Metalwork Monday: Handmade Embossed Buttons

Every crafter worth her salt has an impressive button stash. Sometimes though,  a project just calls for a certain kind of button. And sometimes, only a handmade button will do.

I took two aluminum discs and ran them through the embosser using an art deco die.

Although I liked the look of the buttons fresh from the embosser,

 I wanted to added another dimension.

I utilized a dark purple gilder's paste to bring out the detail.

 I applied the color with my finger and let it sit for a few days.

After the color was set, I buffed them and added them to a wonder hand-crocheted cowl. It was my first ever crochet project and it is special to me. The buttons make it even more important.

Thankful Thursday: Upcycled Cookie Tins

This has been one of THOSE projects. Boom! Great idea. Get supplies. Try it. Mess it up. Stash it for a few weeks. Try again. Another mess. Finally, quasi-success! 

Sunday Fun Day: Button Headband

Some days start in the middle of the night. Today was one of those days. Mid-August marks the peak of the Perseid Meteor Showers. When you have a sweetie that was an astronomy major in college, this is a big deal.

 Hence, a Sunday that started very early, had a flurry of activity early, and was never destined for huge projects (MAJOR disaster this afternoon trying to do a project that was just too much...more on that later). The button headband project was made for sleepy days like today--easy to make, necessary when doing your hair is just not a priority and ideal to wear when life hands you a day to beautiful to stay in the studio. I wore mine on a gardeny photo shot (more to come on that front too) and while augmenting our bounty at the farmer's market and it got a lot of smiles.

Big buttons, teeny buttons, nothing matchy...perfect for the weekend.

I started with some of my very favorite mismatched buttons,

a headband with an elastic back (you could also make your

own headband or sewing them onto elastic), an embroidery needle 

and some white floss.

I forgot to take a photo of the inside, but I simply placed 

and fit each button, sometimes overlapping them, and secured them 
through the button holes with the embroidery floss. I did 

not cut and tie after button, but rather went right from one to the next.

I love it--easy, fun, and it goes with everything!

Stay tuned to hear about my misadventures in spray paint

and to check out my current photo project :)

Thanks for reading and have a great week!

Stitchy Saturday: Improv Sewing

Spring means new flowers, new baby animals, new fresh foods, and new clothes. Unfortunately, my finances are not allowing me to go on the kind of spring shopping spree that I would prefer. 
Luckily, the spring issue of Craftsanity Magazine had a great feature (among so many!) about improv sewing. 


Taking a boring long-sleeved tee from the back of my dresser, I was able to re-purpose it into a springier cardigan. I used some ribbon from my stash and picked up some buttons (with a 40% off coupon!) for inspiration.

My finished project--I love that I can  wear it with jeans
and a white tee or a blouse and skirt for work.

The "ingredients": shirt, thread, scissors, embellishments, sewing machine.
Cut the shirt along the front and fold the edges in. Pin, add ribbon,  and sew multiple
seams up and down the front. I used variegated thread that went with my buttons. 

LOVE the buttons! decided that it needed a little more
interest at the lapels, so I took one strand from 5 different colors of
embroidery floss (the colors on the button) and did a little back stitch detail.

Fancy and it will go with so much! A whole new look for about $2.00!

Challenge Accepted: My First Free Downloadable Pattern

Last week, my friend erin (who is an amazing artist) inadvertently issued me a challenge. 
While commenting on a recently completed project, she said that she wanted to see sheep jumping over a fence next. My gears began to spin...why not try my hand at designing my first pattern?


I googled "how to draw sheep" and made many doodles before I getting it right. I knew that I needed something besides just offering up a sketch though. I really admire the patterns by Mollie at Wild Olive and Alyssa at Penguin and Fish and tried to do something much more professional. 


I am very pleased to be able to share my first ever pattern, Sweet Dreams Sheep!

Click above to download!

Transferred and ready to stitch!

My first sheep, made with tons of French Knots.
I call him Michael.
Check back on Saturday to see if the gang is complete!

 I had some time while my students did a line rehearsal, 

so I took the time to whip up a little gift too.

I liked how my first one came out so I decided to make one
for my dear friend Paula.
It also gave me the chance to practice two new (to me)
stitches: Lazy Daisy and Chain Stitch.

A little bit of spring time!

Cute as a Button

What a productive week! Most "normal" people would view Sunday as a day to rest and reflect. Not me...Sunday=Funday...a chance to make or do something frivolous and fun. Today, that meant doing fun stuff for this blog. I made a fun and super-easy project for How Tuesday, worked on next week's Foodie Friday (and got an awesome breakfast with my sweetie out of the deal), bought some new supplies (!) and tried some new techniques for Work-in-progress Wednesday and finally did my own  take on a project that I had admired on Freckled Nest. 


Leigh Ann had designed a fun and easy project to evoke spring. It was a rainy gross day here in the Northeast and I wanted a little sunshine. 

I decided to add some rick rick hills for fun!

I added some additional elements like rick rack hills, grass, leaves, and felt flower cut-outs behind the buttons. I am rather thrilled with the results!

It will add a little fun and whimsy to my office and remind me that there is always time to make something great. 

If you'd like any details on the construction, please let me know!