BUTTON BLISS

Count Down

Santa has been, the presents unwrapped, far too much yummy food eaten, perhaps a glass or two of wine has been drunk, and many "Merry Christmas"es have been said to family and friends. We have swum, snoozed and eaten some more. The kids are waterlogged and happy, the cats are EXTREMELY well fed and happy, the dishwasher is groaning and begging for a reprieve. The tree looks a little worse for wear, now that Sarah has eaten all the candy canes, and everyone is content.

With just three days left of the decade, I am feeling a little nostaglic, and also awestruck by how much can change in a short space of time. The term 9/11 meant absolutely nothing ten years ago, yet now it needs no explanation. Blogging in the mainstream was unheard of, texting was for an elite few, and we mostly still used film in our cameras (and took 22 blurry, out-of-focus shots with two good ones per roll!).

Ten years ago, I had my first child about to start school, with two littler ones still at home, I had never painted anything or pieced anything. I never dreamt I would be stitching at all let alone designing. And yet here we are, with an extra little person in our midst (** happy sigh!!**) a workroom bursting at the seams with bugs and butterflies, owls and angels. My baby boy who was just embarking on his school life is now 15. Yep, 15 and every bit the broody, moody technology driven stereotype you see on TV. My girls are growing up, far too fast and I am slamming my feet on the floor trying to find the brake pedal.

What the next ten years will hold is a mystery, but I hope they will be peaceful, filled with joy and love (and just a few more buttons).

Hugs to all, I hope you all have continue to enjoy a safe and happy holiday break. Big new plans are heading this way next year so stay tuned.....

Love,

Lisa

 

 

Masterchef and an angelic teaser

hello everyone!

We in the Young household have an obsession. It dominates many conversations, dreams and fantasies. Even Miss 5 has been known to join in. In fact, she is the one most obsessed.

We are..... Masterchef Groupies!

There. I've said it. Cat's out of the bag, you all know now! Food is very very important. We talk about ingredients, and sauces, pastries and fillings. Sarah is totally devoted to Julie (winner of Australian Masterchef), but thinks Poh had some good ideas too. Didn't think much of the pigs head, but the all time winner, subject of much discussion, planning and daydreaming was the Croquembouche. Delicate little choux pastry puffs, filled with pastry cream, dipped in hot toffee and arranged in a tower.

So yesterday, my two youngest girls and I created our own masterpiece.

 

It has been a long time since I made toffee, and it took longer than I thought, filling those little puffs was an adventure, but the girls faces when the tower was complete was just priceless. We had no burnt fingers as I decided a carving fork could be used to dip the puffs in boiling hot toffee. Only one puff didn't make it so I figured it wasn't a bad effort. The photo was taken before we drizzled it with a chocolate sauce. Grandparents arrived and we devoured it with vanilla icecream.

The verdict, I must say was, the anticipation was better than the actual eating of the croquembouche, but we had lots of fun. With the Masterchef cookbook in-house, I believe the next culinary adventure is going to be salt and pepper calamari. YAY!

I have also been busy designing and painting and stitching. Here is a little teaser for you all. Button Club Members will be receiving them as a little post Christmas treat, and everyone else will need to wait til mid January.

 

 

Hope you are all ready for the big red dude to squish his way down the chimney. As Sarah keeps telling me FOUR MORE SLEEPS TIL SANTA!!

Hugs

-x-

Lisa

check out my new little owlies, in all sorts of colours. They kinda make a Christmas tree :-)

Forget Frankincense and Mryhh, I need a panadol and a holiday!

It started off bright and early! So early in fact that the sun was struggling to join us. I was woken by a sweet little angel child, face droopy from sleep , not more than 2 inches away from my face. "MUM!! I want number 15!" she says. Huh?  It took a while for the cogs to turn, more urging, pushing and poking from Sarah, but I dragged my body out from my snuggy bed to find the Advent Calendar. "I can do it myself" " I need help" "don't do it all" .. yep that's how I like to start my day off!

As our oldest two treasures are already on holidays it takes a mammoth effort and no small amount of threats to get treasure no.3 (DD 11) to rise and shine. She then shared her displeasure with me for an hour before stomping out the door. "Have a beautiful day sweet pea". I didn't think!

Get Sarah dressed for her last ever day of kindergarten, argue over whether she really needs to wear the tiara again (she wins), Away we go, pull into the carpark, NO kinder bag, home we go. Return to kinder amid tears that she has missed the party (she did not), that we didn't find her most beautiful shoes (apparently the shoes she was wearing were "not very, very beautiful")  Deliver her to the class room, race home to put the washing on the line.

ARRGGHHH who left a tissue in their pocket? The grass under my Clothesline now has a fresh white flakey seaonal flair. Sweep the floor, lose the keys, find the keys and back to kinder for the parent concert and general thankyous etc etc.....

The highlight of which was when the person responsible for buying flowers for the three women who have been the teachers this year arrived with two bouquets, and forgot to acknowledge the second assistant entirely. You know, sometimes you just should do the job yourself if you want it done right! Kisses goodbye to much loved teachers and more tears, woeful faces and declarations of undying love for Callum and Tannith!

Home again, in time for a crisis call from a friend in need. More tears, and I (because I'm a nice person) brought her two little children home with me so she could have some time to herself.

Spent the next two hours referree-ing between a 3 yr old and two 5 yr olds over whose turn it is to push the putton on the Wiggles music book, who gets the red cup and who gets the blue one, who can be the Mum and who can be the pet dolphin (???) and providing jam sandwiches to all who desired them.

Kids go home,

I try to get some work done on my website but - UH-OH They've changed every way of adding new products. My head hurts. I can't make sense of it. I can't absorb new information. I'm an old dog, and I LIKE my old tricks. I don't want new ones. Write frantic emails to the support forum begging for help. Cry and yell at computer. Cry and yell at kids. Cry and yell at Cats (they cared not!)

Think I will go and sit on the pool step to cool off and calm down.

HA! I have left the solar heating vent open for two days , and the pool is hot. Not just warm .... sticky, uncomfortable, unpleasant, 45 degrees hot. Nothing refreshing there.

We pack the car and head off to the primary school end of year concert. It started at 5.30 out on the dusty oval in the blazing sun, singing started at 7pm and by 9pm I was ready to kill someone. It was hot and sticky, kind of like my pool, if my pool also contained 400 other sweaty sticky people. 

Parents who started off at 5.30pm as patient as Mother Theresa were growling and swatting their little blessings by the end. Adults who had sat quietly to watch their own children's performance, for some reason didn't feel the need to express the same courtesy to other classes.

Yes it was tedious. Two whole hours of watching groups of kids wave tinsel in the air. 

I am all for Silent Night and Away in A Manger, but in a school with 14 classes, each with an act, it was a lessen in love and patience. Of course the littlest one wanted to go play on the monkey bars (not allowed during the concert) so she was pretty feral, with a family size bag of potato chips and a bottle of coke to keep her occupied/happy - it did not work.

Finally after several flower presentations, speeches which could not be heard over the PA system and too many people all crammed into a hot dusty mess, we headed home.

All I wanted was a cup of tea and some breathing space. Peace , quiet, a shower!  Some peanut butter toast and my lovely warm bed.

Lucky a day only lasts a day, then we can wipe the slate clean again and move on.

Today is going much better.

I dare you all to not smile at this cranky puss

Nearly Christmas

Hi all, I know you all thought I had left the planet but I am still here, as always, there are background rumblings in the household which make it difficult to concentrate on the very important world of buttons. However, I am a stubborn little possum and have hung on to my lovely buttons and sanity, and am slowly and carefully drifting back to earth. Thankyou again for the lovely emails and comments nudging me gently back to blogland (and some not so gentle :-) )

So, here I am, coffee in hand on a Sunday morning. I'd love to tell you the birds are cheeping and the smell of fresh cut grass lingers in the air, but I'd be lying. The drone of my laser machine fills the air, and frankly all I can smell is burning MDF and 15yr old boy's sneakers... ah the serenity!

Firstly I must show you all the lovely goodies my stitchers angel sent me. I participated in the angel swap, run by Helen from Hugs and Kisses. My angel was a little stressed out that she got a "professional" stitcher as her partner . HAHAHAHA, if only she could see how unprofessional and disorganised I truly am. Here is a pic of my goodies

 

The green and brown bag is exactly my colours and it has become my new go-everywhere bag. It is the perfect size and has pockets all around the outside. The little candle holder at the front is so cute, along with a sweet little needle case. Poor Carolin apologized over and over, but with all of my own designs, I did not own one of these at all, so I was really excited about it. My favourite thing... is the gorgeous paisley bag at the back. Hmm, yes the handle is too short to be a handbag, It is a lunch bag! It is GORGEOUS! With a Plastic coated fabric lining and plenty of insulating wadding, this is the coolest, most adorable lunch bag I have ever seen. My girls immediately started arguing over it, but I am the Queen of our household and it's MINE all MINE!!!!! It even has a strap inside to hold a drink bottle in place. Very very pretty, and Paisley... who could ask for more?

Next on my list of essential things to share. Sarah's graduation. She has been in kindergarten all year ( 12hrs a week) and last Friday was her graduation. All the kids looked so adorable in mortar boards and gowns. Here she is solemnly shaking her teacher by the hand

and look how proud she is

 

All of our children have attended the same kindergarten, so it was a little bitter sweet to sit in the audience for the last time watching our baby sing her songs. She is off to big school next year and is so ready to go, I on the other hand still call her my newborn, I mean she is barely walking right? Right??? Ah,  Denial is a happy place to live!

The button realm has been crazy over the past month, no time for designing as I try to fill the many pre-Christmas orders that have come along. My fingers are permanently stained from cleaning off all the newly cut buttons, and I am dreaming about the machine at night. Thankfully it has not given up and needed a holiday like it did last year (** lisa shivers**) and I talk to it in a soothing voice to coax it along.

However I have been drawing a little and have plans for some very yummy new buttons in the new year, when the craziness of Christmas has passed, plus an exciting new quilt design.... if I can convince Carolyn to piece the quilt top for me. I have told you all before, I can draw the design, I have great ideas, but I cannot get little bits of fabric to match up. The only quilt I can successfully put together is a brick quilt, although I suspect the crazy patchwork would be right up my alley!

And so on to plans for Christmas. Clark Griswald  I mean Jason has been back on his roof putting up Christmas lights and the girls have decorated the tree. I will confess at this point that I am a little bit of a control freak when it comes to tree decorating, but this is the first year where they have decorated it themselves and I haven't moved anything. Not even the patch where there are 8 red decorations in the space of 20 cm and it looks uneven, I haven't moved all the non-co-ordinated decorations around to the back so they are there but not really! The star atop the tree is a little crooked and I'm not sure reindeer made out of pegs are the classiest of decorations but they love it , so I do too!

I hope you are all enjoying the festive season. It is frantic and crazy , and sometimes far more stressful than fun, but hopefully, somewhere in amongst the craziness you all have the chance to enjoy time with family and friends.

Hugs to all,

Lisa

-x-

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-