BUTTON BLISS

If you have Magical Powers please reply

If anyone reading this blog post happens to have magical powers, or at least a direct phone line to God, I need some help. I would really appreciate it if you could add another 4 hours to each day please. I am not fussy, I don't mind if they come at the start of the day, smack-bang in the middle or at the end but 4 extra hours please. It would also be wonderful if you could freeze everyone else for that time, so I can work without phone calls from school, appointments to keep, and gorgeous five year olds might actually stop talking for a few seconds.

Thankyou

Okay so I know it isn't going to happen, but I had to try.

I will admit this past month has definitely been a challenge, with kids playing a round robin game of "I'm too sick to go to school", and with our schools throwing in a few staff development days (read as student free days) for good measure. This past fortnight we welcomed the gastro fairy into our home and it has been.... well...... not fun! It is also sinus-hayfever-asthma time for me, so all in all ours is a pretty ugly household. At the height of all this hilarity hubby calls me from his 7th floor motel suite on the NSW coast to tell me he can see whales breaching at sea.

 

WHALES !! I can't tell you exactly the words I used to describe my "joy" for him, but I doubt the whales will be mentioned again any time soon! Hopefully we are at the end of it all and it will be smooth sailing from now til Christmas. PLEASE!

While all this has gone on, of course the stitching world has kept spinning, and I am crazy busy trying to fill orders for everyone. Most people have been understanding that I am a Mum to four sick kids FIRST, but a couple have been a bit mean about it, which makes it hard. 

I did manage to squeeze in a weekend at the Anam Cara Sewjourn. Brenda Ryan, Libby Richardson from Artsmart Cottage and myself were teaching for the day, and had a fantastic time. The lovely ladies from Anam Cara Patchwork,  Rhonda, Debbie and Julie really did a great job organising the day. I attended last year as a participant and was so excited to be asked to teach this year. I finally met Brenda Ryan who is just lovely. Her creative mind goes at the speed of sound, and she has so much experience in the textile world, plus she's hilarious to talk to! I met up again with Libby and we had a chance to chat about our worlds, designing and buttons and her new studio (SOOOOOOO jealous!)
Catherine Baynes from Willow Valley Store was there as well, and we had a lovely little catch up during the day, THEN>>>>>

After the day was over, stitchers had all gone home, Rhonda, Debbie, Catherine and myself all went out for dinner. It was such a happy, fun evening, particularly the floor act provided by a couple of local lads who had drunk way too much and were trying out all their moves on the deserted dance floor. So funny! Then it was off to bed, and home the next day.

  A few weeks ago I was asked to make some angels for a lady who has two Grandbabies in heaven. She wanted angels that were child like for a special memory quilt she was making for her daughter

It took me a long time to get them just right, and I have decided to add them to my store.

On a final note, the last six designs for the Xmas Decorations will be added to my Free Pattern page n my website today (two per download). That will make 12 in total. I hope you are all madly stitching away. 

Hope everyone is happy and well wherever you are, Lock the door if the Gastro fairy comes knocking!!!

Hugs

Lisa

-x-

Free patterns, new buttons and a whole month to catch up on.

Hi to everyone. You have all been so wonderfully patient with me and I have some lovely goodies to show and share.

I do apologize for my "no-post" attitude, family stuff, four kids with colds and two craft shows mean there has not been a great deal of free time. But I'm back, ready and rip-roaring so lets gets busy!

Firstly new buttons to oooh and aaah over.

Little Boys will love these trucks , they are also in Yellow and black but didn't make it to the photo shoot in time :-)

 

A couple of posts back I showed you new big fat cupcakes, but something about them just wasn't right...

I decided to have a restyle... and look how pretty!

so much yummier, with silvery frosting on the coloured cakes and just the palest colours on the creamy cakes. These are also in Purple, and cream on purple... haven't decided if I need blue or green yet ?

I am much happier with them in this new prettier paintwork.

I have already two different scissors in my range, but I bought a new pair of snips a few weeks ago and loved the shape of them, so here are my gorgeous new embroidery scissors in a button.

With Christmas fast approaching I have added some little mittens to the collection of Xmas goodies. Here in Australia, you definitely don't need mittens on December 25th, a cool glass of iced water maybe... but in northern parts, Christmas means, cold, snow, and frosty fingers...

 

All heading for the website tonight, if I can keep my eyes open that long. Hayfever has hit and my eyes are itchy and sore.

Lastly I am taking part in this years Angel swap. My recipient is overseas and loves colour so I have been stitching away at this lovely new design made especially for her... Just a little corner to look at of course...

 

I love variegated cotton and am really enjoying stitching for someone else and trying to think of nice ways to bless her day. So that's all my show and tell.

I have uploaded my next two sets of patterns in my Christmas Decorations. There are three more to come, so get started and whip up some little treasures...I'd love to see photos when you have- I'll even start a blog gallery for them!

Mum and Dad have been on the road with their trusty caravan, taking Button Bliss to the Craft Alive Shows in Mildura and Broken Hill. They have had a ball as travelling salesmen, Mum knows what she's doing as she's been to every one of my shows, and Dad is the willing apprentice. From all reports, women love a man wearing a Button Apron!! I couldn't run Button Bliss and still have time to enjoy my family life, so a huge thankyou to Mum and Dad for taking these shows on for me!

Hope you are all happy and well, I promise to not leave it so long before my next entry, 

Hugs

Lisa

-x-

It's a BEARY happy day

Even when you are really, really, reeeeaaaallllyy cranky, somehow a gorgeous little bear can bring a goofy smile to your face. Teddy Bears, Bears and cuddly friends have been the focus of love and adoration of children since time began!I have a lovely antique bear button to show you. His name is Billy and I have him as a small button, and as a brooch. He is just gorgeous.

 

I just love his gentle smile, he looks ready to be plucked off the toyshop shelf and taken home by a little person. A great feature button or brooch for a bear collector, creator or simply a teddy hugger! Another very sweet addition to the Button Bliss family.
My lovely friend Carolyn (she who stitches my quilt tops so perfectly) has finished the stitching on Ella, a lovely little Ballerina Bear, in Pink Tutu with a wand and sweet rosettes in her fur.

She is going to be in a couple of things, very pretty for the princess in your house! She is so simple to paint and stitch and any little girl will fall immediately in love. Tomorrow I will show you Ella's first project... Yummy yummy! (and yes! there will be a sneaky little giveaway my bloggy land friends....)

Hugs to all,Lisa

-x-

Very Quick visit today

Hello everyone,

This is just a quick post to send you over to Kellie's post at Don't Look now. She has just released the most gorgeous Lilly Pilly Quilt - it is so pretty it will make you want to cry...and what's even crazier is she is actually going to GIVE AWAY the quilt. Just amazing. You Must go now and Look.

Well go on... off you go, Shoooo!

http://dontlooknow.typepad.com/

 

Ohhh  don't forget you have only one day left to download our free Cupcake Kisses pattern from the free page on the Button Bliss website

Hugs,

Lisa

-x-

Free Cupcake Pattern for everyone

Hi there,

Here is my latest Button Bliss design, a gorgeous tiered cupcake plate, with the yummiest treats ready to eat.

 

Me and my girls had such fun making the cupcakes for the photographs, and they sat impatiently til I said I had enough pics, then they dove in!!!

 

This gorgeous stitchery looks great in a shabby white frame, with a couple of pretty borders and bound, or you could reduce it in size and create a very special recipe journal filled with all your treasured family recipes. It lends itself beautifully to colouring with watercolour pencils or artists chalks (soft pastels), or just choose your favourite DMC threads and let your needle do the talking!

As promised, this pattern is available FREE on my website for just one week. Please remember that normal copyright laws apply, you can download the file for your own personal use only, it is not to be reproduced in any way for sale, nor to be downloaded to another website. I appreciate your respect for this.This is the link---- FREE CUPCAKE KISSES ---- Happy stitching everyone- Make sure you email me some pics of your finished masterpieces,

Hugs

Lisa

-x-

Yummy treats

Are you hungry?

My kids have been off at birthday parties and netball breakups and yummy food is what it is all about.

Of course this sends my little brain into orbit.... licorice allsorts

 

hmm I love peeling the layers apart on these little treasures. (Don't like the green though. I always throw that colour away. My favourite is orange, and the licorice of course)

 

New fat creamy cupcakes for afternoon tea.

Tomorrow I will show you my new cupcake stitchery thingamie and.... you can start stitching it cause for the next week only it will be on my website as a free pattern.

Yay

Hugs to all

Lisa

Back to reality

Hi all,

I know I have been a naughty girl, not blogging for a few weeks. Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans, or making other buttons in my case.

A great big hi there and hello to all the wonderful people we met at Craft Alive in Wagga Wagga this weekend. It was heaps of fun, with Mum and I manning the Button Bliss stand and Sarah keeping her Poppy organised and occupied!

I have lots of yummy new buttons to show you. I have had SO MUCH FUN with my paint box this month. Christmas is featuring rather heavily!

Firstly I have some new additions to the Advent tags/ Christmas tree deccies

I promise everyone I will have these and all the advent tags on my website before tomorrow morning. I have painted the back of each tag cream so you can add a message, or allocate a tag to each member of your family. YAY.

Also new, and already on the Button Bliss website are these gorgeous guys.

 

    

Santa and his little elves are entirely hand painted, SO cute. I just want to kiss those little elfy cheeks!

The Night Before Christmas is probably the most well known and well loved Christmas story, apart of course from Mary and Joseph's little adventure.

 

Santa, Elves and The stockings Were Hung are large enough to attach a brooch back, they'd make a great gift for the friend or Relative who has everything, or who never seems to take their Christmas lights down

New swirly hearts and stars

     

These are approx 2.5cm, and would look amazing on Cards or Gift Tags.

Okay, enough Christmas for now??? Our youngest Sarah had her birthday in mid July, and all she really wanted to have at her party was icecream ( yes it was a bitterly cold, rainy day OF COURSE!) However it inspired me to make a few little icecreams of my own. I did try to make Choc chip and spearmint choc chip - trust me... they didn't look appetizing.

 

Here in the land of Oz we don't really do much Halloween (although it doesn't stop the discount shops from trying to sell us all the decorations..) But in honour of our US stitching friends, plus a few witchy friends of mine, I have made a witch on her broomstick, a scaredy cat and a ghostie.

Okay. I think that's everything for now. I have been busy haven't I?

A big thanks to everyone who commented on my last post. I promised a giveaway, so the five winners randonly chosen ( ask kids and hubby their favourite number) are Sarah, Bev C, Julie, Angela and Marica. I will be emailing each of you for your postal details.

Next week we have a new giveaway, plus very important secret info about a freebie project of the month, STAY TUNED

Be happy,

Lisa

-x-

What a Beautiful Day - Time for a Give Away!

Hi everyone. Gosh it's a gorgeous day. The sky is the prettiest blue and as we've had so much rain everything is green and clear. The little birdies have come out to play in the trees and every cat n the street is sitting on the footpath, eyes closed, facing the warm sun.
Craft Alive Wodonga was a great success, with lots of laughs, coffee and carrot cake. Some familiar faces from last year popped in to visit and we met many new friends eager to start their stitching addiction! As always Mum and I enjoyed our time together without little people demanding time and attention.  At the end of the month Craft Alive will be in Wagga Wagga at the showgrounds, so if you are within driving distance, come along and visit.
The kids are happy to have "normal"mum back for a couple of weeks. Today I am taking all the girls to Ice Age 3 - I will admit that I want to see it as much as they do. I just love the little squirrel...so determined to get that acorn, and he never, ever gives up. Jack is too cool to come with us.. it is 8 minutes before midday and he has only just wandered down the hall, he has truly mastered the art of the teenage sleep-in.
Yesterday was spent trying to unpack everything from the craft show, but in amongst it all, I managed to cut and paint my second thread holder.

It's soft and pretty, with 9 holes for embroidery floss or ribbons or whatever you like. 12cm wide, it will fit easily into a sewing pouch or a pattern packet, and I have double-sealed all edges (including inside the holes) to ensure your threads are safe from tannins and resins.
To celebrate such a glorious day, I am giving away 4 of these pretty hearts. Just add a comment to the blog and I will do a blind draw on Friday evening. (if you prefer you can have my antique sewing machine thread holder... your choice- I love them both)

I have finally got around to listing lots of new items (including these holders) on my website, so if you haven't visited for a while, pop into the Button Bliss website and check it all out. I have over 450 buttons in my range now- not bad when I started three years ago with 12 buttons hand cut on a scroll saw!!!
Hope everyone is happy and well, where ever you are,
Happy stitching
Lisa
--x--
Special Buttons for special projects!

STOP!

Unfortunately this message is only for one person. When I design something new, I love to list it on my blog and my website.
Sadly there is an Aussie designer who loves to visit my blog and "borrow" my ideas.
From Thread holders to button designs, stitchery verses etc, her collection of my ideas is growing.
So, to that person... please STOP!
Many thanks
Lisa
A big Hi There and HELLO to everyone else

Time for a quickie

Hi again,
I have to start packing the car for Craft Alive, but I HAD to pop in and show you something.

Sorry for the large photo- hard to fit them all in

I had the designs for these drawn up months ago and never got round to cutting them. I found them in my button files yesterday, tweaked a little here and there, and presto! 24 Christmas tags. I know I sketched an Advent calendary stitchery thingo at the time.... Hmmm I wonder where it is. That will be a job for next week.
I'm off now to pack the car. Happy stitching everyone
Lisa
--x--
Button Bliss
Special Buttons for special projects
www.buttonbliss.com