Embellishments - Buttons - Day 14 - 31 Day Blog Writing Challenge

Today I am resharing one of older blogs: 

After hearing that it was bad for old buttons to store them in jars, (from Jill Gorski, in Episode 1204: Songs, Stories, and Buttons, on TheQuiltShow.com) I moved most of my button collection (accumulation!) to an antique type setting tray I have.



A sampling of my accumulation of buttons - intended for use as embellishments - I need to get busy embellishing!

 I've started using my buttons more often as embellishments in my projects. It is hard to resist a good old button.

Pearl buttons and buckles from a Muscatine, IA button factory.

One of my aunts gave me several small pearl buttons to use - at the time I planned to make dolls and use the buttons for doll clothing, but now most of the buttons are finding their way onto my wall quilt and textile projects. The pearl buttons come from Muscatine, Iowa, and were from the button factories which had closed down. They once made pearl buttons from clam shells sourced from the Mississippi river there. I have always loved the pearl buttons.

Here is a photo of buttons I bought recently (this week!):
 


New Buttons!

I couldn't resist the small parrott buttons - looking at the large assortment of buttons at my  fabric store, I know I could get into some serious trouble "collecting" buttons! I will have to limit my button excursions there.

I have usually only purchased used or old buttons (some are old and still unused on button cards) from thrift, antique stores and garage sales, though I can see there are many beautiful new buttons available now.

You can also buy great button assortments for embellishing your projects - one of my favorite catalogs is Home Sew, Inc., and Newark Dressmaker Supply. They have a great assortment of other sewing notions and supplies, as well. Their website is: www.homesew.com.

               

If you are looking for inspiration for a project, you could design a quilt to display your favorite buttons - or use your buttons to add special embellishments to your projects.

I have an assortment of Cracker Jack toys I've collected, that I've thought would be nice displayed on a quilt, but that is a topic for another day...

                                                      1970s animal buttons from a good friend - I used them on a sweater, now they are waiting to be repurposed - too cute to throw away!

                            

A few more buttons from my collection - and some Celluloid buttons.

Happy Friday!

Denise A. Buchwalter-Losczyk

#31dayblogwritingchallenge

When not Quilting….Knit!

Knitting is one of the activities I do when I’m not working on arts/crafts which I consider my “artwork”.  It is a form of relaxation when I’m not working on projects, and want to unwind at the end of the day, or meditate a bit.

It is also very useful for making gifts.

Recently I finished a blue baby blanket and washcloth for a new great nephew. My second time as a Great Aunt!  I used Shine Sport yarn from Knitpicks.com in Sky color. It is a 60% pima cotton, 40% modal yarn and is very soft and pleasant to knit. For the afghan, I used a free downloadable lace pattern from www.Knitpicks.com. They also have many free dishcloth/washcloth patterns there as well, and I used one as a start to my baby washcloth.  I’ve attached a photo of the completed projects.

Baby blanket and washcloth - knitted from
 free downloadable pattern(s) from www.knitpicks.com

After I completed the baby blanket and washcloth and sent them off to their new destination, I went back to knitting an afghan I am making using acrylic yarn. I found myself saddened that I wasn’t still knitting with the luxuriant feeling cotton/modal yarn! It was very soft, smooth and pleasant to work with.  The quality of yarn definitely enhances your knitting experience.

I haven’t purchased much new yarn, lately, as I’m determined to make use of my yarn and project stash, but when I do need yarn for a new project, www.Knitpicks.com is one of my favorite places to shop. They have reasonable prices and free shipping if you spend $50 or more. They are a great resource for knit, crochet, weaving, spinning, tatting and needle-felting tools, books, and fibers.  They have many free patterns to download, videos to watch, and designer patterns that you can purchase and download.  I like browsing their website, even when not purchasing, just to look at and be inspired by their many beautiful designs and fibers.  

Knit, create, and meditate!


Denise A. Buchwalter-Losczyk

A Fun Creative Resource - Bella Crafts Quarterly

Today I'm sharing a fun crafts resource I recently discovered: Bella Crafts Quarterly. They are a free online Crafts magazine. I found out about the magazine from the Creative Living with Sheryl Borden television show (another fun source of inspiration for daily living).

I am being featured today as a guest blogger on the Bella Crafts Quarterly Blog. You can read the blog at: http://bellacraftsquarterly.com/bella-blog.

The Bella Crafts Quarterly Blog and the free downloadable online magazine are a great source of inspiration for creating crafts. It is fun to see the projects that other designers are creating. You may find some inspiration there for your next project, or for holiday gifts and home decor.

You can subscribe to the free online magazine at: http://bellacraftsquarterly.com/subscribe, and check out their website and past issues of the magazine at http://bellacraftsquarterly.com.

I hope you will enjoy the guest blog I've written for them, as well as the other resources and inspiration you will find there.

You can visit the Creative Living with Sheryl Borden website at: http://kenw.org/programs/creative-living-sheryl-borden.

Be inspired and have fun creating!

Denise A. Buchwalter-Losczyk

INSPIRATION

Needle-felted ornaments with embroidery, beads, buttons,
acrylic and wool felt, and silk fibers - which I made as gifts
for this past holiday season.

Inspire yourself!

Where do you find inspiration for your projects? Here is one idea:

Last year I was very blessed to have an article accepted in Quilting Arts Gifts 2013/2014 magazine for machine-needlefelted ornaments I had made about 2 years ago. At the time I had made them for my Christmas wreath, so it was a nice surprise to have them accepted for publication.

Shortly after submitting my article I was working on a

Holiday Wallhanging for the
Push the Envelope Contest at
the 2013 American Sewing Expo.
The wallhanging received an
honorable mention.

design for a wall hanging for a challenge I was entering. The ornament designs I had made previously were born again as embellishments for my quilt project. I decided to make a striped black and white cotton and colored dupioni silk background. The simplicity and execution of my design was inspired by the current modern quilt movement.

Today I am imagining a new tote bag for myself, inspired by my striped wall hanging and embellished with needle-felted shapes, or I may create a series of small black and white quilts this year.

So, when you are creating or looking for inspiration don't be afraid to look at the world around you and also at your own wonderful creations which you have made before. When one project ends, it opens doors or windows for many more!

The magazine my work was published in is Quilting Arts Gifts 2013/2014 and in it you will find many inspiring projects for your holiday gifts and decorations, as well as year round gifts. There are even some Spring projects! Information about the magazine can be viewed at:http://www.interweavestore.com/quilting-arts-gifts-2013-2014.

           Holiday wallhanging detail