Flea Market Finds

Today's Flea Market Find fills me with glee! When I was a little girl, we would visit my Nana and Grandad who lived on a proper farm, cows in the milking shed, hay in the barn, eggs in the hay, chickens in the yard. They lived in an old Queenslander with a wood stove, an enamel basin in the bathroom as a vanity sink and sleep outs on the verandahs. I loved the smell of the farm, wood, metal, fresh bread, clean fire, hay, spices. They didn't modernize or move until the early 1980s and there's a big part of me that wishes they had stayed in the old house.

My Nana was a C.W.A stalwart and an amazing cook. When we visited she would lay the table and serve morning tea. Always, there would be a plate of All Spice biscuits on a Peony Ware platter which I came to love. In a little shop in Ipswich, I found a pin dish in the exact shade and pattern as Nana's. It lives with me now and makes me smile.

If you'd like to see more Flea Market Finds, visit Sophie at Her Library Adventures.

My Creative Space

In my creative space this week, there are hair pretties and brooches getting gussied up and ready for the BiTM next Friday in King George Square. Any that don't find homes on Friday night will be joining Deb and I at the launch of The Butterfly Tree market on the Gold Coast on Sunday, August 1. More details about the markets are here and here. The fabulous host of all this creative goodness is Kirsty over at Kootoyoo.

I also have quite a bit of white fluff lurking in my space this week. My Molly girl goes through a great number of pyjama tops because her damp/wet hair drips all over the neck and makes it wet and erky. I've been trying a few ways to prevent this but wasn't totally happy with any of them and decided to make something to do the job. I don't have a catchy name for it so let's call it an After Shower Cap. It's based on the principle of a shower cap but is made from towelling. After the bath just pop it on the hair for half an hour or so and the towelling absorbs most of the moisture. Like a towel, it can just air dry over a door knob or hook. I'm fairly certain I had something like this when I was a wee one but the details are sketchy and I'll have to confer with Nanny Button.

I've added an applique and some binding because we like a bit of girly bath stuff around here. In spite of Mr Button sniggering and asking where I've hidden the sheep, I'm so darn happy with it I think I might make one for myself and then a few more to take to the markets. I'd really like a better name for it and would love some ideas. If your idea is selected then one of the After Shower Caps will make it's way to your house. Just let me know if you want the Molly size or the Mummy size.

Thought for Thursday

Happiness is like a kiss...you must share it to enjoy it.

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Today was a very happy day at my place. Lots of time in the sun, lovely people about the place and plenty of cuddles and kisses to boot! I hope that you had someone to share your day with and that happiness and kisses abounded.

Tuesday Treasures...just a touch late.

Thanks for thinking of this little game, Clare. I love looking at your treasures and this week I am going to share one of mine. My Godfather and his wife made this for Mr Button and I when we were married. We repainted the hallway just before our twins were born and it has been languishing in the spare room waiting to be reinstated on our wall. Shamefacedly and sotto voce she admits that the twins turn 3 in August. When I found it today I did indeed greet it like a lost treasure!

It's a framed version of a song called Five Little Pennies and has five highly polished Australian pennies along the side. I'm fairly certain Uncle Kev used to do a fair rendition of the Danny Kaye version of the song at family BBQs but you can listen to it here.

It's a treasure because of the time Uncle Kev spent sourcing pennies and scientifically trialling the best means of polishing them to such a glossy finish.

It's a treasure because of the time my Aunty Marg devoted to mastering clip art and word processing!

It's a treasure because it is a beautiful wish to make for a couple as they start their life together.

It's a treasure because it was given with great love!

Market Wrap Up

Oh my, it was a cold and frosty start to The Handmade Expo, yesterday! I am sure that readers from the southern parts are scoffing at the notion and thinking I should toughen up, but, it was so cold, the clever Kellie Christie was wearing gloves when she stopped by to say 'Hi' and I lost count of the number of buttons I dropped because my fingers couldn't hold onto them. Like most Queensland, winter days, it soon became gorgeous and sunny. As the sun came up, the visitors arrived and enjoyed the sights and smells of the Expo.

It was great to catch up with some of my new facebook likers in person and I really appreciated the feedback on the new designs and fabrics. Steph's bunting was oohed and aahed at appreciatively and served as a nifty little distraction for the toddlers while the Mummys shopped. You really must make some more of these, Steph. I'll have to take orders soon!

Mandy and Susan, the Little Buttons gobbled their Gingerbread Pops with great glee and Mr Button would like to congratulate Debbie of Fudge du Ciel on another sterling batch of fudge.

After a day of cuddling, playing, baking and tidying Button central is almost ready for the week ahead. I'll be popping up to visit Liesa in Handmade Heaven to drop off some orders and to restock the Cute as Buttons corner later in the week.

My brain is already ticking with ideas for the BiTM which is not too far away and when the amazing Deb from Denim by Deborah recovers from her weekend of walking we'll have some other exciting market news to share. After walking 96km in 29hrs, we'd better give her until Thursday to recover and we'll tell all then!

My Creative Space

This week marked 100 days of Year 1 for the biggest button. We were asked to dress the centenarians in appropriate attire for the occasion. Whilst Paddy had grand plans for us to sew 100 buttons on a shirt, I managed to sell him on the idea of an appliqued 100 and a bit of legalised graffiti with a 'stain' pen. For clarification on the term 'stain' pen check out this previous post. 'Stain' pens are a highly valued piece of merchandise in the Button household and are currently kept under lock and key for reasons best explained in that post!

My creative space has also been full of lots of these:

in readiness for The Handmade Expo, this weekend, at the Ipswich Turf Club.

Now, if I manage to do something a bit more creative with these:

before Saturday, our new range of Cute as Button tote bags will also be available for purchase. Probably best if I leave things here for the week, the fingers are twitching to get started!

To see the creative worlds of other wonderful folk, pop over to visit Kirsty at Kootoyoo.

The Winner Is...

Kim from Cuggles! Kids. Thank you for your lovely comments, for playing along and for waiting patiently for me to announce a winner. A sick six year old slowed down the drawing of the giveaway and whilst I racked my brain for some Myrtle & Eunice style prize giving, I fell back on our faithful friend, the Random Number Generator.

A trip to Handmade Heaven is on the agenda tomorrow and a lovely, photo filled post will follow. Let me know what you would like Kim, and I will bring your prize to The Handmade Expo on Saturday. I do hope the wood-fired pizza man is stocking up on his kindling.

P.S. Due to my technical limitations, I have managed to insert this widget thingumy-bob but apparently it will change everytime you use it. Be assured #8 was the number that came up when I gave it a whirl and if I paid more attention to Mr Button I could probably fix the thingumy-bob but would you mind just taking my word on it, please?

Cute as Buttons on Facebook

After a fair number of weeks pottering about as myself on facebook, I am feeling like I have the hang of it enough to activate the Cute as Buttons page! Feel free to pop over here to become a fan if you are that way inclined.

To celebrate my foray into this brave, new, world, I will be offering 10% discount on all purchases at the Boutique Markets on the weekend. Just in case our out of town friends would also like to play, I will offer free postage on all Etsy purchases made on Sunday! You will find the link to our Etsy store on the right hand side of the blog. This celebration business is fun!

My Creative Space

Laminated cellophane cut into beakers and test tube shapes as party decorations.

This week my creative space belongs to my sister but I was hanging about the place for some of the goings on so feel that I have some claim to the space if not the creativity! I told you about the Mad Scientist Party she planned for her 8yr old son. It was a great day and a stroke of genius, in my opinion. A party posse of 8yr old boys can be a formidable sight, but, Professor Sumner V kept them happily occupied with the requisite amount of controlled mess, goop slinging and competitive game playing.

Nanny Button sourced many white business shirts from the local op shops to create lab coats for the guests which offered some protection as they hunted in goop to find rocks and spell out a word.

Followed the clues to determine which animals to rescue from the Gelli Baff.

Made and tested paper planes to decide which was the fastest model.

Explored the box of mystery.

And finished with a nail biting relay of volcano exploding.

She planned it down to the last detail and did a fantastic job which is a jolly, good, thing, because her almost 7yr old nephew/godson just told me what he wants to do for his birthday. Luckily for me, I know a scientist who is looking for a new gig!

To explore many more creative spaces, pop over to Kootoyoo and visit Kirsty, the happy, host of this game.

Thought for Thursday

Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

For oodles of enthusiasm and inspiration you can't go past the BrisStyle Eco Market at St Augustine's church on Racecourse Rd at Hamilton. The BrisStylers have outdone themselves with lots of eco friendly wares. Pop over here to check out some of the goodies on offer. I've been taking advantage of the posts to further my Christmas shopping list.

On Sunday there'll be even more inspiration at the Boutique Markets where I'll be enjoying the sun and company of other enthusiastic and talented folk. Do stop in and say, "Hello!".

Flea Market Finds and Giveaway Time!

We are back from our country jaunt and enjoying a cruisy holiday mode which is a pleasant change from the hurly, burly of the school term. When I checked the blog, I was a wee bit excited to see that we were perched at 99 followers. After a luscious, Sunday lunch in the country, Andrea fromOnstage Entertainment leapt on the keyboard and took us up to 100! Next time you are looking for entertainers for a function, give them a call. I've been hoping to get to that number because it seems that in blogland, a giveaway is the customary way to celebrate this milestone so here is mine:

The prize is:

An item of your choice from the Cute as Buttons range.

Some buttons and trim so you can make and play.

Something special from the BrisStyle BiECO which I will select on Saturday.

All followers are welcome to enter. Leave a comment on this post and tell me what you would like to win from the Cute as Buttons range. The competition will be open until 11am on 11th July. I will find some highly interesting, random,way to select a winner. Chances are it probably will be nowhere near as entertaining as this or this.

Andrea, you win a prize because you were number 100. Kate, you also win a prize because you prompted the joining! Let me know what you would like for your wee ones. I would like to say a great, big THANKS, to all those lovely folk who follow and leave comments. I am chuffed and delighted to have you around.

I'd best tell you about my Flea Market Find for the week. It comes with a bit of a mystery. It is an old travelling trunk which my Mum picked up in her fossicking. It seems to be made of a light wood covered in some sort of heavy canvas. The handles are thick, leather and the second photo is of the label inside the trunk. We'd love to know what the AFC abbreviation on the front represents. I've done a bit of googling but haven't turned up anything concrete so far. If you've got any ideas, please share them as we'd love to know a bit more about Lieutenant C.K. Evans.

For more fossicked treasures, visit Sophie at Her Library Adventures.