Blog / buttons

wedding project: boutonnieres

First of all, thank you to Rachel for featuring my wedding quilt on the Craft blog on Tuesday! I'm so flattered! Also, thank you to everyone for their lovely comments, and welcome new followers!
Since a lot of the projects that I've been working on and photographing this week are for swaps (and I don't want to spoil the surprise for my swap partners!), I thought that I'd share another wedding-related craft project with you.
While planning our wedding (aka reading an insane number of wedding blogs), I came across these button blossoms on Martha Stewart Weddings and immediately fell in love with them. I made boutonnieres inspired by Martha's project for my husband and our justice of the peace to wear at our wedding.

I used fabric-covered buttons (this was my first time working with them) and flowers made from ribbon as my "blooms." The leaves were made with fusible interfacing and scrap fabric.

 Photo by Teresa Munisteri 
I really enjoy working with coverable buttons (as seen here) and have plans for cross-stitch pin-back buttons in the coming weeks. Stay tuned!
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embroidered button swap: what i received

So for the embroidered button swap, my partner, Adaiha, sent me this lovely set of buttons, embellished with lots of pretty French knots (my favorite!) in blues and greens.
In the package, among squares of vintage fabric, vintage buttons, and chocolates, I also found an adorable strawberry pincushion...
...a matching needlebook...
...and an adorable blue crocheted octopus pin (love!).
Adaiha and I enjoyed the swap so much that we decided to do another one. Next up: tiny embroidery (framed in mini hoops!). I've already started stitching, and will reveal the results in late April.
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embroidered owl buttons

This past month, I participated in the embroidered button swap organized by the blog Feeling Stitchy. For my swap partner, Adaiha, a lover of woodland creatures, bright colors, and vintage material, I made a set of six buttons featuring a little owl.
I used a combination of vintage turquoise and yellow gingham fabric for the buttons' backgrounds, and embroidered the six little owls in black floss. I initially spotted the adorable owl on this set of coasters, and eventually traced the pattern back to Pimp Stitch.
I put a few other goodies in Adaiha's package, including a few vintage sewing supplies, as well as some chocolates. Pictures of my lovely buttons from Adaiha (and a few other awesome goodies!) to come later this week.
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recent thrifting finds

Pastel aida cloth
Metallic (!) aida cloth
Coverable buttons and a 4" wooden hoop
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cross-stitch jewelry

Not only have I fallen in love with cross-stitch work for the wall (more cross-stitch love posts to come!), I'm also smitten with wearable cross-stitch.

On my Christmas wish list, earrings by The Pin Pals, a duo based in Montreal:
 The Pin Pals also make really excellent buttons:
 
 Heist Jewelry makes sweet needlepoint pendants (thanks for the link, Jaime Jo!):
 (my initials!) 
And chicadecanela makes amazing cross-stitch earrings, rings, and necklaces:
Cross-Stitch Earrings: Paris
Cross-Stitch Ring: Rose 
 
Cross-Stitch Necklaces
For more eye candy, check out each designers' Flickr pool: The Pin Pals, Heist Jewelry, and chicadecanela.
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