Monday, November 11, 2013

Red Buttons...the pictures not the person

Despite the recent change in temperature, there's a lot of heat being produced at my craft table.  After the sale at the University women's Club this past weekend, it is time to replenish my inventory.  Buttons like the ones below were very popular, and fortunately, I have a bit more of the cane so I can make new ones. 
I actually put the smaller ones in sets of four on cards, and the larger ones are on individual cards. As for the ones pictured here, the smaller ones are about 1" to 1 1/4", while the larger ones are about two inches square or round.  The elongated one is about 1 1/4" wide by a little over 2 " long.

I realize these are a bit big for buttons, but they are meant to be real "Accent Pieces", so they add pizzazz to any garment, hat, bag, quilt or other handmade item. I will be making lots of other styles to add to your favorite item. 

Some folks who were at the sale on Saturday said they will be using the buttons as decorative elements for scrapbooking, while others were going to sew them on jackets and sweaters.  Other talented folks said they are going to use them on felted purses...so the use for buttons is limited only by one's imagination. I mentioned to several folks that want to use them as pins, that they could use a little trick for attaching them.  Instead of sewing the button on with needle and thread, I suggested attaching the button with fifteen pound fishing line (or heavier).  Simply thread a larger eyed needle with fishing line and instead of sewing the button on, just tie the line in the back of the garment (or what have you) and secure with a double or triple knot.  Then, if desired, it is easy to just snip the fishing line off and attach to a different article.  It really doesn't take much time at all!

I hope you can see the range of color in these. Some have a decided coral background and others are on a true red base. The cane itself includes a rich blend of alizarin, purple, gold, orange and red. All the buttons are textured in a variety of different feels...it's difficult to describe them all.

It was so great to see a lot of my friends and colleagues at Ralph Connor House. If you weren't close by and still want to visit and see my other creations, I will be in several more sales over the next four weekends.  This coming Saturday, November 16th, I will be in Kenora, at the Lakeside Inn (that round hotel on Lake of the Woods).  Looking forward to seeing my Northwest Ontario friends at that one...  I will post more locations and dates in the upcoming weeks.

But now, it's back to the drawing board...I have more fish to design.

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

The Fall Rush is ON

All I should say is WHEW!  Even with an extra hour this weekend, time is flying by so quickly as I prepare for the fall sales.  This Friday and Saturday, November 8th and 9th, I will be at Ralph Connor House, located at 54 Westgate near Misericordia Hospital for the annual University Women's Club Sale.  My items will be available in the beautiful Wedgewood Room on the second floor, which overlooks the river. 
Naturally, these fish won't be swimming in the river there, but they may be available as tree ornaments among the other things I'll have available.  I will have a wide selection of buttons, light switch covers, home décor items, serving pieces as well as lots of one of a kind pieces like handmade books, and other items suitable as gifts.  I will also have a few woven purses, a limited selection of jewelry, and other types of hanging items.  I hope that lots of you will be able to stop by.