Spot On!

Popping in quickly to let you know that Elise Hutton has the sharpest peepers of all the Buttons following the blog. She spotted our new Store tab which links to our website. Elise, you may purchase one of our tees for the grand price of $1! I'll make a special listing for you in the store. Email me with your choice and we'll get the ball rolling.

Did you like playing spotto? I'm going to list some spot bargains in the store over the next few days. I'm calling it market reseach! With changes happening to Facebook, I thought some fun and games might give me an idea of who reads status updates and when they read them. Any tricks to help make sense of the crazy world of Facebook are worth their weight in gold. I am fairly sure 'Lil Red' has eagle eyes and fully expect she'll pop up in the games. She's such an enthusiastic player I would love her to win something!

PS. The photo above will give you a little hint of what to look for in the Store.

Spot the Difference!

Over the weekend, I had the chance to finish off a project I've been working on and also made a change to the Facebook page. It's one of those jobs that's been a monkey on my back for months so I thought it might be nice to have a little game to celebrate. If you are so inclined, pop overhere and see if you can spot the difference. The first person to leave a comment with the correct answer on this post can purchase one of these

or any of our other tees for the grand total of $1. Be sure to leave your contact details on your post so I can get in touch with you and let you know if you are the lucky winner.

BiTM's Night Under the Stars

A fortnight ago, I spent a balmy, winter evening in the wonderful company of the BrisStyle gang in King George Square. As I sit here in multiple layers, wrapped in a blanket and sipping tea, it is a little hard to believe that on that night we were wearing short sleeve tees and I even spotted some shoppers in sundresses and tank tops! It was a gorgeous evening with lots of enthusiastic shoppers who were genuinely excited to discover our handmade treasures beneath the twinkling lights.

At the last BiTM I was part of the Co-Op stall. This time around I decided to set up shop in my own marquee and spread out a little. Nanny Button came with me to help out and she was worth her weight in gold! As the office workers started to make their way through King George Square, the crowds surged and I thought about phoning for reinforcements but we seemed to grow the extra hands required and sailed through the night, footsore but very happy. I did manage to sneak away for a visit to Nan's Garden, Kitty Boo Boo and Mon Petit Poppet. Molly was the lucky recipient of one of Steph's dolls and they haven't parted company since.

You might remember this post about something new I was working on. Well, the Molly Mop Tops were a big success and will now become a standard item in our range. So, Emma from {the handmade amoeba}, please let me know where to send yours as the name you suggested is the one I have chosen! I am also getting ready to post one to the winner of our first, Facebook draw. Best get a wiggle on as it is almost time for another one so sign up if you haven't already done so!

The new, shorter denim skirts with trims and small appliques were also a hit. I have made more summer, denim skirts featuring embroidered butterflies, flowers and cherries for The Handmade Expo's 2nd Birthday next Saturday. I will be letting you know about the birthday special a little later next week. Hopefully next week will see a return to normal programming about here and I will reply to your comments and emails very soon!

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.

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?

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.

Super Pops Entry

Number of days since purchase of this rug - 11.

Average age of artists collaborating on this project - 2yrs 2 mths.

Expletives uttered by Mr Button - 73.

Look on Mrs Button's face - apoplectic.

Dear SuperPops,

Please accept this as the Button family entry in your recent giveaway competition. I believe it to be the artists' impression of the chaos from which you produce your crafty goodness. At this stage they are not available for comment.

The artwork is on a fairly large scale and only a small portion is shown in this photograph but we believe it accurately conveys the intent of the artists.

You should be aware that this was not our first choice for submission. The older brother of said artists had committed to this project but he is a bit miffed as their choice of medium was the new rug in his bedroom. He has, understandably, withdrawn from the project until further notice.

Kind regards,

Mrs Button.

Rainy Days and Mondays

Hair pretties - Christmas ones available on Saturday at The Handmade Expo

No, they really don't get me down! I love rainy days although I do wish the rain had held off for an extra 15 mins or so on Sunday. It did make the end of the Boutique Markets a little damp! There were lots of lovely things to see and we tried a few new ideas in the Cute as Buttons corner of the world.

Carb free cupcakes

Today was a cruisy Monday. We attended a beautiful family wedding after I'd finished at the markets and we've been moving quite slowly today. I did manage to trek over to the other side of town, with the two small buttons in tow, to source some new display baskets at a cane wholesaler. I'll be looking forward to playing with them at The Handmade Expo at the Ipswich Turf Club on Saturday.

Christmas lovelies floating in the breeze

Tweet treats

Deb's Denim Stompers

Couldn't resist this tea cosy from Maggie of Mags Bags

The Handmade Girls must be feeling fine. They have all been hosting giveaways for various milestones. Lovely prizes to be won at Bubba Chenille, Handmadies and Handmade Heaven.

Feeling Hoppy!

Thanks for all the lovely feedback on the blog changes. I did make the link colour slightly darker as some people were finding it a little hard to read. I'm still a bit surprised when I arrive at the blog and I find I keep walking past the computer to admire the prettiness.

A couple of posts ago I told you that I won a prize in Clare's giveaway and on Monday it arrived. I have to admit I've been playing hookey from the blog to enjoy the magazine that was part of my prize and I'm going to embark on some of the projects that were inside. Firstly I have started to put together some fabrics to make up Clare's pattern for Frances, as requested by one of the Buttons. Clare also sent a 'Pin the Lips on the Frog' game which has caused many a gleeful giggle about the Button abode. The game and my Big Boy Button are off to Prep tomorrow to liven up News time! I am imagining his classmates rolling around the carpet guffawing and making kissing noises and shall refer the teacher's thanks to you, Clare! Hard to pick a favourite part of this lovely parcel, but, I did make a little squeak when I saw the bag of buttons! I have already used some of them on hair ties, Clare and it was a really thoughtful gift.

I shall proudly post my Frances when completed. Does this count as a softie? Softie making is new territory for me and I shall boldly go.....you know how it finishes.

What a Weekend!

It is really pleasant to be sitting and catching my breath tonight after a big week and an even bigger weekend. After replenishing the stock last week, we packed up the whole Button bunch and headed off to Nanny Button for the weekend. My Mum lives about half way between Brisbane and Warwick and, while I braved the frosty weather for Warwick's Jumpers and Jazz Festival, the little buttons and Stu played on the farm and frolicked with the cousins.

Warwick was cold but very, very friendly and my day was all the more pleasant because I spent it in the company of the min nah Girls, Cassie and Rachael;

(come back tomorrow for a photos of the min nah creations on the Littlest Buttons)

Steph from Wimcee;

Linda and her husband from Lilly Cottage;

My first purchase of the day was from Linda, a gorgeous d'oyley basket which I couldn't resist and gave to my sister. Linda treated me to one of her little cupcakes at the end of the day aren't they divine? It is looking very happy on my tea trolley and I just might have to pop over to Lilly Cottage and snaffle some friends for it! Linda is having a giveaway at the moment so pop over to her blog for a chance to win.

Lori was also great company throughout the day and she has stolen my 51/2 yr old button's heart with her Lemon Butter. Of course The Handmade Expo Girls are always great company and their personalities are as warm and bright as their matching min nah beanies!

After a good night's sleep at Nan's and as many quick cuddles as I could squeeze in with the various buttons, I was back in the car and headed to City Hall for Mathilda's Markets. It was such a busy day that I don't have a photo to share with you. I could only admire the beautiful wares from afar. While the packing up was underway, I did have a chance to buy an Evie Rose Petite Fleur for my Miss Molly. This is such a great idea - it is a hair accessory that can be worn four ways. They are easy to convert and come in a great range of fabric and colours. Molly's Petite Fleur is 'Kate' and she is sporting it as a clip at the moment and is quite pleased with herself.

I strongly suggest you start saving your pennies now so you can stock up on your Christmas goodies at the next Mathilda's Market on November 1. It really is an amazing chance to see the wares of great local designers and enjoy a pleasant boutique shopping experience.

Our First Awards

As many of you know, we recently participated in the Sew Mama Sew giveaway.  One of the benefits of this great, giveaway was the amazing new blogs and bloggers that we uncovered.  A lovely blog called A Pocketful of Buttons run by Stephanie of Sew Fierce Couture Clothing was one of the discoveries - you'll find a link to them on the right hand side of our blog.  When I checked emails on Friday I was delighted to find a message from Stephanie telling me she had passed on two blog awards to us.  It was a delightful feeling and so, in turn, we will pass the awards on; 

Our first award is the One Lovely Blog award and the rules are as follows:

1. Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award and his or her blog link.

2. Pass the award to 15 other blogs that you have newly discovered. Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

I have almost finalised my list of fifteen blogs so come back later in the week to see the full list.

The second award is called a Love Ya award.  This award is bestowed on to blogs that are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers. Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award.

7 Things about me

I love being at home with my children - it is the best job

I always use loose leaf tea leaves and never tea bags

I have a china teapot collection which I use everyday

Pink is my favourite colour

I have a sweet tooth

My sewing machine is a Janome

If I start reading a book I always finish it even when I don't like it!

I am going to pass on this award tonight to the following bloggers who definitely fit the bill:

Miriam from Bubba Chenille

She shares her crafty journey with lots of humour

Cam from Curly Pops

Who makes me laugh and has many beautiful things to share

Taryn from Taryn Newland

Who looks at the world through beautiful eyes

Deb from Fabricated Memories

Who is a joy - just like her bags

Melanie from Kimono Reincarnate

She oozes style and makes me yearn to go back to Japan

Rachael from la Maison sur la Colline

Because she introduced me to bloglife

Sandrine from Histoire de Soie

Beautiful work and beautiful thoughts

Sandra from Pepperberry and Co

Kind and generous and a mine of information not to mention beautiful things

Congratulations Ladies and thank you for the light and joy you bring through your blogging.

We have a winner

What a busy and exciting few days.  If I wasn't reading and learning from the many, many bathroom cleaning tips you wrote, I was visiting blogs from around the globe and finding more and more interesting and clever people.

Thanks to Sew Mama Sew for organising and co-ordinating such a great collection of giveaways.  I hope you've been lucky.  The winner of our giveaway can choose a towel set in a design of their choice and will also receive some buttons and trim to aid them in their crafting.

A quick visit to random.org has produced our lucky winner:

Comment number 26, Aim!  Congratulations!  I am going to email you now and we can chat about what you would like on your towels.  I would love to have cut and pasted the widget with the results but, alas, my skills do not permit such cleverness.  

Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who entered and, if you would like some towels of your own, please get in touch with us.  We'd love to help you out.  

Short post tonight as I have to wrap a cot blanket that I have just finished for a little boy who came into the world today.  His Gran is going to take it to him tomorrow - what a lucky, loved, little man!

Thought for Thursday

I've learned that even

when I have pains,

I don't have to be one.

Maya Angelou

Maya Angelou is one of those amazing, inspiring women who seems to write prose that says all those things we're thinking but in a much better way! She has so many beautiful and uplifting

thoughts to share that it is hard to choose just one. Perhaps I'll share some more of her prose over the coming weeks.

I'm trying to keep this thought in mind over the next few weeks. There are so many challenges in life and I am going to handle them graciously. Just watch me!

The beaut May Giveaway is making it a little easier to be gracious at the moment. I'm having a lovely time visiting new blogs and entering. A big welcome and many thanks to the followers who have joined Cute as Buttons. If you're stopping by, we'd love you to stay and play. Just click on the Follow button to the right of the posts. Remember the competition closes at midnight on the 31st May.

Now, yesterday, I told you I was working on some yo yos to use in a little outfit for Miss Molly. I have some photos of the finished project to share. She is going to wear a little pair of pink leggings under the Bubba Chenille skirt that match it perfectly. I tried to get a shot of the hair tie in situ but didn't have much success! The lace is vintage - my Mum used it on my First Communion dress! The pink fabric is from my Aunty Marg's stash which she has gifted to me and I think it comes together beautifully. One photo is the jumbo yo yo I stitched on the shirt. I liked seeing the shirt and hair tie side by side and Princess Molly's head is the best shot I could manage of the hair tie in action.

SewMamaSew's great May Giveaway Day has finally started and I think the blogs are going to experience heavy traffic!  I'm keeping my post brief so I can go and enter some more giveaways! 

The first picture is a cute little giveaway over at edward and lilly which comprises 2 little brooches and some treasures from the stash.  Leave a comment on the post for one entry and blog about it for two.  

Perhaps you'd like to win the vintage tea towel apron over at Curly Pops.  I think it is too pretty to mess up with cooking spills.  So I might keep it for good.

The other thing I am going to do is work on a hair tie for my baby girl and some sort of yo yo arrangement to go on a shirt.  I bought her a skirt from Bubba Chenille a couple of weeks ago and also purchased the self covered buttons that match the trim.  I am going to use the buttons to pull the whole outfit together.  I love my boys to bits but I have to admit that having Miss Molly is a bit like having a real live Barbie doll to play with.  She lets me dress her up and play with her hair and she always looks delightful!  I'll post a photo of the finished ensemble tomorrow.  

May Giveaway Day

Fancy that!  We've just finished one giveaway and now, here is another.  This one is even more exciting.  If you click on the link to the left of the post, you will go to Sew Mama Sew.  They are co-ordinating a massive giveaway.  When I last checked,there were over 100 responses.  By visiting their blog on May 27, you'll have access to any of the giveaways you want to enter.  Great idea and what a way to cruise around some really fabulous blogs. 

Our giveaway is a towel set in any one of our designs.  The set includes a washer, handtowel and full sized bath towel.  They are a perfect gift for a newborn or as a birthday gift for someone a little older.  My 3 buttons each have a different design on their towel and I always know whose wet towel is on the floor after bathtime!  Our towels are a beautiful fluffy cotton and are designed to be washed and washed and washed!  They keep their whiteness really well and the appliques cope with liberal soaking in Napi San and Sard soaker and are not adverse to being tumble dried when you don't have a chance to peg up the washing!  I am also going to include a handful of buttons from our button stash and some trims because it is fun to be surprised!

To win, you need to leave a comment letting us know your best bathroom cleaning tip.  We'll do a random draw to select the winner and just think of all the great cleaning tips you'll be reading!  The competition closes at midnight on May 31 and we'll publish the winner's name on June 1st.  If you are not an Australian visitor you can still enter as we will be happy to ship internationally.  

I'll start the ball rolling with my cleaning tip, which, incidentally was passed onto me by my partner in buttons, Sharon.  Bicarb soda is the best shower/bath cleaner around and is cheap as chips.  Use a good handful on a cloth and rub it over surfaces and watch them gleam.  Start thinking and have fun entering!

Time to announce a winner

Well, after a visit to random.org, we have a winner for our Dressing Boys competition.  The winner was entry number 8....Jody from Stick 'n' Giggle.  Congratulations Jody and many thanks to all of you who entered and gave such great suggestions for our boys range.  Sharon and I are busy sketching and chatting and hope to have some of your suggestions ready to launch at our June markets.  Jody will be able to choose from one of our existing designs or, she might like to wait and see what goodies we have to share in June!

Now, if you didn't win this time, why not enter our button swap where everyone is a winner? If you want to be a part of it, just let me know and then I will send you the name of someone to whom you can send 25 lovely buttons and someone else will send you 25 lovely buttons. You can use them to make something marvellous and tell us all about it in your blog, or email me photos and I'll tell everyone about you!  Leave a comment before Friday 29 May to be in the swap.  One lucky button lover will receive a button bonus from me - just to make it more exciting!  

I have to take my little girl back to the hospital tomorrow due to some complications from her recent surgery.  Hopefully, it will be a day trip and we'll be back tomorrow night.  If the blog goes quiet, you'll know that we had to stay a bit longer.  I'm not too sure how her twin brother will take the separation!  His Dad might be in for a rough day with him, tomorrow.  Prayers and good thoughts much appreciated!

Have you heard the news?

Well, after a long wait, it is now official, the Designers Emporium is about to be reborn as the Boutique Markets at Portside Wharf in Hamilton, Brisbane.  The markets will be held on the 2nd Sunday of each month and will run from 8am-1pm.  Rachael and Leasl pride themselves on gathering the best local talent in art, craft and design.  They carefull vet all applications and maintain a high level of quality control to ensure a unique and pleasurable shopping experience.  Click here to visit the new website and here to visit the blog which is a plethora of information and featured artists.  The markets will relaunch on June 14, so mark the date on your calendar and start saving your pennies!  

Before I forget, tomorrow is the closing date for our tshirt giveaway.  To enter, you needed to leave a comment and let us know what designs you want to see on your little men.  If you post about the giveaway on your blog, let us know and you will receive two entries.  Competition closes at midnight tomorrow, Saturday, and I'll let you know the winner on Monday.  While you are posting a comment, join our button swap, we all love presents, don't we?

Dressing Boys

Image: Lisa Carter

Image: Taryn Newland



Image: Taryn Newland

I think it is fair to say that all Mums find it incredibly easy to find great things for their little princesses to wear. There is always a huge variety of styles and fabrics to choose from and loads of interesting trims and design features. Not so easy to find the same high standard of style and quality for the little men in our lives.

When Sharon and I started Cute as Buttons, we resolved to have an equal number of boys and girls designs and to make sure the quality and quirkiness came through in the clothing for our lads. Twelve months on we would have to say it is not as easy as it sounds! We have a list of girl designs as long as your arm and could come up with something new every week. To date, we have 3 designs in the boys line and are playing around with a couple more. As you can see from the pictures we have a car, a rocket and a dinosaur. We love all these designs and it seems that you like them too...although sometimes the rocket has been mistaken for a fish! We've dipped our toe in the water and made a little robot head who has yet to make his photographic debut but he is funky and fun. Our current project is increasing the boys range and we'd like your help. Can you tell us what you'd like to see on your little man? We'd love to hear any and all suggestions and we'll be sure to share our results with you.

I'm already excited at the prospect of playing with some new designs. In fact, I'm so excited I think we'll celebrate with a giveaway. If you leave a comment or email a comment to us about a design suggestion, you will be in the running to win one of our Cute as Buttons tees in your choice of design. If you post about our competition on your blog, you'll have two entries. Entries close on 23rd May and we'll make it a random selection. How does that sound? Start thinking!