hundredsofbuttons

Hot pink, black and aqua

2011-10-30T23:24:00.001+11:00

Hot pink, black and aqua wedding colours!

Cherry pipping

2010-12-31T11:50:00.001+11:00

Isn't this the best little tool? When we were kids we used to take all the stones out of cherries when we were bottling! Can you imagine the stained fingers?

KK

2010-12-26T09:38:00.001+11:00

I sent a handmade necklace in lilac, to Leeanne. I received a lovely selection of covered and colour matched buttons from Andria. I'm looking forward to seeing everybody else's surprises!

Vintage buttons

2010-12-23T15:14:00.000+11:00

When vintage buttons fall into my hands, something happens....

Guess these 3 MESTup sellers...

2010-11-21T22:17:00.000+11:00

Melbourne Etsy Street Team met up for lunch. Can you guess which MESTers relate to these 3 photos? Here are some clues: one makes neck warmers, one doesn't charge enough for her pearl earrings, and one makes art smocks. Ah, you want a prize! OK speak nicely to me, leave me a comment, and I'll see what I can do.

Choker, princess or matinee?

2010-10-31T22:44:00.001+11:00

A cake from the church fete,

an afternoon with navy blue buttons,

and I'm done!

One collar length, one choker length, one princess length, one matinee length and a bracelet!

Put salt on its tail

2010-10-17T12:51:00.001+11:00

The way to catch a wild bird is to put salt on its tail. That's what my dad told me, anyway. So I put salt on the tail of this one...

and look what happened....
The moral of this story is, leave wild birds alone!

Thanks to Samara for featuring me as this week's Dusty Diva http://maddabling.blogspot.com/

Paper bird

2010-10-06T18:15:00.001+11:00

Who saw the article in Melbourne's Herald Sun last Saturday, featuring Carol's paper birds? Well, lo and behold, there she was at Healesville market on Sunday. We had a good chat (surprise, surprise!) about etsy and MEST and DUST, and I bought a kit. Carol even gave me a 'fellow crafter' discount! My kit has Japanese paper, but what a nice way to make an invitation, a thank you, a music teacher's gift, or even a house warming memento made with the appropriate page from the Melways.

Carol and her husband said they are so busy they need more time to stock up their etsy shop, Itchy Bird.

Melbourne MESTup!!!

2010-10-03T21:39:00.003+11:00

There were so many exclamation marks used yesterday at the Melbourne Etsy Street Team meetup, some spilled over into my blog title!!!

Kate from BigDreamsEmbroidery

Andria, from shagpile

Leeanne, from thecabbagepatch Sylvana from bsylvar

Oh yes, and couple of us were actual football tragics;
Kass from made'n'found (Kass established MEST) and Jan from jskipcreations

Kate's embroidery makes a great banner.... Turn around, Jo!

There's Jo from ruby-jo finally looking at the camera!
See more pics here.

PDF what's that? a new line? Free to DUSTers?

2010-09-24T23:27:00.000+10:00

Anyone can make their own DIY button bracelet or button flowers by following my photographs and instructions! It's a new line in my shops: button tutorials delivered through cyberspace!

The first two DUSTers who ask me, will get them free!

My UK pupil

2010-09-22T22:29:00.000+10:00

A lovely etsy customer, who now calls herself my UK pupil, bought a bracelet kit from me. She was so pleased with it that she went on to make a necklace and another bracelet. I gave her a mark of 11 out of 10 for this stunner! Well done, Bev!

Scrap bookers, card makers, who wants Noddy?

2010-09-21T18:10:00.001+10:00

... and what did you think of Mr Plod?

My friend didn't know what to do with her damaged children's books. When I told her that lots of people crave them for their craft, she happily handed them all over. I've listed some in my craftumi shop and also on etsy. Now there are only three more boxes of books waiting!

Glam button cuff

2010-09-18T00:11:00.001+10:00

These button cuff bracelets are a new line for me and I'm pretty pleased with them. I think they're very glam!

Black and white button cuff by hundredsofbuttons on etsy

It's a new price range for me, too. (What are your thoughts at $60 USD?)

Mum's button tin, Dad's army button

2010-08-25T17:18:00.000+10:00

In my Mum's button tin I came across a brown button like this, which I recognised from my dad's army greatcoat. He and every other farmer in the district wore their army clothes in those years as they were soldier settlers and didn't have much else. That brown button became part of my personal favourite necklace. This dark one was picked up recently from an op shop and I put it in the centre of this grey green necklace. I was pleased with the effect. What do you think?

Sharp enough?

2010-06-05T19:16:00.002+10:00

Picasa has helped me to play around with effects, and these are some results. The blue and white button flowers were a gift for a button collecting friend named Joyce.The others were sold from my etsy shop.

Up to my neck in neckwires

2010-06-01T23:11:00.000+10:00

Whenever I'm asked if I make a certain item, it leads to a 'making frenzy.' Then comes the waiting. Is that person going to get back to me? Check out my flickr photostream to see more...

Bed on wheels

2010-05-21T21:29:00.000+10:00

It'll do!

What a Lark

2010-04-21T22:21:00.006+10:00

On a visit to the opening of Lark's lovely new shop in Daylesford, I happily recognized some fellow etsy sellers' work by Rachel from missisaau and ButtonsByLouLou.
Childhood memories of scrambling through scratchy berries to get around Lake Daylesford were washed away by glorious autumn sunshine. What a great weekend!

Lace buttons and book thongs

2010-04-13T23:35:00.005+10:00

After seeing the cost of new buttons, I came home and made these lace buttons. I think they're quite glam.

The book thong idea is adapted to fit my magazines. The cord doesn't slip out of place, and is a better option than a standard book mark. And it's all done with buttons, of course.

New season's flowers

2010-04-06T15:08:00.003+10:00

Spring or autumn?

Bibs for babes

2010-04-01T14:04:00.004+11:00

I found some superb bibs,which is your favourite?

and a job forever

2010-03-25T23:26:00.002+11:00

A garden is a thing of beauty and a JOB forever.

Bags of button fun

2010-03-09T21:59:00.004+11:00

I have discovered the best sturdy little army bags. They are great messenger bags, and of course they shouted out asking to be embellished with buttons. These two sold quite quickly. I'm tempted to make more. Any suggestions?
I like string bags, too, but they must have buttons!

I'm still buttoning!

2010-01-24T00:37:00.004+11:00

I haven't stopped buttoning, just take a look! But I have been neglecting this blog lately. One of my recent orders was from a teacher who is planning a rainbow theme. Thank heaven I had bought a lovely rainbow wrap from Leanne from rainbowrevolution, so I could check the colours. It was so much fun to do that I'm still using red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. I've even decorated an army bag with them. And I still seem to have hundreds of buttons!

As you can see, my young visitors have had fun decorating wooden letters and numbers, too.

The flags are flying!

2009-11-26T23:12:00.005+11:00

The flags are flying at our house for good reason! All four grandbabies were here at the same time! This gorgeous bright bunting from Amy at Giggleberry arrived right on the day! Fantastic! The flags will fly to celebrate many more occasions, I hope.

The innocent pleasure of a gift in the mail

2009-11-06T22:15:00.006+11:00

One of the nicest things about the whole world of running an online shop is that you meet the other sellers. If not in real space, then at least through the pleasure of the letter box when a DUST craft swap is organized. Such a moment happened today when this gorgeous, happy, timely gift arrived from Emma.
Lately my hair has got to the point where I need to secure it back. And look what was in the parcel! Thank you Emma for the super bright and well made coasters, and for the surprise hair ties. They're great!

Brights!

2009-11-01T19:04:00.002+11:00

Summer colours are well on their way.

Toil and trouble for little black suckers

2009-10-13T14:38:00.001+11:00

Purple came out well using multipurpose dye......

......but you can see why 'cold' isn't recommended for plastic buttons!

Black took forever. I didn't give in and eventually, more than an hour later, the little suckers turned black. Talk about 'Double, double, toil and trouble!'

Here are some additional pearls of wisdom...
It's still a matter of trying things out. Only use implements that are never going to have food in them. Let's not poison anybody. Avoid breathing in the fumes. The dye is toxic and dangerous; it's harsh chemical. I'm starting to lean towards Rit.

I'll have far too many red and green buttons for the ladies' Christmas craft workshop! Does any body want any?

How do you dye buttons?

2009-09-18T22:01:00.001+10:00

'How do you dye buttons?' I've been asked, and I've been 'dyeing' to tell you! I've been practicing, having some 'wow' and 'oooh look at these' moments, turning the little critters into bright, colourful little beauties. It's quite amazing! Are you ready for a tutorial?
Use dye and hot water.
1. Dissolve some fabric dye in an old metal pot with boiling or very hot tap water. I've used as little as a teaspoon of dye to 250ml of water for a small lot. I've also used more dye and/or more water. There's no need to add salt.
2. Place the plastic buttons into the dye so they are covered. Leave them there for 10 minutes, stirring and shuffling now and again with an old spoon or kitchen implement. Keep the water simmering - hot but not boiling.
3. Remove the buttons and rinse them with warm water until the water runs clear.
4. Admire the results as you spread them out to dry! That's it!

Some hints:
I've used both Dylon and Rit brands, powder and liquid, and have been happy with all of them. Use the 'multipurpose' Dylon, as the one with 'cold' written on it only works on certain buttons. Chemists sell the little tins of Dylon. Try to negotiate a deal, because Dylon has a new line of sachets out now, and chemists are going out of the old stock. Rit comes in little boxes about the size of a jelly packet. Craft suppliers and Big W type shops also sell dye. You don't need a lot, so start small.
Use rubber gloves. Cover bench tops with a thick layer of newspaper. Chux is useful to put the buttons on to dry.
Expect the unexpected. The buttons will not all end up looking the same, as different materials absorb the dye differently. Some will be very dark, some light and some won't take at all. The same plastic materials will take the dye equally the same, but glass buttons don't dye!
You will think it's not working, but it will work. The buttons will look strange during the process. For a stronger result, increase the heat briefly, and/or give them a longer time. For less depth of colour try taking them out earlier or diluting the dye. Or try not using any extra heat at all. Try putting them back in again for more colour. Extra time and heat won't hurt, and it will give deeper colour.
Pearl buttons and beads take the dye well.
Op shops often supply used, white shirt buttons. Reuse, recycle, repurpose and upcycle them!
Use a curtaining net type fabric as a makeshift sack when you have lots of small buttons, to save 'fishing them out.' Use the same net sack for rinsing, or use a colander.
Keep dyeing lot after lot in the same hot dye solution.
Try mixing colours. Make some pink, then add a little blue to get mauve, etc. Maybe turn some blue buttons mauve by putting them into pink dye. Or change emerald green into mint green by adding a little blue. Remember the colour wheel and be creative! White and light coloured plastic buttons work best.
You can use a microwave instead of the stove top.
The dye can be tipped down the sink. You could keep it, but I haven't bothered as it's quite cost effective in small amounts.

Let me know how you get on! You know I'm dyeing to hear from you!

Felt like dyeing

2009-09-13T22:49:00.000+10:00

Felt and dyed buttons fell together this week.

Dyeing buttons

2009-08-24T17:57:00.000+10:00

They are transformed! What used to be white and nondescript are now strongly coloured and beautiful! It's so impressive!

Press button for maid

2009-08-12T15:28:00.000+10:00

Using macro can be fun.

It's a smockshop!

2009-08-07T21:20:00.002+10:00

Yet another new shop has just been established. It invites custom orders for children's art smocks.

My first ever treasury - the things people do with buttons

2009-07-31T11:20:00.001+10:00

I've made a treasury! It's almost as exciting as my first sale! But this time lots of etsy friends shared the joy!

Will you Pay It Forward?

2009-07-29T18:31:00.000+10:00

Jess (epherielldesigns) sent me a great little handmade gift, and I'm going to pay it forward to some of my special friends. If you'd like to join in, leave me a comment! This is how it works:
I’m sure many of you have participated in craft swaps over the years, but I want to take the concept of sharing what we love that one step further.

And so – Handmade Pay It Forward. The idea is simple. You recieve a handmade gift from a fellow craftsperson. You Pay It Forward by sending some of the things you have made and loved to others.

***
In order to participate in this, there are a few requirements:

1. I will choose an undisclosed number of people who comment on this post to send a gift to. This gift I have made with my own hands, and with love.

2. If you choose to comment, and/or you receive a gift from me, you commit yourself to Paying It Forward.

3. You must then make a post on your blog, making the same offer to your readers.

4. On your blog post, you must include this list of requirements (basically, all the text between the asterisks). You choose how many people you Pay It Forward to – though it would be nice if it was more than one. However, I realize that some of you make high-end or expensive wares, and I don’t want to exclude you from participating by setting a minimum number above one.

5. In each of your packages, as well as your gift, please include a minimum of 5 business cards (if you have them). Also include the business cards that you received in your gift – this allows every recipient to visit the people who’s generosity brought Handmade Pay It Forward to them.

6. Finally, in your PIF blog post, include the history of your gift – i.e. the name and blog of all the people before you in the journey.

Handmade Pay It Forward 2009 – Those that gave before me: Jess from EpheriellDesigns, Liz from hundredsofbuttons,

7. Please only participate once. Obviously, if you haven’t received a gift within a few weeks of leaving a comment on a PIF post, you can probably assume you missed out that time, and try again if you see it elsewhere :) This keeps the PIF goodness spreading to new people! I think I will start a new one once a year… but we’ll see how this evolves!

Please use this button on your blog to share that you have participated!

***

That’s it :) I really hope this takes off and allows us to share the joy of our creations with each other!!

Jess, Liz, xo

I made the front page!

2009-07-29T15:01:00.000+10:00

I noticed that my creamy yellow button flowers had hundreds of viewings last week, and this was why.

The etsy DUST Christmas in July sale is on!

2009-07-24T12:18:00.000+10:00

I'm offering 20% off the listed prices in my etsy shop. Maybe some of these button bouquets will be 'picked' over the weekend!

safety pins and buttons mkII

2009-07-18T13:50:00.000+10:00

These two hit my etsy shop this week. They were quite time consuming to make, and I'm pleased with the final product. One is on elastic and one is on wire with a self loop fastening.
Which one do you like best?

Art smocks from my sister's shop

2009-07-16T10:09:00.000+10:00

Finally my sister Jan has an online shop! She makes great art smocks and sells them for a low INTRODUCTORY SALE price.

Memories of BrisStyle indie market

2009-07-12T16:52:00.001+10:00

What a great market! It was at Hamilton, Brisbane. Those BrisStyle etsy girls did a fantastic job!
I bought some lovely items, including some gorgeous little red baby shoes, a dinosaur babyboy singlet, and some earrings from Jess.
I'm determined to order myself some moo cards.

I thought I'd be mugged! I bought the last copy of Peppermint magazine issue 2 from Kelly at the market. Now I'll have a full set, because I've subscribed.

The things etsians can do with buttons!

2009-07-06T23:30:00.000+10:00

I enjoy seeing buttons upcycled into beautiful handmade items like these, by PoorRobin, DELiciousDesignz and Moonmum

I gifted it!

2009-07-01T17:48:00.000+10:00

My sister saw this bracelet before I even got to her door! It was destined to be gifted. I liked it so much that I'm planning to add them to my online shops.

Button flowers

2009-06-24T23:34:00.000+10:00

They're my best selling items and I can never seem to make the same thing twice.

Safety pins and buttons

2009-06-18T17:13:00.000+10:00

My new passion: (it's a bracelet in the making!)

Wishlist Wednesday

2009-06-17T11:20:00.000+10:00

I'm inspired by colour this week.

I'm so lucky!

2009-06-15T18:17:00.000+10:00

rainbowrevolution - Leanne- sent me this beautiful wrap with an added bonus gift for grandbaby boy Ryan.It's a prize for a DUST thread. I'm so lucky! And my perfect tote from alipink - Alison - arrived today, with bonus gift of yummy white buttons, too. It's in use already. I'm so lucky!

Wishlist Wednesday

2009-06-10T23:44:00.000+10:00

My wish for a tote with light coloured lining has come true, thanks to alipink! Thanks, Alison!

Win this kit this weekend!

2009-06-06T11:18:00.000+10:00

Enter the aussie handmade giveaway this weekend to win a DIY bracelet kit and a grab bag of items similar to those in my etsy shop.

It's a boy!

2009-06-05T19:07:00.000+10:00

We're grandies again! Our grandbabyboy was born this afternoon. 9lb14oz. All's well!

Wishlist Wednesday

2009-06-03T14:50:00.000+10:00

I wish etsy wasn't down for maintenance so I could add some of my favourites. Instead, I'll add a bracelet I made last night.

The week goes on...

2009-06-02T20:14:00.000+10:00

Yesterday was quite an etsy kind of day, and last night it went on... I entered a chat room, had some fun, and ended up in a treasury! Apologies to Penny pocketcarnival for failing to acknowledge her coin purse in the etsy DUST picture a few days ago. Today I posted a custom order of these 2 very pretty bouquets to Manhatten. This afternoon I decided there is so much interest in (giveaway feedback) my flowers that I've made special discounted listing in my etsy shop. And so the week goes on...

What a nice morning!

2009-06-01T14:20:00.000+10:00

I've had a lovely morning! First; slept in. Second; it was raining. Then; I won the DUST stuff n nonsense thread monthly prize. Next; a surprise gift arrived in the mail from Stacey of etsy sunweeds. And; it's my turn in the DUST aussie handmade giveaway. Then; after lunch the Australia Post van brought (turn away now, Anne & Scott!) Ryan's gift from wiccked.
Now it's taking me all day to decide which prize to choose... watch this space!
(Oh yes, there's another sneak preview of my aussie handmade giveaway pictured above.)

Yummy!

2009-05-31T23:33:00.000+10:00

Here are some bracelets and flowers I photographed today ... we had a delectable Sunday lunch! Thanks Lynda for the yummy pavlova with strawberries and cream.

GIVEAWAY grab bag - my Aussie DUST handmade giveaway

2009-05-30T16:30:00.000+10:00

Enter the giveaway and win a grab bag which will include a DIY bracelet kit, along with this bracelet and quite a few other yummy button goodies.

Suggestions for my giveaway, please

2009-05-28T19:53:00.000+10:00

I seriously need suggestions for the giveaway: I'm on for next week!!
http://www.aussie-handmade-giveaway.com/
What would you expect from me? (a) A button bouquet? (b) A grab bag of a selection of my items? (c) A necklace? (d) Button bracelet kit?

Here is a snapshop of my etsy DUST life over the past few weeks.

My first ever 'Wishlist Wednesday'

2009-05-27T20:56:00.000+10:00

The things people do with buttons! I thought I'd try to make earrings like this by vividcolors with buttons.

I'm always interested in other peoples' flowers, too. These are from ButtonHole:

These are by letters4lilly:

How many ways can you describe trees?

2009-05-26T23:14:00.000+10:00

stunted, majestic, spindly, lush, burnt, starved, gnarly, shaven, twisted, dead, half dead, bunched, drooping, bushy, wrecked, wind blown, tall, shady, hanging, globbed, tight, open, fallen, sparse, spikey, reaching, nibbled, smooth, rough, tough, gone, new, old, skeleton, fluffy, upstanding, needly, strong, protective, unwanted, distant, steadfast, grouped, encased, stifled, protected, soaking, sundrenched, homely, inviting, curved, bare, frothy, bent, planted, wide open, leaning, broken, nested, ghostly, scary, figures, old, clumpy, bunched....
and they were only the ones between Narrandera and Tocumwal!

Button flower workshop with Melanie and Jade

2009-05-22T23:25:00.000+10:00

We had a creative morning making button flowers such as you've never seen before! I was IMPRESSED!

Black sales

2009-05-20T15:38:00.000+10:00

Some of my nicest black pieces have been sold lately.

Just reminding everybody about the great Aussie giveaway! http://www.aussie-handmade-giveaway.com/

Good jobs done!

2009-05-18T18:19:00.000+10:00

A few jobs have been ticked off the list today. An assignment handed in (Col), a passionfruit planted (Graeme), and the button bracelet kits instructions printed and kits posted (Liz.) Thanks Col for finishing the assignment and letting me get to the printer!

AND... I have a new shop banner and avatar ... what do you think? Thanks again, doodlebug.

FREE bracelet kits kits all taken!

2009-05-12T18:23:00.000+10:00

I allowed for 5 free button bracelet kits, and they've all gone now. The next 5 are offered at 'mates rates' $8 to cover costs. Let me know if you want a kit.

STOP PRESS: NEW button bracelet kits COMING SOON

2009-05-11T21:30:00.000+10:00

Today I photographed each step in the making of this button bracelet:
And 4 keen and friendly DUSTers have volunteered to test drive my new button bracelet kit. When it's fine tuned, it will be available in my etsy shop! This is an exciting new endeavour for hundredsofbuttons! WATCH THIS SPACE! COMING SOON!

Brisbane etsy DUST meet up

2009-05-09T22:10:00.000+10:00

I've been lucky to meet up with some of the Brisbane DUSTers.

Last Monday Melanie and her daughter Jade and Jade's children Abigail and Kristian, along with Greer met up with me at McDonalds in Coorparoo. Chloe wore her new bubble dress made by Rach. We had a really nice chat! Then today Jackie and Ange and I had a meetup at Carindale. Good fun!

We all agreed that it's terrific to see people in person, when we usually chat in threads and forums.

etsy DUST craft swap

2009-05-07T22:56:00.000+10:00

My etsy DUST craft swap buddy Rachelle (http://www.miahenry.etsy.com/) sent her beautiful item weeks ago, and we've been patiently waiting for the right time to open it. Today was the day!

Perfect!

Here's our new baby girl!

2009-05-03T20:55:00.000+10:00

Born at 12.20am Sunday May 3rd. Our son and daughter in law have a lovely new second daughter. Everyone is doing very well!

Baby is coming!

2009-05-02T09:37:00.000+10:00

It's labour day weekend in Queensland. That's appropriate, because we're in labour here! We're off to Mater hospital this morning. Watch this space. Graeme is looking after Chloe while Bernie, Colin & Liz are at the hospital.

And the Bombers are playing Brisbane Lions at the Gabba!

My 'hand model'

2009-05-02T00:05:00.000+10:00

Spiffing up my pics to make my etsy bracelets look as good as they really do look, I had a ready made hand model on tap! Thanks Bernie! Bernie frocked up to show off her 'full' figure and, oh yes, my wine necklace too. I've been advised to adjust its price (up!) so I have. Any comments on the new price? www.hundredsofbuttons.etsy.com

New photos

2009-05-01T19:55:00.000+10:00

I had a hand model on tap today, so I got a good new lot of photos of my button bracelets to add to my etsy shop, http://www.hundredsofbuttons.etsy.com/

At stitches and craft

2009-04-30T12:23:00.000+10:00

Today the lovely Fiona showed me how to set up this blog! She ran a button bracelet workshop, which was great! Lots of chat, plenty of fun and a bracelet to wear after!
I'm having a great time getting to meet other like minded button crafters and etsy and DUST people here in Brisbane.