Ceramic buttons and more birthday delights

This weekend was spent in one of my favorite places to spend a weekend, Ginny Cottage, home of Sarah, Tom, Steph and Will. Saturday was Will's birthday and a fine old time was had by all, and as Steph and Will were in Cornwall last weekend during my own birthday festivities, a bag of all sorts of lovely stuff was awaiting me!

I was first instructed to open the little package that wrapped these beauts! Are they not 3 of the most beautiful handmade buttons you've ever darn well seen?! Stunning and far too special to use for anything other than framing I feel, although Steph did tell me they are machine washable! I would never dare put these fragile little loves through the ordeal of a washing machine though of course!

I also got a rather lovely (not to mention my first) vintage cameo brooch!

A starfish from the fore mentioned Cornwall, which will take pride of place (along with my french jars!) in my bathroom! A lovely gold carved bangle, which is the most perfect fit, and finally a beautiful vintage hanging glass decoration which I can't wait to hang in the window with all my others! Thank you again Steph and Will! I have been so terribly spoilt this year and I've loved every minute!

Worlds Smallest Buttons?

The smallest buttons come in the smallest jars...

Click to enlarge and see just how tiny these beauts are! I especially love the little heart shapes!

The smallest of the lot...can you see it? Not sure I could even get a needle through it!

Love them, Thanks Sarah and Tom!

Retro Tins and Haberdashery Haul

It's been a pretty good haul this year I must say, I finally got around to taking some photos this morning, although this is by no means all of it! I will start with one of the first presents I got, from lovely Sarah and Tom!

Beautiful retro weetabix tin which will be full of Weetabix soon! But arrived to me full of all sorts of goodies including the tinnie tiny buttons (which I will post separately as it is button Friday!)

Another retro tin, full of ribbons in stunning colours! Oh and the fabric these items are on also came in the tin, Sarah you know me all too well!

Pretty coloured pencils and a lovely big rose, there was also the most amazing silk scarf which I haven't taken off all week and the daintiest locket earrings which I haven't been able to photograph yet. Thank you lovelies!

Then I got these beautiful french glass jars for the bathroom from Holly, they are just lovely, exactly what I've been looking for to class up my bathroom and oh so fitting with my forthcoming trip to Paris, how did you know Holly?! Thank you!

Then came the Cath Kidston haul, and it was a goodun this year! These came courtesy of my boyfriends family, you spoil me, all of you!

Isn't this just heavenly!? Two tea towels in such stunning colours and roses, almost makes me what to do some washing up, almost...

Now this apron is giving me the urge to do some serious baking! Its the most beautiful faded vintagey print, just gorgeous!

No Cath Kidston haul would be complete without a new bag! The photo does not do the colour justice, its the most stunning shade of teal with vintage polka dots! Thank you Jackie, Conal, Cat, Luke and the boys, who also got me some lovely earrings!

My parents who had already spoilt me with my trip to Paris also got me 'The Art of Tim Burton' which is an amazing coffee table book and will forever take pride of place on our antique coffee table! Here are a few shots from inside...

Sketches for Edward Scissor Hands

Artwork for Sweeney Todd, done 20 years before he made the movie.

Sketches of his characters from 'The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy: And Other Stories' Which is a brilliant book of short stories and poems written and illustrated by Burton.

 

This is my favorite painting in the book, I personally think it is a self portrait of himself and Helena Bonham Carter. Its really is such a stunning book and he is a true artist through and through!

My second book of my birthday was from my lovely man who spoilt me once again! 'The Homemade Home'

Its got some lovely projects in the book as well as 'quick ideas' on how to personalise your home and belongings, It's not solely a sewing book either, it has a range of different craft techniques with easy to follow instruction. Would defiantly recommend even if only for the beautiful pictures!

Also from my boyfriend came this beautiful birthday Tusker! I have quite a collection now but its always lovely to add another to the shelf. I just wish I could have a tiny little elephant wrapped up in polka dot paper, I think my heart would explode!

Thank you so much to everybody for all my gifts and for making my 21st so very special, hopefully I will get around to photographing the rest in due time! But until then its good to be home!

Busiest weekend of my life!

This really has been the busiest weekend of my life! On Thursday we had the dress rehearsal for our graduate fashion show and the big event was on Friday. All 3 shows went really well, a few hiccups here and there but that is to be expected really. I have some videos of the show (which will go up if I can work out how) and will hopefully be able to steal a few photo's off of friends to show you soon.

Then Saturday was the big move from Lincoln to Norwich and then out for dinner, drinks and dancing with my lovelies to celebrate my turning 21 at midnight!

Sunday (my actual birthday) we went off to the beach as it was such a lovely day, but alas it was pretty chilly by the coast but had a nice BBQ on the beach and got a little tan, so not a wasted day by any means! I went to my parents Sunday night for a lovely roast and to receive my surprise present which had been driving me to madness for the past 3 months, I am useless with surprises, I just need to know! It came in a rather small envelope with a ticket that informed me I was off to Paris for a mini break! I cannot wait to trawl the flea markets for vintage buttons and fabrics! I will probably come home with some massive piece of antique furniture strapped to the eurostar too! Thanks Ma and Pa, you're legends!

I got lots of lovely stuff and sometime this week I shall show you the haul (which includes a fair bit of Cath Kidston, naturally) I also received a selection of what has to be the smallest buttons in the world! Once I can bring myself to open the beautifully wrapped jar I will take some photos of them too!

And finally today I received an email to inform me that I had won 2nd place in a glove design competition I entered around Easter! It was a British Glove Association competition to design a child's winter glove, this was my design...

Naturally it involved polka dots and a couple of pretty floral prints!

Hope you had a delightful weekend too!

Something for the Boys

I decided to make something for the boys, in the form of cufflinks! My boyfriend actually wore the blue ones to his graduation last week, I was very proud! I've just started out with blue and green polka dots, but more colours and patterns may follow. If there are any boys (or girls) out there please feel free to give suggestions on what sort of colours and patterns you think would work best for cufflinks! 

Polka.Button Earrings

I finally got round to taking some pictures yesterday of the earrings I've made recently using the polka dot buttons I posted about before and some vintage lovelies I found at Lincoln's Affordable Vintage Fair.

Lovely pinky coral polka dot buttons, also available in purple...

Bright pink and slightly larger buttons

Diddy lilac polka dots, also available in black and red for a more retro twist!

Beautiful vintage buttons, the detail on these is so lovely!

Some more vintage ones, photos do not do these buttons justice, they are a beautiful amber which catch the light magnificently

Coming soon to a folksy store near you! But if you cant wait for that then just message me for more details!

Have a lovely weekend!

Vintage Kimono Silk Buttons and Shoes

These are some buttons I made for my final collection using vintage kimono silks. The fabrics are sooo lovely and I have alot more left over from my collection, so when I have abit more time I will be turning the beauts into buttons and then some of those buttons into jewellery!

Today I was working on some shoes for my collection, I'm going for flat sandels or bare foot, won't really know until the dress rehersal on Thursday. These are just some basic flip flops wrapped in fraying strips of kimono silk, I really like how they turned out!

With Love from Japan

I've mentioned my collection a few times, but not really said what is all about! So here is a sneak peek...

As you have probably gathered from the post title, my collection is intitled 'With Love from Japan' and is a Spring/Summer 2011 collection.

My mood board

This photo was taken before my critique last week and I didn't really have time to take many photos, so they are not the greatest quality by any means, but I really love these two outfits, and don't these ladies look lovely in them!?

The collection uses vintage kimono silks in the most beautiful prints and a selection of jersey and viscose. Its mostly grey jerseys with splashes of blues and purples from the kimono silks. It has a soft romantic mood with very flattering shaping and fabrics. Hopefully when I have more time (once this fashion show is done!) I will upload the rest of the collection and any photos from the fashion show itself!

Crochet Notebooks

How fast time does fly! Since my last post I've been very busy working on my final collection for the University of Lincoln fashion show on the 21st of May. Only a week to go ekk! If you want to have a look at past shows or even come along if your in the Lincolnshire area then visit Coming into Fashion for more information.

Aswell as working on my collection and portfolio I have managed to squeeze in abit of non uni related sewing Introducing the Crochet Notebook!

For anyone who loves to crochet or is just starting out, this hook rool/notebook is so handy! Crochet is the perfect travelling hobby and this organiser makes it that much easier. Or it can simply be used as an ideas journal, to keep in your handbag for those inspirational moments out and about, with a few pens and pencils stashed in it! Inside is a notebook for jotting down stitches and ideas etc, and 4 pockets of various sizes suitable for tiny or chunky hooks and pens. Organiser has a flap at the top to secure your hooks, pens and notebook, it’s all tied up with a pretty ribbon and finished with a handmade Polka.Button label! 

I love this William Morris print cotton with the little touches of pink in the flowers and the olive velvet ribbon is so yummy! Inside it looks like this....

If you click on the photo to enlarge you will hopefully be able to see the embroidery detail on the pockets.

Another beautiful print (I do love my florals!) stunning colours of pink, lilac, jade and amber and more pretty ribbon, this time in the form of polka dots!

If you would like to commission a crochet notebook then please drop me a line for more details! Otherwise there will soon be a range of notebooks available on my folksy store.