Blog interview and Time for Tea Swap!

Well I have been a bad blogger, can't believe it has been a week since my last post! But I have been kept so busy over the last few days filling orders for buttons and trying to keep the stock in my Folksy shop topped up that I've hardly had time for anything else! Not that I'm complaining...I'm still really enjoying my button making. In fact I have a few ideas that I hope I will have time to try out in the next couple of days!

Meanwhile Kerry at Pennydog blogged a little interview that she did with me a while back, so visit her blog to take a look!! She does great things with resin (remember the knitting needles!?) and has even written a book about it!!

Another really nice thing that happened today - I received my swap parcel from Katie at the View from the Hill and it was full of goodies!! Here's a quick photo that I took before I started on all the chocolate! And if you'd like to see a pic of the things I sent Katie, you can look here!

Cute buttons!!

I got an e-mail this morning to let me know that some of my buttons had been featured on a post by Daisie Davies who was a guest editor on the Cuteable blog!! It was my Dizzy Daisy buttons there amongst all the other cute items! Yay!!

I've been busy lately getting things ready to send off for the "Time for Tea" craft swap! Really pleased with how it all turned out but would you believe I had the box all taped up before I realised I hadn't taken pics!! Arghh!! Oh well I hope Katie likes her swap items!!

Hearts Galore!!

I have been stockpiling buttons that were baked but needed sanding and polishing. So last night I had a good session and managed to get 4 sets done! Still a couple of sets left to do but at least I can now get those other sets listed in my Folksy Shop!! So the shop is looking a bit better stocked now!

I was hoping for more sunshine this morning for taking the photos but alas it was not to be. At least it was not dark and rainy! Now I've listed those 4 sets I think I need to make some buttons that aren't heart shaped! :) Getting into a bit of a rut there. After all that sanding I think the next buttons will be mica decorated ones that have to be varnised for a change! :)

Wild beasties in the forest!

It was such a lovely spring morning this morning we decided to go up into the woods for our morning walk! Lots of birdsong now and wild flowers like the primroses are looking very pretty so it was a very pleasant wander. Sadie especially likes the wood walks as she usually gets to go off lead so she enjoys more freedom than usual. Just as we were coming out of the forest and about to turn towards home though we all spotted some very strange wildlife lurking in the grass....don't think I'll find any mention of these in my wildlife identification books....

Some little person is going to be a bit upset at forgetting their special wellies I think!! Awwww

Hot Hearts!!

Finally got my latest batch of buttons sanded and polished so they are now up for sale in my Folksy shop! The first set are another stripy lot, this time in shades of pink and orange and heart-shaped so they are called Hot Hearts.

The second set are the first daisy shaped ones I've made and have swirly patterns in pink and blue so I called them Dizzy Daisies! :)

Red Nose Day!!!

Hellooo everybody - Happy Red Nose Day!!

Don't forget to pop over to the Crafter...oo Comic Relief Shop over on Folksy where all proceeds are going towards Comic Relief!!! There are some great things for sale over there including some of my buttons of course! How about this great corsage made by Cloudhopping

or maybe these cute little slippers from Blonde Design...

and don't forget there's still time to put in a bid for the challenge necklace....

just send an e-mail to me with your bid!!! Winner will be announced this evening and all proceeds will of course go to Comic Relief!!!!

Floral hearts

I seem to be quite addicted to making the polymer clay buttons at the moment! The thing about making buttons is that I can try out lots of different techniques and then instead of wondering what to do with the resulting clay I can turn it into buttons. I got the mica powders out again today and thought I'd try using more than one colour. The result...these floral heart shaped buttons...
I'm going to have to make more of these! I was really pleased with how they turned out!

Blue sky and buttons!

After the last post with the snow I just had to take a pic of the sky outside right now. It's been such a gorgeous sunny day today and looking outside from our back door the sky was sooo blue....
I've been busy again with the button making. They have proved to be so popular that I have started stocking them in my own shop on Folksy too...well I have to be able to afford to buy more clay somehow! I've been trying out Kato clay the last few days and I have to say that, although it takes a LOT of conditioning, it really is lovely to work with. Here are pics of the buttons I finished today. Just wish I had been able to capture the lovely shine on these after all the sanding and polishing!

March Snow and Challenge Necklace Auction

Yes we have yet more snow this morning! The poor mini daffs that were doing their best to flower in our garden look a bit weighed down don't they!? I don't think the snow will last long, the sun has been out a couple of times but we do have heavy snow showers forecast for during today so maybe we will get even more.

On a different note....Incy and I have decided to auction off the necklace we made to raise a bit more cash for Comic Relief. So we are taking e-mails for bids over £20!! Come on folks...it's a gorgeous bright necklace and will look great in the spring and summer months!! It's also a one of a kind...what with the lovely embroidery done by Incy and the handmade lampwork beads that I made there is a lot of value in it!! But best of all it will mean more money for Comic Relief so all proceeds will be going to a really good cause!!! I will even pay the p&p myself so no extras to pay. Send an e-mail to either myself (see my profile page) or Incy with your bid and we'll announce the winner on Comic Relief day!!!

Combined medium challenge!

Over on the Crafter...oo forum we decided to do a different sort of challenge where we worked together in pairs so that we could make something using the mediums of both people. We could make anything we like but it was to be in vibrant colours!

I had Sam from Incy Wincy Stitches as my partner which was great and we decided we would make a piece of jewellery combining felt beads which she would decorate and glass beads that I would make. Sam also stitched a great little pouch to put the finished piece in.

So, this is what we came up with...

We will be selling the necklace to raise money for Comic Relief!

Jewellery from Sea Maiden Gems

I was contacted by Sarah of Sea Maiden Gems a couple of days ago as she had used some of my lampwork beads in a bracelet she made. It's so lovely I thought I would show some of her work on here! Isn't this gorgeous...I love what Sarah has done with my beads!

Sarah has only been making jewellery for a year which is difficult to believe! This necklace is another of my favourites especially as it's turquoise which is my birthstone!

Here's a picture of a commission Sarah did recently, an unusual combination of gems, crocheted wire and welsh yarn! Really special!

Not only a talented jewellery designer but Sarah takes a great photo too! I must ask her for some advice!