New in Stock - My Dorset Button Making Kit

Woo hoo!  I am rather excited as I have finally put together a kit.  I have written and printed an instruction booklet and together with 6 brass rings and thread, it is now part a kit for sale in my etsy shop. 

The first one is purple but I will be listing more colours.  If you want me to make up a colour one for you then just let me know through my etsy shop or email me at bigbluebed@live.com.

I will be listing on folksy very soon.

The Button Project

I am very happy to be taking part in The Button Project.  Part of the Barnaby Festival, The Button Project  is a stunning exhibition of nearly 300 unique buttons made by artists from all over the world. Crafted from materials as varied as felt, resin, glass and gold, these little works of art will be set alongside Macclesfield Museum’s acclaimed silk costume collection at the Heritage Centre in Macclesfield.  All buttons are for sale.

I will share with you the press release

'The Button Project - a stunning exhibition of over 300 contemporary handmade buttons - is taking shape, as buttons start to arrive from all over the world. From Australia to Norway, and all over the UK, artists and makers are translating their work into buttons for this exciting new event.

Artists were asked to work within the constraints of traditional button sizes and fixing methods, but from there, their imagination was free to roam.  Each button is a miniature work of art in its own right and highly collectible.

The Button Project is intended to serve as a celebration of the heritage of the area, which began with the silk button. The dynamic buttons come from craft practitioners and artists at the top of their field, plus our rising stars and many who make just for the love of it. They will be showcased effortlessly alongside the silk costume collection at Macclesfield’s Heritage Centre from June 14 to August 8 2013.  Plus there will be related displays at the nearby Silk Museum showing treasures of the behind-the scenes button collections, and a lively button-making workshop for kids.

The museum curator, Annabel Wills, says

“It has been wonderful to see how our contemporary makers have responded to the historic collections at Macclesfield. A real feast of talent and inventiveness.”

From precious metals and traditional silk buttons, to glass, felt, enamels and recycled materials; the creativity from makers has been diverse and eye-catching, with The Button Project’s youngest contributor being just 11 years old. The project will be launched at, and will form part of the programme for, the Barnaby Festival, Macclesfield’s summer festival of contemporary arts, culture and fun, taking place in June. Both look set to be events not to be missed.'

The Button Project15 June  - 8 August 2013

is  14 June, 6-9pm

The Heritage Centre, Macclesfield

You can see some of the buttons here on Victoria Scholes' blog , and here is a list of the artists who are taking part.

I was unsure what type of button to make, I mean obviously I was going to do  a dorset button but what would it look like.  In the end I surprised myself by concentrating on colour.  In the exhibition there are gorgeous dorset buttons which use intricate stitches and I am not sure I would be able to do lovely work like that so I am glad that I made the button I did.

My inspiration was the 'eye' of a peacock's tail and here it is, next to a photo of the inspiration.

If you are able, do visit the exhibition. If not then feast your eyes on some the beautiful buttons.

It is June - Let's Have a Giveaway!

June is my birthday month and also it feels very summery at the moment. So to celebrate I am having a giveway now and at the end of the month (nearer my birthday).

So this time here is what you could win:

There are two prizes.  The winner will win the little notebook and their choice of a set of rubbers (erasers).  The runner-up will get a set of rubbers (the ones the winner does not want).  The choice of rubbers are the artist set or the sewing set.

Does that make sense?
Good.

Here is what you have to do: - visit my shops, have a good look, tell me in the comments of this post what you like best in my shops, what you would like to see more of, and even if you want what you do not really like.  You do not have to visit all my shops if you do not want to (although it would be nice), but you can choose one to have a look at.  Please leave a contact email or a way of contacting you.

You have until midnight (GMT) on Friday 14th June 2013 to enter.  I will pick a winner by a random number picking.

Here are the shops you have to visit:-
my etsy shop 

my etsy Supplies&Vintage shop

my folksy shop

Les Miserables' Costumes and 'I Recognise those buttons!'.

 Les Miserables is one of my favourite musicals and I was so excited when I heard that part of it was being filmed in Portsmouth. Unfortunately I did not fit the type of extra they required - I was not a man.

They required lots of men for the convict scene near the beginning of the film, and this was filmed in the dry dock at the dockyard in Portsmouth.

Because of this connection, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard was given the wonderful opportunity to show some of the costumes from the film, and my sister, daughter and I went along (on one of the coldest days this year).

The entrance to Portsmouth Historic Dockyard

 It was good to be able to see the costumes close up, only a few were behind glass.  I do admire the work of costume designers and makers. And on that subject I have to tell you that I was very lucky to be asked to make some of my dorset buttons for a costume.  This was over a year ago, and I was very excited and did scream a bit. However, I put on my professional hat and got on with the job as skilfully, and quickly as I could.  You will see which costume later.

Here are some of the costumes:

I think this is Gavroche's costume.  The waistcoat looks shiny but it was not. It was more of a hand blocked cotton print.

Eponine

 

Cosette

Cosette

As for the buttons I made...they were used on one of Anne Hathaway's  (as Fantine ) dresses. This is the one,  it is lilac. My buttons were used on the back.

Fantine

 I really must apologise for the poorness of the photographs that I took of my buttons. It was a very poorly lit area (no flash allowed) and I was using someone else's camera and I am obviously rubbish at this type of photography.

Here are my buttons.

This is another dress using my buttons on the back.  It is the same dress but distressed a bit more.

It was lovely to see all the costumes and the work that went into them.  The exhibition closes next week so hurry if you want to catch it.

Playing with Colour & Texture

Here is a custom order I have just finished.  The customer wanted these colours and some texture so I had a lot of fun playing around with different stitches.

There are four colours but they have not come up very well in this photo (which is the best of the twenty I took!).

It has inspired me to use these stitches more in my buttons sets.

If you too want your own buttons, then just let me know either using this listing on etsy or email me at bigbluebed@live.com.  I can do just one button or many.

Fun at the Boutique Market

After weeks of sorting, cleaning, and sewing buttons on card (and other preparations) the day for the market came.

 My helpers - my sister and my daughter playing on the DS.  But it was before the start (as we got there extra early).

And what a good day it was.   I sold lots, mostly vintage so I am definitely looking for more.  It was lovely to chat to customers and fellow stall-holders. Lots and lots of people came.

I am looking forward to next time.

Making Daisies and Teeny Buttons

I have been busy making lots of orders, especially in my most popular design which is
Daisy

I took a little time out to use the tiniest 'o' ring that I have to make a really tiny button. You can see it here, it is the pink and white one, in comparison with the other size buttons I make.



Fiddly, but fun.  Using spring colours, at this time of year does help lift the spirit.

Pigs in Tweed

In my last post you saw one of my new pocket pigs, so tiny they sit happily on top of a cotton reel, or in your pocket. Here are all of them, so far:

They are all made from the same pattern (my own) but due the the different fabrics and their own innate pigginess, they have different looks and character.

Green pig is quite slim and perky.

As the oldest, Brown and Mustard Pig is a bit wise.

Purple Pig is a bit plump and frivolous.

All pigs are available now in my etsy shop.  

Same but Different

I was lucky enough to be given some tweed and there were two colours that I love working with. So much so that I have made different things out of them:

Available from my etsy shop now.

Beautiful Roses

Look at these lovely roses! Aren't they beautiful.  You can see more about them over here on Sarang-Craft's Blog.

I mention them not only because they are so lovely, and what a great idea it is to use them at a wedding, but also because they were made using my tutorial.  Thank you Abby for letting me share your lovely flowers.

Nicky Epstein - Knitting in Circles

I am delighted to be taking part in the Knitting in Circles Blog Tour. Do pop over to the other listed blogs (see my blog post here ) and read their Tour  blog posts. 

Knitting in Circles, is written by the knitwear designer Nicky Epstein, who also write Knitting Block by Block among others. Nicky lives in New York, but has recently crossed the Atlantic to visit the UK.

The patterns of garments and accessories in Knitting in Circles  are lovely and there is a great range from pieces you can knit with just one circle to the amazing many-disced Circle Sampler Afghan. I love the Hoopla Bag and Eternity dress is so beautiful. 

The beauty of Knitting in Circles is that the vast majority is the circles themselves - all arranged gloriously by pattern and type. Nicky takes you from the basic circle shaping to lacing, and on to ruffles, and petals and much more. Thereby giving you a reference book that will allow your circular creativity to escalate in a circumrotatory fashion.  Think of all the wonderful things you can create. 



Nicky was kind enough to answer some questions (asked by my wonderful readers) :-


One problem that faces a lot of small business is copyright issues.  Have you had any problems with people copying your work and do you have any specific thought about it?

I deal with it on a daily basis, and it makes me feel very sad that someone has to copy my work. The idea of asking permission and given book credit has been lost along the way. Recently a person won a design contest with a prestigious craft company with an exact copy of design of mine that had been published years ago. A few fans of mine recognized contacted the craft company and it was awkward for them. But as they say on the New York subway “If you see something…say something”. Thankfully, publishers are becoming more vigilant and cracking down on the offenders.

How do you start your designs and what inspires you?  Do you start with the yarn, or a particular stitch you fancy using, or do you sketch?

I get my inspiration from everywhere and everything, depending on my mood, and I like to start with a sketch so that I remember the inspiration. But, I am often inspired by a great yarn or a unusual stitch pattern. The process varies from project to project.

Do you ever look at something you have knitted, and wonder how you did it?

Yes! Overwork sometimes dulls my memory and it’s frustrating. But that’s when I consult my own books. After all I’m very close to the person that wrote them.

How many people try out your patterns for you before they are published?

Me, my knitters, my instruction writer for format, my proof readers, and the publisher’s proof readers. My husband would be on the list if he could knit!

Do you find any differences in designing for particular markets, for instance the UK and the U.S.A?

Not really…I try to design for everyone regardless of culture. Even though I know a certain piece might not be made by everyone, I want people to say “Wow!” or “How did she do that!”

Thank you Nicky for your great answers which will be pertinent to crafters everywhere.

Nicky will be appearing on QVC tomorrow October 10th,  and then will be on the GMC stand at the Knitting & Stitching Show from the 11th - 14th to sign copies of Knitting in Circles and run Make & Takes.

If you cannot make it you can always visit her website at www.nickyepstein.com. 

Tomorrow's Blog Tour stop will be at by ConnieLene Johnston at http://www.connielene.com/category/connieleneknits-blog/

Knitting in Circles can be purchased from http://www.thegmcgroup.com/.

But for you lucky readers, I am giving away a copy of Knitting in Circles. All you have to do is leave a comment on this post. The winning number, which will be randomly COMPETITION IS NOW CLOSED

Honing My Craft

What an interesting word 'Honing' is.  Is sounds odd as it rolls on your tongue.

'Hone' means 'sharpen on a whetstone' - so it means giving a sharp edge to a tool.   My tool, I suppose, is my needle and my fingers. And if I 'give them a fine edge' it means I am making my skills better and better.

I was looking at my flickr page, this morning. I have a set 'Dorset buttons' and there right at the bottom is one of the first buttons I ever made.  Here it is:

It is off-centre and the stitches are wonky.  Compare it with these which are the same size, more or less:

and these which are much smaller:

I am getting better. I am honing my skills, sharpening the old metaphorical tool on the old metaphorical whetstone.

It is good to look back and then look forward.

Blueberry and Spider

I made a couple of hair snaps today.  The first was this pair of Blueberry and White. Such a lovely fresh combination.

The next hair snap was this Halloween inspired Spider on a Pumpkin.  Last year I made a smaller version for the bobby pins that I also have in stock.  But I thought it would work better on a larger button.  I added a pair of red eyes too.

Both are available now in my etsy shop. 

Button Hair Snap Mosiac

I made this mosaic in Big Huge Labs, they have some great things to play with so pop along and have a look.

This is an example of some of the custom colour Dorset Button Hair snaps that I have made for people.  People ask for a colour, or colours, and I have fun looking for them, make a button, show them the finished button usually on flickr, and then when they are happy I made up the hair snaps.

So if you are thinking of getting your own hair snaps from me, then this is a good idea of the colours you can use. Of course as I use, Anchor or DMC thread, there are hundreds of colours you can choose from.

You can order from me here via etsy   or via folksy 

The Second in my new range..Shades of Purple Hoop Necklace

The other day I showed you the Patriotic necklace (see this post).  This time I have a Shades of Purple one, on a 18" Sterling Silver chain..

Available in my etsy shop here.

It is the second in my new range and it is a range that doesn't really have a name.  My new range of...?  I have been saying 'Hoop Necklaces' but if you have a better suggestion then please let me know.

I have also listed the buttons I showed you a while ago. This is a set of 3 but if you want more or less then let me know.  Available here.

A Cake for My Father

Wednesday is my Dad's 80th birthday, but he doesn't like that number so I won't mention it again, ok?
On Sunday we went to The Still & West, Old Portsmouth for a celebration lunch, and we all had a lovely time.

Previously my two sisters and I had got together and decided to get Dad a cake. Since this was about the week before we realised we had left it too late to order one, so we bravely/stupidly/wisely  made the decisions to buy a plain one and decorate it ourselves !

So thank you Waitrose for the plain iced cake. It was great.

We popped to a couple of cake decoration shops and bought some packs of coloured pre-made icing.  Now I have never ever decorated a cake before so my expectations were not great.  However, the three of us managed to come up with this :

Mum and Dad love Austria and try and go once a year.  Mum used to ski, so she is the one on the right on skis. Dad is sitting, leaning on his rucksack, with a tankard of beer (bier) by his side, and books. There is a chalet and a lake (with duck) and trees in the background.

I did my mum's head, the lake, duck and trees. I did do Mum's body originally but my sister Claire redid it as I don't think Mum would appreciate looking like a fat red lump.

Do you think Dad liked it?

I think he did!

Also so did my daughter.

While decorating, I searched for ideas on how to make the fir trees and didn't find anything.  So I came up with the idea myself.  So in a few posts time I will post a tutorial on how to make them.