Button-spiration

Since I started making my upcycled cuff bracelets, I’ve kept my eye open on other ways to repurpose sleeve cuffs. I really love the simplicity of this project! Just cut off the cuff, fold in half, stitch up the sides, use the buttons for the closure and voila, a mini pouch! Cute, right? The full (and über simple) tutorial can be found on the Family Chic blog. Perfect to slip a little cash in when you go for a walk or keep your lip balm from getting lost in the depths of your purse. Also like Camilla’s suggestion for using it as a rosary holder (made me think of you, mom).

Button-spiration

We got back from our road trip to Colorado last week and I thought I would share a few of my sweet button finds. Oh yes, even on vacation, my eyes & mind drift to buttons! First up a unique pair of earrings. Love the fact that they aren’t identical. I think it would be fun to try making some of these (you know, one day, in between all the other crafts waiting to be completed).

Button earrings

My second find, a couple of cute button printed fabrics. I decided a while ago to start collecting button themed fabrics. There’s a lot of them out there, actually! Here’s my first two. Not exactly sure what I’m going to make with them. Maybe a fun crazy quilt wall hanging?

Button fabric

And here’s my third find, a fun re-usable shopping bag from Jo-Ann Fabrics. Spotted it on the way out and couldn’t resist the cuteness. Oh yes, I assure you, that bag was filled with a hefty stack of fabrics. Lots of potential projects to come!

Sewing theme bag

Button-spiration

Our road trip down to Colorado sadly won’t be taking us through Ohio, but that state is on my list of places to visit one day. In particular, I want to make a stop in Dover, Ohio to see The Warther Museum. Ernest “Mooney” Warther is famous for his ivory and walnut train carvings which are on display in the original family home & workshop. I’m sure they’re quite interesting to see and they will help convince hubby to visit since he likes trains. My main fascination, though, is with Mr. Warther’s wife, Frieda, who had an immense button collection. Some 73,000 buttons which she arranged into all sorts of patterned panels to decorate the walls & ceilings of their home! My kind of lady, indeed! She collected buttons for 83 years! Just incredible! She hand stitched all the buttons to boards to create unique designs and found inspiration quilt patterns. I’d love to see these in person! I guess that’s the next step in my crazy obsession… a button room or house.

Button-spiration

Vintage button cardigan

Today I wanted to share my latest craft project. I’ve had this one in mind for quite some time. Part of what was holding me back was finding the perfect cardigan, which I finally did a couple of weeks ago. Just in time for fall too. I first posted about this project back in February. At the time, I thought I would use an old black cardi I already had, but I didn’t “love” the cardigan to begin with and didn’t want to take the time to spice it up, if I wasn’t going to wear it a ton. I still might embellish the black cardi, but for now I’m loving this grey one.

I have a pile of vintage buttons that were my grandmothers and I picked out my favs to stitch onto the front. Just can’t decide whether or not to add more. I kinda like the simplicity of this look, plus I already added some further embellishment on the elbows (which I’ll share with you tomorrow). For now, I’m calling it done. This is definitely my “button collector” sweater.

Button-spiration

This week features an adorable hat pattern available from Heidi&Finn. I’ve been eyeing their wonderful modern clothing patterns for kids for quite some time now. Still haven’t placed my first order, but will soon. It will include the Urban Unisex Hoodie, which I hope to sew for Sam. Their new hat pattern caught my attention because of the button embellishment idea. So cute, I want one for myself! The pattern is sized for 12M-teen, and with the right fabric could totally be suitable for the little men in our lives. For those with little gals, your in great luck because Heidi&Finn has lots of modern looks for girls (just not as many for boys). THE best part, it’s a Canadian company! Yay, for supporting local Canadian talent! Check them out if you’ve got a hankering for a new sewing project!

Button-spiration

Ok. Are these cutest shoes or what?! Tempted to revamp my black leather ballet flats… The original post can be found on The Material Girls blog. All you need are the shoes, some buttons, needle & thread, ability to hand sew and some patience. Wouldn’t these be darling for wedding shoes? I’m picturing white/cream flats with blue buttons (for that “something blue” tradition). *Mental note – must share all the button details that were included in our wedding.* Back to these shoes, if you don’t have a wedding coming up them I’m pretty sure they would make cute shoes for the fall too. I’m imagining browns, plums, & rust orange. Oh, autumn, how I love thee, almost as much as I love buttons!

Button-spiration

Thought I would share a button craft of my own creation this week. I made these cute button starfish a couple of years ago with the intention of stringing them together to create some kind of wall decor. You might be able to tell from the photos that I still have yet to do that though. Oh, the pile of unfinished crafts sitting around me…

These were simple to make. I traced and cut out a star shape (of course you could use any shape you’d like) on vellum to make a pattern piece that could withstand being used over & over. Then cut the star shape out of basic craft felt, twice (one for a front, one for a back). Repeat this for however many starfish you want to make. I did mine out a whole variety of colours. Next, grab your button collection and start stitching buttons onto both the front & back pieces of felt. I colour coordinated my buttons (pink buttons on red felt, light green buttons on dark green felt, etc.), but you decide what look you want. Then I used embroidery floss and a blanket stitch to stitch the front & back pieces together. Just remember to leave a side open & fill the starfish with some polyester batting, then continue to stitch them closed. Viola, a little button starfish.

Button Starfish by Bubblegum Sass

Red Button Starfish by Bubblegum Sass

Button-spiration

Summer is finally in full swing here in Calgary. Here’s a simple way to dress up a plain tank top using buttons. So simple, in fact, I’m wondering why I haven’t done this already!? This project is brought to you by Shwin & Shwin, who made the tank for her daughter. Of course, I see no reason it can’t be made for adults too. Good thing I have several plain tanks I could do this to. Now I just need to get it done before our very short summer ends!

Button-spiration

Wowzaa! Check out this incredible button belt by Kristi Michelle of Makenzi & Madilyn Truly a one-of-a-kind piece! A whole pile of vintage buttons sewn on wide elastic. This appears to be an item she made for herself, not something she sells (her shop is full of embroidery hoop decor which you should check out). I keep thinking this would be lovely on a narrower piece of elastic too. A very inspirational design indeed! Awesome job Kristi!

Source: flickr.com via Sarah on Pinterest