Shisha Mirrors

The next stage was adding shisha mirrors to our embroidery

This technique works just as well with buttons.

Once the buttons and mirrors were applied, I heavily embellished the area with hand embroidery.  I really do like the way it seems to grow out of the cloth.

I have lots of buttons collected over the years, I may think of a way to incorporate them into a piece of stitching.

For Want of a Button

You would think it would be easy buying buttons, but it's always one of those things that gets forgotten, or only done when it fits in with something else.

I did go and buy buttons for this little jacket some time ago, but due to a brain malfunction, I came home with one too few.  The extra button has taken a long time to find it's way back home, but it's done now.  Eventually!

I like the style of it, it's like a dress jacket, perfect for a little lady,

and the sleeves follow the same pattern on the cuffs.

This mohair jacket has been waiting for a somewhat longer period of time for it's buttons.  Just let's say a lot was going on at the time this one was finished.  It was before I moved, and as you know, time flies.  We've been here five years!  This poor thing has been folded in the drawer waiting patiently.  Now, the buttons are on, and I have a new blanket with sleeves to keep me warm.

De Stash page has been updated, more magazines and some buttons!

At Last

A day when I could finish what I started!

I'd been keeping all my buttons protected in a bag since the end of the Buttons and More Classes, but I wanted them to be somewhere I could see them and be inspired by them.  They can remind me of what can be done and to incorporated other buttons in future projects.

The background is silk, to go with the main fabric in the buttons and the buttons are tied on.  I've now to find a suitable spot on my wall to hang it, and then I need to think of a project for the remaining silk.

Buttons and More

I finally caught up with the lessons on Karen's Buttons and More course yesterday.  The more included a brooch and a toggle.

 The exercise at the end of last week was to practise using cut out, full cut out like these two buttons, and half cuts outs.  The first one with the lace frill, I wanted to do something extravagant and it reminded me of  a sunflower.  The inset is heavily embellished with french knots, web stitches, and bullion knots.  This one took longer to stitch than the other three put together, but it was fun.

 This one has folded, cotton lace on the inset, around the edge of the button are french knots.

 This one will be the brooch, I just need a smaller brooch bar than I have here to put on the back.  It uses a half cut out, with lace inset.  The other half is embellished with french knots.

 And to finish off, a simple button, patterned cotton inset surrounded with french knots. 

The next task is toggles, and I love toggles.  This one was so much fun to make and so simple.  There are more of these to come, so watch this space.

Not always a success

Not everything I try turns out the way it should.  This felt flower was the free kit from the second issue of Mollie Makes.  There were minimal instructions, but I didn't really like how it turned out.

It's definitely not wasted, I've tried it, didn't like it, but it's is hanging from the handle on my cupboard.

 Much more successful, was my hunt for buttons. I tried a stall in the Sheffield Markets I've not used before, and found a very helpful lady who picked out some lovely buttons to try.  It will be worth going back, just for the service, and now the cardigan and baby jacket are completely finished. 



Now, I think I am off to do something I know I will be happy with and enjoy at the same time.