Buttons, badges, pins or even brooches? Not sure, but I’ve been having fun with them! If you read this post you’ll know that I had a little kit for Christmas and now it’s all gone quiet I’ve been having a play.
click on the image for info
They are very easy to make with the equipment supplied in the box…
and clear instructions…
…and there’s lots of scope for individuality. They look pretty just as a way of showing off a lovely scrap of favourite fabric, or with embroidery and embellishment can be as fancy as you like…
I particularly like these two…
…which I do think can be elevated to brooch status, but I also have a soft spot for this jolly one…
It’s certainly easier than the ones I made a while back using the buttons you cover yourself as I had to remove the button shank, and then cover the rather tatty looking back with felt before glueing on a pin.
It still works well though, and as you can see I’ve been experimenting with a little crochet edging in my own dyed wool. (It was far to much work dyeing it to waste a scrap!)
This one which was made using the biggest covered button I could find is covered in a piece of vintage embroidery salvaged from a very stained tablecloth…
It’s all been a bit of a displacement activity because I keep seeing all sorts of ‘mission statements’ on other blogs about intentions for the New Year and I’m still faffing around, not being able to make up my mind. Do I put all my ideas in black and white and frighten myself with a huge list and set myself up to fail, or do I just come up with a couple of things and do them really well, or shall I just make it up as I go along…? As usual…
Hmmm, I’ll let you know!
One thing I am going to do is to get to grips with the vegetable plot this year. Last Spring I got so tied up with Open Studios (and that’s happening again this year!) that in the end all I grew were Sweet Peas.
They were the most successful Sweet Peas ever, but not what my raised beds were put in for so this year I must do better!
It was actually sunny and mild this morning, so I went out and cleared the first raised bed of all the chickweed, forget-me-not seedlings and oxalis…
…so I could put the cover on it ready to warm the soil…
The cover is looking rather well worn now, but does sterling service, and I leave the metal supports in place as they are so handy to lean on when you’re feeling a bit creaky!
Well, I think I qualify to join in with Wendy and the other Handmade Mondayers over on 1st Unique Gifts. Do go over to see what happening and also to admire Coral the Camper van!
See you soon! x
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Oh my those buttons are gorgeous! Do you know where the kit is from? 🙂 x
I just found it on amazon…I might have to get it!!
Gosh, you have been busy, they are really lovely. They look really great when you turn them into brooches 🙂
Happy New Year. What gorgeous buttons – I think I would want to just keep taking them out to look at rather than affix them to anything or give them away.
I love buttons!!
Those are beautiful, my mum used to cove buttons when I was little to match my dresses, love it!
I find lists help keep me on track, but they intimidate my bf so everyone works different
Kim xx
Penny these are gorgeous!! I have recently discovered the addictive art of making covered buttons and love how they look 🙂 Simply fabulous! xx
The buttons are just awesome! I, too, love the pink ones you picked out, but the little ‘tulip’ looking one on the blue and white check is just so ‘happy’! This is the trouble with being ‘crafty’. It is difficult to sit down to one thing!
how cute are your buttons! no wonder they kept you busy. amazing how many variations and patterns you can have with them. there seems to be a button madness around recently, i keeps seeing them everywhere – in freebie kits, at shops, featured in mags etc
never had a go at them but definitely should, after seeing such a lovely collection of yours.
happy new year x x x
Goodness Penny, you manage to add something even to a covered button, you amaze me. They look lovely.
loving your little button badges Penny! they are ace and I know they will go down a treat on your market table :O)
And those raised beds are awesome, so nice to grow things in, looking forward to seeing the abundance over the coming six months!
I was planning my comment as I read, thinking “Oooh! I’ll have to say I love the rose-coloured embroidered buttons best…” when of course the next photo came up with just those two in it. 🙂
No mission statement for me. That way I don’t have to live up to anything. I like to set the bar pretty low for myself and thus avoid disappointment. Is that terrible?
How nice to be clearing the decks already for this year’s gardening!
Those buttons / brooches are gorgeous. Love the embroidered ones.
And I would kill for a raised bed like that … I’m dreaming of a veg plot, but we move too often to create anything like that *sigh*
The buttons are gorgeous, especially the embroidered ones, they must be really fiddly to make.
I’ve set myself a list of things to do this year and it is pretty daunting but I need some sort of structure to keep me on track! x
What fabulous badges/brooches! Much better faffing with creativity than writing lists!! I think I could do with some metal frames for hanging onto around my raised beds too 😉
Love the ones with the crochet edging! I’m all for ditching the mission statements and carrying on with the faffing around.
I love these too – off to look on Amazon 🙂
What fun those button/badges are! A bit of faffing is good, I have lists, but I’m still faffing about, except I call it playing!
Ooohhh lucky you those buttons are gorgeous. I have a list as a guide so even if I don’t do everything on it it doesn’t matter.
I love your buttons they are so colourful. Given me some food for thought too!
I love the buttons/brooches Penny…..just beautiful xx
Meant to say I’ve blogged about your beautiful hamster this week….Jodie, my daughter absolutely loved her… xxx
The buttons are beautiful! I wouldn’t worry about setting down ALL your plans in black/white – after all your creativity will happen at different times and different speeds. Just enjoy what 2012 brings.
I’m in love with the buttons! Love love love love love! Those would make me want to learn to sew even better so I could make some sort of awesome blouse just so it could have 5 or 6 different awesome buttons on it! 🙂
When my dad had his own upholstery business when I was a kid, I used to help him out by making buttons in a very similar way to how they are made using that kit.
Beautiful covered buttons, I love the ones with the tiny buttons sewn on.
I don’t do a ‘mission statement’ a ‘resolution list’ or any other sort of list for New Year but I do do smaller, achievable ‘to do’ lists throughout the year.
Best wishes for whatever your aims are…:)
Jan x
Love them! I had a kit like this years ago but not the creativity to make such great buttons/pins. We used lots of photos though and my bro’s girl friend used to wear an image of him on her coat….it made him feel a bit odd!
Love your badges – they are all so different and unique, lovely photos too. Your empty raised bed has made me feel very guilty about my one, but it is far too miserable to go outside today, so I’ll carry on reading everyone’s blogs!
Jo x
You inspired me to have a go and whilst mine are no where near as fancy and brooch like as yours I am quite pleased. Love your blog and all of your creations, I have make envy!!