Thought for Thursday

Spring is nature's way of saying, "Let's party!"

Robin Williams

Do you feel like a springtime party? Come and join me at the Boutique Markets at Portside on Sunday where I will be celebrating with loads of new Spring designs and maybe one or two celebratory Authentic French Macaroons.

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!

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!".

The One That Got Away

Image: Renee

As I was browsing through Renee's photos from the Boutique Markets fashion parade, I spied something familiar in the background of one of the dog shots.

Just behind the the dog leads, at the start of the carpet, you will see the elusive blonde haired and blue eyed model who went to extreme lengths to avoid strutting his stuff. He was caught on camera as he made a fleeting appearance in pursuit of a smooch with a dog. I thought I'd pop this one up so you could see the complete set of Little Buttons.

Thanks to Miriam from Bubba Chenille for his pants. He quite fancied himself. He just wasn't prepared to be fancied by the rest of the world!

If you're looking for us tomorrow you will find us in Ipswich helping Liesa celebrate Handmade Heaven's first birthday. Cute as Buttons has been a part of this heavenly venture since day one and we are delighted to celebrate her success. She has some great giveaways and specials to help celebrate and online shopping is most welcome.

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.

Thought for Thursday

Friends, they are kind to each other's hopes and cherish each other's dreams.

Thoreau

This week has been a mighty friendly one at my place. Mothers Day markets with family and friends at Portside, a road trip with Denim by Deborah to visit Handmade Heaven and restock and a natter with Cathy from Peg and Kate, catch ups by phone and in person with friends during the week and seeing all The Handmade Expo folk on Saturday at the Ipswich Turf Club.

Made for Me Bathtowel in Handmade Heaven

Image: Denim by Deborah

Towel stock in Handmade Heaven

Image: Denim by Deborah

Deb's delightful bags

Image: Denim by Deborah

I'm a lucky duck, don't you think?

Still Kicking About the Traps

Popping in ever so fleetingly to say a quick 'G'day' and an even quicker 'Hooroo'. Today was spent here in great company. I chose an indoor Boutique Indie stall and loved my neighbours,tasha2shoes and Therese of Little Mary Moo's Place. Therese's Mum came to my aid with a marvellous assortment of bandaids in a Little Mary Moo purse, after an unfortunate incident with my finger and the hinge on the trestle table. I am happy to report I now stock my own selection of bandaids in my market basket, just in case you need one. I am about to go and purchase this little purse from her Etsy store to hold said bandaids as a little reward for my stoicism!

Tomorrow is of course Mothers Day. So to all the mums who are reading, have a cuppa, put your feet up and enjoy being taken care of for a day. Once you've done that, pop on down to the Boutique Markets at Hamilton where I will be spending my day alongside many other magnificent mums. Do call in, I'd love a cup of tea and some company and I'll even show you my VERY sore finger.

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.

Sailing Through the Week

Are you sailing through your week, so far? Mine is off to a great start. It was nice to be back at Portside for the Boutique Markets, yesterday. You couldn't help but notice the cruise ship in port and it certainly proved a talking point for lots of shoppers. The weather played a few tricks on us but nothing too serious and the company was great!

Looking back at the photos of the day it seems I did manage to have a little nautical theme of my own happening.

Serena from Avant Garb was across the way from me and her wrap skirts looked great. She uses lots of black and splashes it with these beautiful Japanese fabrics. I really liked the purple one and I think I might just be tempted next month.

It's going to be a busy week replenishing stock before The Handmade Expo on Saturday. I best go and see if Mr Button has left any more of his jeans laying about the place as the new denim tees were a bit of a hit on the weekend and I will need to get busy with my scissors and sew some more.

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.

I Love it When it Rains

Well, to be honest, I loved it that the rain complied with the BrisStyle guidelines and managed to stay away between 9am and 2pm on Saturday!

St Augustine's was green and shiny from the rain and provided a beautiful backdrop for the shoppers and stallholders alike. Great to see some familiar faces and also lovely chatting with lots of new customers. One gorgeous visitor came from the Sunshine Coast and was dressed for the event in her gumboots. She decided to make the dash to Brisbane when the floodwaters receded enough for her to get out and stock up on her BrisStyle supplies. What a dedicated shopper!

I have to admit to doing a brief happy dance when a gorgeous Gran purchased the first of my upcycled, denim skirts for her granddaughter. There will be more of them available for purchase at the Boutique Markets at Portside on Sunday. Here's a little sneak peek before I go. Hope your week is outstanding!

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!

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!

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.

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.

A Sneak Peek at Our Christmas Goodies

If you are coming to the Boutique Markets this Sunday or to The Handmade Expo at the Ipswich Turf Club on Saturday 17th October you'll be lucky enough to see and purchase our 2009 Christmas tees and tanks. These usually sell out very quickly so be sure to place an order if you don't want to miss out. We have lots of different pattern combinations and you can make sure your little button stands out from the crowd.

We've had a natter with the girls from min nah kids and they are whipping up shorts, nappy covers and skirts to mix and match with our tops. They will be at The Handmade Expo in November and you can catch up with them here.

Our Christmas range will also be available in Handmade Heaven from the 20th October.

A Beautiful Gift

Last time I was at the Boutique Markets, I received this beautiful table runner from Sandrine Marsh. She posted about an idea she was trialling and I placed an order for one. At the end of market day, she presented me with this piece of art and asked me to give her some feedback. Life became a bit crazy around here and I neglected to get back to her. Sorry Sandrine! Your beautiful gift did make me smile each time I walked past my table and I am very grateful.

The linen is soft and has a lovely organic feel and appearance. I love the splashes of green felt which look so like gum blossoms. I've enjoyed filling a vase with gum leaves and using it as a centrepiece on our table. Due to the high consumption of spaghetti bolognaise and the appalling table manners of the Little Buttons, any centrepiece on our table needs to be quickly swept aside or suffer the consequences. We have whisked this piece of loveliness down to the end of the table and, on occasions, Mr Button has balled it up and plopped it on a chair. Lucky for him it doesn't wrinkle and just settles right back down and gives our table a class and serenity it certainly doesn't experience at mealtimes!

It would make a beautiful gift and because Sandrine makes each piece by hand, the gift would be unique to the recipient. The next Boutique Markets are on Sunday at Portside between 8am and 1pm and will be a great chance to start your Christmas shopping. I know 2 lucky people in our clan who will be receiving one of Sandrine's table runners for Christmas. So, if you're reading Sandrine, whip out that sewing machine!

Have Hook, Can Crotchet

This post has the potential to be a bit long and rambling so apologies in advance to those readers who have short attention spans!

Exhibit A

I've been playing around with a new centrepiece for our Dining Room table. That would be Exhibit A. It is full of things that make me smile: the candle holder was a gift from a favourite pupil as were the poppies; the dish is a souvenir from MoMA and a magical Christmas in New York with a friend who has since passed away. They are all on a d'oyley which was stitched by my Mum and edged by my Nin. It was part of Mum's Glory Box and is one of a set of 3. Mum gave it to me when I moved out of home. I keep walking past it and straightening and touching cause it has given me great joy.

Exhibit B. Image: Rachael Zelensky

Now, please examine Exhibit B which is the inspiration for Exhibit A. I was having a peek at la maison sur la colline which is a soothing, tasteful place to visit and I was very taken with Rachael's post. She helpfully let me know where to buy the chocolate d'oyleys and also the jug which you will note is present in Exhibits A and B. Thanks Rach, very happy with the shopping and the new centrepiece. Could you work on something to gussy up the bathroom next, please?

Exhibit C

Now, may I draw your attention to Exhibit C which is a table runner that I inherited from my Nin. Embroidery is something I've always loved to do and when the Aunties were tidying up Nin's crafting, they put this aside for me to finish and keep. I finished it not so long ago and it is now ready to be edged and this is the point of this post. I can crotchet a chunky woolen blanket without too many dramas but the fine Perle Cotton sort of work that is needed for this treasure is completely beyond my skill level. So, kind bloggy folk. If this is your forte and you are happy to take on a new project, please let me know. I'd really like to try Exhibit A on a completed Exhibit C. I await your reply with bated breath and the theme from Law & Order running through my head!

Spot the Difference

You may have noticed that our blog has had a face lift. Our friend, Rachael, from the Boutique Markets has had a little play with our photos and layout and look what she has made. Rachael paints and sews AND she is good with computers. Quite a clever chicken and what a lovely surprise to click on the blog and see the changes.

What do you think of the new look? We'd love your feedback and are grateful for the comments we've already received. I was already toying with the idea of changing to a white background but, I really like the polka dots on the side.

Tonight I cooked a family favourite and thought I would share it with you. I apologise in advance to the Master Chef devotees who read our blog. I have not obeyed any of George's advice on the correct way to cook a risotto. Never the less, this recipe always seems to work, is really easy and only involves washing up one saucepan and it tastes great. I would acknowledge the source but it has been lost over time and the best I can do is tell you that it came from a book of Toddler recipes.

Mr Button would like to be acknowledged as the food stylist and photographer for this shot. It is a latent talent which has emerged in the void left by Master Chef. I think his style is a little reminiscent of Trevor's but I applaud the moulding and stacking techniques he has employed!

RISOTTO

1 tblspn olive oil

1 clove garlic

1 small onion

1 stick of celery

1 large tomato

2 mushrooms

1 tblspn chopped mint

1 tblspn parsley

1 cup of Arborio rice

3 cups of stock

EXTRA VEGIES TO ADD: carrot, pumpkin, zucchini, squash,corn, peas

METHOD

GRATE/FINELY DICE vegetables and any extra vegetables you want to add

HEAT pan and oil

COOK diced onion and garlic

ADD vegetables and COOK for 1 minute

ADD rice and STIR to coat with pan juices

ADD stock

Bring to BOIL and SIMMER for 30 minutes

ADD more stock if risotto is too dry or rice needs to cook for longer

I like to add extra vegies and make a double serve. It is great as a side dish/warm salad but we usually sprinkle some diced chicken on top and all members of the Button family devour it with glee.