Who Remembers?

This week we celebrated a big milestone at Button Central. It was the two year anniversary of Mr Button's kidney transplant. We celebrated with some together time and we thanked in a very small way, our super hero donor. We reflected, we gave thanks and we counted our many blessings.

Over the weekend, I've been thinking about Remembering (please note the capital R!). We will always remember the transplant anniversary. I think the Little Buttons will eventually remember the stories but perhaps the date and some of the details will be hazy. I know without a doubt that they will remember and thank our hero. Our closest family and some of the squillions of extended family and friends Remember. A good many friends don't because life goes on and the healthy, vital Mr Button becomes the new norm which, is kind of nice, too. What I have found quite surprising this week, is that many, many people who are not intimately connected with us, Remembered. They asked after Mr Button and his donor, they marveled at his excellent health and the changes this gift brought to our family, and they talked about organ donation.

It's not easy to share something so momentous as this. Sometimes talking about it can be difficult and feel a bit invasive. Sometimes you worry that people are tired of listening or may even be judging your choices and actions. Sometimes you want to forget about the icky stuff for a while. Then I Remembered that our talking about it has led many other people to talk about it - people who may otherwise never have discussed organ donation with their families and friends. Maybe someone will register as an organ donor because we've shared our story.

That would be grand, because, WE WILL FOREVER REMEMBER the good and great gift that our hero gave Mr Button. A gift given to one, Remembered by many.

If you're looking for something to do today, the 4th of November, you will find Mrs Button at Kaleidoscope Markets - Lake Kawana Community Centre from 8.30am till 1.00pm.

She would love it if you popped in to say hello.

Posted by the dutiful Mr Button :)

P.S. Caloundra didn't look like this on Thursday, but there is always next month! Maybe I can convince Mr Button that I need a couple of days in Caloundra before each market!

1 Year Today

Today is an anniversary. One year ago, this happened. There are no words big enough, deep enough or grand enough to describe the depth of gratitude and love we feel towards Mr Button’s donor. We think of her every day, she is always in our prayers and we love her to the moon and back.

You are our hero. You made this happy and healthy life with our Daddy possible. You are deeply loved.

Tuesday Treasures

When we went looking for a new house, it was almost the end of winter and as we drove past our current home, a wallaby was sitting in the front yard watching us. I was sold before we even stopped the car! I made a bit of a pretence at looking about and kicking the tyres, so to speak, but there was no doubt that this was where we were meant to be.

Mr Button is a bird lover and watcher. We live amongst a gazillion trees and can always find something to watch as we sip a cup of tea on the deck. Today, my treasure is my view.

Pop over and sit awhile with Clare to find some more treasures.

Thought for Thursday

Soulmates are people who bring out the best in you. They are not perfect but are always perfect for you.

Anonymous

Happy Anniversary, Soulmate! Thank you for this lovely life. xxx

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.

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!

Flea Market Finds

My Flea Market Finds cost the princely sum of $2 at a school Trash 'n' Treasure market. There has been a great deal of familial debate as to the purpose of the items. Mr Button assumed they were an abstract table ornament of some kind and was surprised to learn they were just resting on the table en route to the sewing room. The 6yr old button thought they were a small clothesline for the dolls.
The female, 2yr old, button thought it was some kind of bubble wand.

The male, 2yr old, button recognised the potential of those clips and proceeded to snap all and sundry whilst making wild, crocodile noises.

Of course, I am sure you've worked out that with a coat or two of white paint, these will make excellent displays for hair ties and hair clips on the Cute as Buttons market table.

For more Flea Market Finds, visit Sophie over here.

Didn't We Have A Lovely Day?

Thank goodness it is a Public Holiday in my neck of the woods today. Yesterday was a wonderful, completely exhausting day and we needed a little bit of recovery in the form of a long weekend. It was the Kids and Pets Big Day Out at the Boutique Markets at Hamilton. Quite literally, every man and their dog was there to join in the fun. Mr Button, the Little Buttons and Nanny Button also came along. The petting zoo was a hit and so were the crazy antics of the balloon, bending man. We were also lucky enough to be beside Marcus the guidedog who was patted and admired often and well by the young and old alike.

Part of the programme for the day was a fashion parade. We tried to prepare the little ones for the event by chatting about what would happen. We practiced walking down the red carpet when no one was watching. We got ready with time to spare so no one was rushed or stressed. We were somewhere in the middle of the pack so they could watch and see what they needed to do. Leasl announced it was our turn. Two of the Little Buttons sashayed their way down the carpet with big smiles, but, the third was nowhere to be found. Will decided to take to his heels and was found in the dressing tent stripping himself to his nappy. It would seem some of us are just not meant to be in the spotlight!

Image: Renee

Happily, we did manage to get some clothes on him a bit later. He even made a brief appearance on the red carpet albeit to kiss one of the canine models. My crew stayed around to help me pack up and thanks to a brief tutorial from Jules of Earthly Jewels, Mr Button has now mastered the art of dismantling a marquee. This is a skill I intend to put to great use. It really was a lovely, happy, day!

Hello Out There

Hello and welcome to the new followers out there. Hello and THANKS A BUNCH to the old followers who have been patiently awaiting this post. Before I launch into a very image heavy recap of the last couple of weeks, I would love some advice on juggling. No, not the small ball kind (although that would probably win me big Brownie points in the Prep classrooms this week) but,

Blogging/Facebook/Crafting/Marketing/PARENTING/Day Job (ie. odd bits of relief teaching when Mr Button can be home to mind the wee folk)/Finding time to cover grey hair, trainingwith the Mad Exercise

Fiend

Friend, waxing legs,

kind of juggling. Really, how do you do it? All advice gratefully received and happily acknowledged! I've noticed a few of us having this conversation of late so I am eager to hear from the wise women and men who are part of our world.

It's been a busy but delightful couple of weeks, the Mothers Day Boutique market was loads of fun and was made even nicer by a visit from Mr Button and the Little Buttons. The day was quite festive in feel and I really enjoyed myself.

The Handmade Expo in Ipswich was one of those perfectly clear autumn days that remind you just how lucky we are to live in this part of the world. I set up next to Sandra-Ann Millinery and was greatly entertained as the locals selected their exclusive creations for the Ipswich Cup. Micky modelled hers beautifully and I hope I haven't let the cat out of the bag too soon. I stocked up on min nah bottoms for the Littlest Buttons who seem to have grown about 15cm in a matter of weeks. The girls have introduced a new little skirt which is very cute with tights. Molly thought she was it and a bit in her outfit over the weekend.

I have finished some more name towels for orders and am about to start work on another batch tonight. I am working my way through an order for Buzzi 'n Moo. Kylie has asked for a Babushka towel set so that lovely little lady will be making an appearance on towels and I will post some photos of the finished product.

I've been a bit obsessed with kaftan like garments of late, particularly the kind that don't require any ironing so I took a bit of time off from Cute as Buttons sewing and made myself a couple. I was moderately happy with this one:

but, I really think I nailed it with version 2. I know the photos aren't in the least bit helpful in terms of overall look but really, how do you photograph a kaftan nicely?

You can see it in the flesh at the next BiDM which is at St Augustine's on Racecourse Rd at Hamilton on June 5th. I am so happy with it it may just be my market attire on a regular basis. I'm not promising a tutorial but I will pop up a post with some more info about the process a bit later in the week. It is embarrassingly easy compared to some of the other tutorials about the place! I know you said it is easy Steph, so I will eagerly await your next instalment!

Now, as a little reward for reading this far, here is a fast and delicious cake recipe which I made for the Little Buttons afternoon tea. It is a one bowl wonder, which I love, but still moist and light. If you are a gingerbread fan you will really enjoy it. (Note to MEF/aka Deb: I did have one piece but just so I could make sure it tasted alright!)

GOLDEN GINGER SULTANA CAKE

125g softened butter, chopped

1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar

2 eggs

2 cups plain flour

1tspn ground ginger

1 cup golden syrup

1/2 cup milk

1/2 tspn bicarb soda

1/2 cup of sultanas

1/3 cup glace ginger, chopped (I omitted this to prevent small children gagging and complaining)

LINE 20cmx30cm lamington pan with paper

PREHEAT oven to 160C

COMBINE all ingredients except sultanas and glace ginger in medium size bowl

BEAT with electric mixer on low speed to combine

BEAT on medium speed until smooth and changed in colour

STIR in sultanas and chopped ginger

SPREAD into pan and bake for about 55min

COOL on cake rack

SPREAD with cinnamon flavoured icing.

I feel like I have just finished War and Peace so I think I shall stop here and head off for a cup of tea and maybe one more slice of that cake.

Raincheck

I'm thinking we Buttons must have stepped on a black cat's tail while walking under a ladder and knocking a mirror to the ground! We've been struck down with a variety of dreaded lurgies and instead of all taking to our beds at once, we seem to be tag teaming. In fact, the healthiest member of the household is the one taking a bucket load of immuno-suppressants which is the good that is coming out of the bad!

I am going to keep my germs to myself tomorrow and won't be at the Boutique Markets. I'm a bit miffed to be missing a catch up with all my market mates but there is always next month! Luckily the BiTM and BiMC are also not far away! If you need something before then, I'm only an email away, cuteasbuttons@aanet.com.au or you can visit the Etsy store over there in the column on the right.

Did It Look Like This At Your House?

Did you have lots of these scattered about the place last night? Wasn't it nice and restful? Thank goodness Earth Hour happens at a time when the Little Buttons are in bed or I don't think I would be using the word restful!

I did a bit of cutting by candlelight and recycled some scraps for the Year 1 collage table. Mostly I just enjoyed the quiet and the lovely scents of the candles as they burned. Something big started crashing about in the bush just as the hour was winding up. Mr Button and I tried to do a bit of spotlighting to discover the visitor but we struck out. It sounded as though it was koala sized which made me happy. I like it when they come to stay in our trees.

Please Select From the Following Options

Hypothetically speaking, if one was to embark on a new project using pre-loved denim jeans and skirts, and, when cutting stars from said denim, one inadvertently picked up a pair of still loved denim jeans which someone had left lying around near the ironing board and proceeded to cut several stars and a couple of large hearts from them, the most appropriate course of action would be:

a) contritely confess the mishap to the owner of the jeans and offer to make reparation

b) reattach the missing pieces of the jeans with a combination of blanket stitch, interfacing and wood glue

c) when questioned about the missing jeans, deliver a stern lecture on the importance of putting things back where they belong and slip a confession in at the end

d) when questioned about the missing jeans, look vague and motion in the general direction of the laundry for the next few months

To see the results of this misadventure, pop along to the Boutique Markets at Hamilton tomorrow. Mr Button's jeans may, or may not, be there as well!

Sincere apologies for that first sentence. In spite of several attempts to rewrite it, it still sounds like a Dr Seuss book.

The Things We Do For Love

Image: www.eontarionow.com/images/Rain.jpg

It is raining where we live...really bucketing down. Puddles on the road, soggy grass, damp, damp, damp.

It is Kindy sign on at 8am tomorrow. Kindy is an optional year of part time early childhood education for children aged 4-5. Our local C & K Kindy is brilliant. It was a fantastic introduction to formal education for Paddy and we'd love the twins to have the same solid start.

I have only one problem with the place: I started camping out in the line up to sign on, this morning at 8:45am. Yup, you heard me, camping out. Yup, that's right, almost 24hrs before the sign on. Chairs, tents, tarps and port-a-lights on the nature strip. On the plus side, a lovely chance to meet and chat with some of the parents of the twins' future classmates. By the way, did I mention it is raining? Quite a bit, in fact.

Mr Button assisting where possible by stepping in for his turn in the camping out zone. He seemed quite chuffed when I left him there. I think the rigging of tents and tarps in the torrential downpour smacked of a Boys Own adventure and he doesn't mind a bit of that. He was dry at the time. He won't be now. Did I mention it was raining in our neck of the woods?

Thought for Thursday

Laughter is an instant vacation.

Milton Berle

Remember I was telling you about the sewing frenzy taking place around here? Shortly after I wrote about that my trusty Janome threw a hissy fit. I reacted calmly and set about replacing needles and re threading and in a desperate move, cleaned that bobbin area which required unscrewing the plate and pfaffing about with the brush. It was at this point the crisis began. Those wily feed dogs wrapped their tails about their legs and wouldn't go back up. The manual clearly states that for normal sewing to occur the feed dogs must be up - and they weren't. After frantic jiggling, unscrewing, re screwing and gentle coaxing they were still down.

There was no calmness by this stage. Mr Button found me hyperventilating, gesticulating at the 80+ pieces of sewing still needing to be done and laughing maniacally while I rocked back and forth in my chair. Luckily he had his wits about him and suggested we email the sewing machine repair man who lives in our neighbourhood. I shot off an impassioned email detailing the problems, the urgency with which the machine was required and begged for his help. I believe I may have offered to mow his lawn, bake Christmas dinner and give him a pedicure but the details are a bit hazy.

My cry for help sent to cyberspace, I returned to the machine for another look and as I switched it back on, low and behold, the feed dogs were at attention. I asked no questions but threw myself into my work and, to be honest, totally forgot about the repair man.

He phoned today obviously prompted by the urgent tone of my email. I had to report that at this point things seemed to be OK. He sounded a little surprised by the miracle and asked what I had done. He lives a few kilometres away from us but when I gave my reply, I swear I could hear him laughing without the aid of the phone. The phone call was as good as over once I said, "I just turned it on." There may have been more to it but it was hard to hear over Mr Button sniggering in the background.

A Little Thank You

Frenzied sewing seems to be happening all about the place at the moment. We are preparing for two markets this weekend and also filling lots of Etsy orders. Some of our fellow bloggers and marketeers were busy last weekend at the BiDM and are now looking down the barrel of 3 consecutive markets on the coming weekend. It surely is a crazy time of year.

In the middle of all the craziness, Mr Button wanted a gift for one of the doctors who have been taking care of him over the past 6 weeks. She is not too far away from having her first bub so I thought this might come in handy during our hot, hot, summer.

There is more to this story than a simple picture. I have a new arch nemesis: The Ruffle Foot. I shall share more about this epic tale at a later time but for now, I would like to state that no super, whizzbang, machine ruffling was used in this garment and it was not for want of trying. I resorted to a good old fashioned gathering stitch and my own little fingers gathered the fabric. Sometimes you just can't beat the old ways!

Just for fun!

Today I made this for the Molly Button who has recently discovered the joys of twirly skirts. It took no time at all and I am positively delighted with the result and the twirling it provoked. Will Button, twin brother of Molly Button, donned said twirly skirt after it had been discarded and proceeded to name all the Babushkas one by one and have a bit of a twirl himself. At that point Mr Button left the house muttering under his breath and calling all Buttons outside for some rough and tumble. Last I heard, he was explaining that twirly skirts are not acceptable de rigeur for footy.

Of course, one of the side benefits of using this little piece of fabric is being able to make lots of these with the leftovers.

I have three ideas floating in my head for them.

Some more of these cause I do love making them and giving them to people.

Or something like this on a tee to go with the twirly skirt. Please note the date on this post, Kathy had completed Christmas outfits for her twins by November 17 and was finished early enough to blog about it!

I also have a hankering to try something like this. She is, of course, totally correct about the addictive nature of the self covered button. These kits really should come with a warning and a number for some sort of help line.

Making My List and Checking Tonight

Tonight I have tucked 3 very weary Little Buttons into their beds and I am sure I will not be too far behind them. We had a great time at the The Handmade Expo and although we were back in Brisbane collecting our Dad by 11:30 it was exhausting.

Just look what we managed to check off our Christmas List.

Presents for teachers from Mango Wednesday. All we need to do is load them up with some homemade yummies and wrap them in cellophane. I love to give teachers decorations or Christmas china as an end of year gift. As a teacher, I loved receiving them and as I decorate my house for Christmas, I remember all the little people who gave me the ornaments and plates that I use at this magical time of year. Incidentally, one of my favourite Christmas plates was given to me by someone who left for Schoolies this morning! I am sure these little plates will also give years of joy.

Christmas gifts for the nieces from Denim by Deborah.

Christmas gift for my sister from Denim by Deborah.

If Deb starts some sort of Loyalty Card business, I am in like Flynn! This takes my D by D purchase total to 8! Each one has been unique and quite hard to give away...I am sure I could squeeze in another bag or two!

Christmas outfits for the Little Buttons from min nah kids. They are cute, cute, cute!

The boys' outfits will match. I am not sure if I am going to get away with that...I have a feeling there may be mutiny from the 6yr old button! I'll keep you posted.

Sadly, there is no evidence of the biscuits from The Cupcake Ladies, Debbie's delicious Fudge from Heaven or Tina's Moreish and YUMMY, coconut ice, cupcakes. I shudder to think of the POINTS value but it was worth every one!

Molly snaffled some Bubba Chenille pants and a necklace from Handmade Heaven but she has gone to bed with them stashed beside her so the photos will have to wait till another day.

Sharon had a busy day on the Cute as Buttons front although, she seemed reluctant to accept my offer to leave one or two of the Little Buttons behind to assist her with her work! Go figure. Our next market weekend is a Double Header - The Handmade Expo on the 12th December and Boutique Markets on the 13th December. I'm going to make sure my Christmas List is ready and raring to go!

Spot the Buttons

Image: Taryn Newland

The Handmade Expo will be on at the Ipswich Turf Club, tomorrow, Saturday 21st November. Sharon will manning Cute as Buttons as I am still taking a break to care for Mr Button and the family. I will be attending the Expo with the Little Buttons in tow while Mr Button is at the hospital for his daily visit. No doubt you will see and hear us coming from a long way off!

We have great plans for present buying from Bubba Chenille, Denim by Deborah, min nah kids, Fudge from Heaven, The Cupcake Ladies and Mango Wednesday. If you see us, do stop and chat!

I am slowly replenishing the stock for Handmade Heaven. Some singlets and a few Christmas tees made their way there today. More will follow next week. We will be fully stocked with our Christmas range tomorrow so don't miss out! The min nah girls will have co-ordinating bottoms and my advice is get in nice and early to secure that special Christmas outfit.

Image: Rachael Zelensky

From tomorrow, entry to The Handmade Expo is FREE! What more incentive do you need to start your Christmas shopping?

Sunday saw Sharon making an early start to set up for the final Mathilda's Market for 2009. She was run off her feet selling those (see above) and these:

and all the other lovely singlets in our range. They are such sensible and comfortable attire for wee folk during the heat of a Brisbane summer. There were lots of familiar faces and plenty of brand new ones. Stocking up for Christmas seemed to be the order of the day.

If you're stocking up for Christmas, pop over to The Handmade Expo for a chance to win some market cash to help you with your purchases.

You might like to visit Cute as Buttons at the Boutique Markets at Portside on Sunday where Sharon will once again be holding the fort while I tend to Mr Button during his recovery. We are most appreciative of your comments on the last post. He and his donor are continuing to amaze us with their remarkable progress.