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.

My Creative Space

It is my first time playing along with one of these games. I do like reading what everyone else is up to so I thought I'd give it a whirl. At present I have abandoned the sewing machine and I'm working my way through a mountain of beautifully textured wool to make a cosy throw for our bed. I launched myself into this project about 5 years ago, churning out two single bed throws and a massive double bed one for my Mum before I ground to a halt quite early in the life of the one for our bed!

I would love to possess the knittery skills of some other folk about the place but find I totally lack the patience to master anything beyond straight knitting. I've decided it is a bit like kaftan sewing, choose something with a gorgeous texture to distract the admirer from the utter simplicity of the project!

It's just getting to a nice little length to have sitting on my lap on a cool, Brissy night. To discover a whole host of other creative folk, visit Kirsty at kootoyoo. Thanks for letting me play along, Kirsty! I've had a jolly nice time.

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.

Celebrations!

Ahoy there, Blogging Friends! The posts have been a little scarce of late as there have been so many exciting things to celebrate. Firstly, our landscaping is finished and beautiful. We've spent lots of time communing with nature and have had visits from koalas, wallabies and our resident scrub turkeys. I'll show you some pics later in the week.

Secondly, The Handmade Expo turned 1 and we had a great time joining in the celebrations with them at their new home at the Ipswich Turf Club.

Lastly, the little Buttons are 2 tomorrow and we are all geared up to have a whale of a time. I've just finished sewing the buttons on their shirts for tomorrow so thought I'd show you some photos of the finished products. When I was visiting Karen's blog, I noticed the Babushka shirt she made for her littlest girl and thought I'd rather fancy one of those for my Miss Molly. I have changed it a little and incorporated some chenille hair and button eyes. I think she's luscious. I know you've seen Pete the Pirate before but just thought I'd show you Will's birthday version.

Apologies for the dodgy photos...I keep hoping Tania from Myrtle & Eunice or Taryn will conduct a photography lesson via their blogs and help me develop my previously unexplored talent for photography!

I can't believe that those teeny, little 1.5kg bubs are turning 2. How very blessed we Buttons are!

Cold Feet

Image: Anni

Believe it or not, we are experiencing what passes for a cold snap in South East Queensland. Now I realise that those of you from more southerly climes are holding your sides and snorting with laughter at the notion that nightly temps of 8C are considered cold. However, I guess it is all about 'match fitness', isn't it? We Queenslanders just aren't good at coping with the cold.

The other night I was up late making some hair ties and pins while Mr Button was tucked up in bed snoring softly. When I snuck in beside him with my iceblock toes, he automatically put his warm foot on top and started defrosting them for me. It occurred to me that was a particularly kind and loving thing to do and one which I must admit, I don't reciprocate! I cannot bear feeling cold toes on my warm ones and each morning when the little Buttons scurry into our bed, I grin and bear it as they burrow their cold fingers and toes into me. Not so Mr Button, he is happy to help out cold frogs and it is a quality I do admire in my Prince Charming.

As a reward for his generosity, I think I will make him a gift of the Hot Frog that Tania from Myrtle and Eunice is going to post on her blog. I'm not sure he will be the sole beneficiary of this gift but I am positive it will be well used by the cold frogs in the household!