I'll keep your heart under lock and key

I'm still addicted to cross stitch and self covered buttons so expect to see lots more!  I'm going to be selling these on my shop as a group as I think they're a cute group, it started off as just random things that were small enough to fit on the top of the buttons I had and then I had a brain wave...I could group them together!

left to right: red cross stitched heart on white background, light green cross stitched lock on dark green background and gold cross stitch key on red background

Close up of above

View of the backs of the buttons

And in a circle clockwise from top, red heart, gold key and green lock

I need to order myself some more buttons as running out fast.  I can see these on a cute chunky knit cardigan or with badge backs on a bag.

It's otherwise been a rather unproductive week, my sewing machine belt debacle is still raging on, it's a full blown dispute now with PayPal trying to sort it with the seller.  I've managed to find one other place that is selling the one I need but I'm frightened to order it in case they don't deliver the goods either.  Urgh.  Hate being let down like this.  It's annoying as I see other machine belts everywhere but the one I need is like hens teeth.

I'm also trying to be good and not buy any fabric but what with there being so many sales or discounts on in the online fabric shops my resolve is being tested to it's limit!  I'm thinking of starting a Christmas/birthday list so at least if someone asks what I want I can give them the list and tell them to pick from there...a bit like a wedding list I suppose but less stress.

What fun things have you been up to?

Dresser-ing up with buttons

It's been a bit quiet here lately as unfortunately I've been ill as well as the sewing machine belt still not appearing through my letterbox (don't worry I've set up a dispute with PayPal now).  I have however managed a few bits of cross stitch and have forgotten to show you a new piece of furniture we have.  Well, I say 'new' but it's antique, it's just new to us.  I'm really really happy as I get to show off my lovely cake stands and teacups and saucers on the dresser, here, take a look see:

side view of dresser

head on view of dresser, they are fairy lights on the top not weird glowing blobs, honest!

I really like the eclectic mix of stuff we have on it, it's changed a bit since this photo was taken as have been given a plate that was my grandmother's and one that was my great grandmother's to go on it too.  I'm glad we could give it a home as it's been in my boyfriend's family for hundreds of years, it's had a few bits replaced but we're talking a long time ago, so it's good to see what each generation has added.

And now for something completely different...I couldn't think of a way of linking these two things so there you go.  I've made four cross stitch buttons as had this month's cross stitcher magazine come through the door when I was poorly and it helped keep my sanity as daytime tv is a little odd...

four cross stitch buttons

pear cross stitch button

red space invader button, if you spot the mistake - there was no way I was unpicking it all as didn't see it until the end!

purple space invader button

gold key button

The pear and the key buttons will go for sale in the shop as I'll make them into badges but the space invaders have been nabbed by J to go on his guitar strap.  I'm thinking of making all of the space invaders either on a strip of material to go on a t-shirt or on a laptop case for my brother-in-law's birthday as know he'll love that they're space invaders!  I've started a big piece of cross stitch that will either be a cushion or a tote bag as fell in love with the design but not going to show you all yet as not sure if it's going to be a present, depends on how well it turns out!

As I've been feeling lots better today I've also been working on a few sewing projects, tracing and cutting out and am going to try my hand at making bias tape as haven't tried it yet despite getting the gadgets to make it!  No photos yet sorry.  Hoping normal service will resume from now on, but I have made an important decision.  Despite having lots and lots of fun doing Me Made March and Me Made June I'm not going to participate in Self Stitched September.  I'm just too burnt out at the moment and making clothes for myself right now seems rather daunting as have lots of projects I want and need to finish.  I also want to start on making things for Christmas as would like to do as much of a hand made Christmas as possible like last year and need to get cracking now.  I'll be very happy to see everyone's Self Stitched adventures though!

Happy sewing everyone!

Tweetie bird

Well, I'm getting slightly addicted to this cross stitch malarkey, I've done another one!  Unfortunately, as I didn't really pay close attention to the pattern my song bird has ended up more of a chicken and then because I wanted to include some background it's ended up too big a picture to wrap around a button.  It's still pretty, I'll just have to think of some other way of showing it off.

rather well stuffed bird on a branch with leaves and flowers surrounding it.

I'm also considering massacring an old handbag that was destined for the charity shop to use it's faux leather hide to make pretty creatures from for jewellery or appliqué, is this acceptable as although I'm depriving someone of what might be their dream bag, it's old and have been wondering if it's not good enough to give to the charity shop and just think it's probably better for me to up-cycle something than to buy something new.  What do you think?

Wise buttons

I've been procrastinating about doing this for a good few months now and was shamed into it really.  My sister bought me a subscription to a cross stitch magazine, and although it's a beautiful magazine and there's more than just cross stitch in it as I hadn't done any cross stitch and found it a bit scary - as in it's something else to add to my ever growing hobby list - I had put it off. Then said sister came to visit and I admitted that I hadn't even tried any of the free gifts with the magazine or any of the other project she'd bought me.  Naughty naughty.  So after calling it a day with the clutch bags yesterday and needing something to keep me occupied other than the TV I decided to get all the magazines I've had so far and all the free gifts and see what I can do.

You know how I love buttons, so this isn't a great shock that the first cross stitch project I do was to cover a button!  What I will say though is the instructions lied!  They told me to cut a 5cm circle round the finished stitches to fit it to the button but it was a wee bit too small and I struggled and cursed it lots.  But I got it done in the end!

Mr Owl, cross stitch button

It's amazing what you can do whilst watching The Devil Wears Prada!  I even started a butterfly too, but then it got too late and my brain was shutting down and couldn't count the stitches so I'll finish that today hopefully!  So that's something else to add to my stall as they can be made into badges or magnets or rings or earrings or just plain old useful buttons!

Go on try something new that's been languishing in the bottom of a drawer/cupboard waiting to be loved!