emblem.  I tried looking it up on the Girl Scout website, but everything has changed.  (Lori, am I right?)  So cool!

lost in buttons

These little buggers are addictive.  When I set out to make a few on Friday night, I never imagined that I'd end up with so many!  I'm not complaining, I love them all.  My explanation is that it took me about a half dozen before I got in the groove, then I couldn't stop.  I also never imagined that it would take until Sunday evening to finish them up.  Maybe I'm just being thorough, but I let the glue dry between each layer, so, well, you get the picture. 

These were totally inspired by those given to me by Lori - I couldn't get them out of my mind!  Thanks, Lori!!

Isn't she lovely?  I couldn't think of a better way to display all these beauties.  I think they give the old gal a nice look, don't you?  To be honest, I thought she looked kind of creepy before, so these happy buttons are a welcomed addition.  Now, I have to decide if I want to give them away or keep them - decisions, decisions...