My creative space....

is totally chocker-block, completely, absolutely FULL of.............yep ... BUTTONS of course!

Surprise! What do you mean no?!

.

Been making button charm bracelets. Lots of.

So obviously need plenty of these...

'Scuse me while I swoon.....

You can see more creative spaces here.

What's Hot and what's Not.....

Joining in again with Loobylu.

So, what's HOT this week?

Sewing

I have really enjoyed making some new things this week. I tend to go through phases of having 'favourite' things to make and this week it is definitely the turn of the make-up bag.

'Citrussy' colours

There have been a lot of oranges and lemons in the house this week as the 'flu' has wreaked its havoc. With their sunshiney bright colours, they have really brightened my day.

I even felt inspired to make some citrussy button charm bracelets. Ummm, yummy lemons, limes and oranges...

Simple pleasures

A little while ago, Flossie and I had a trip to Ikea and came away (along with several other essential things) with a set of fantastically useful boxes. They weren't very pretty though. So when we got home, we each decorated our box with wrapping paper. This one is Flossie's, well-used now but still lovely,

I must say it lifts my spirits each and every time I use the drawers. Such a little thing but I think it's all the small things that make you smile or make you feel happy that add up to one big happiness, don't you?

A little bit of Comfort

With 3 ill children this week, the comfy blanket has been in full-time use this week!!

Unfortunately, I did not make this beautiful blanket, it is even better is real-life - so soft and heavy in its crocheted yumminess. It has been left downstairs, no longer needed for sick children laying miserably on the sofa. But having made its way to the living room, it looks very pretty thrown across the sofa.

I walked past it this morning and almost tidied it away but no, I think we all need a little comfort with this wet and wild weather we're having. We need a little snuggling under the blanket with the fire roaring away and a cup of tea within easy reach!

And what's NOT so hot this week?

Rubbish

He who shall be nameless forgetting to put the bins out this week. Which means they weren't collected. Which means either a horrid smelly trip to the tip trying not to burst any bags in the car, or it means trying not to create too much rubbish in the next 2 weeks - in a household with 2 adults, 4 children, 2 guinea pigs, 1 hamster, countless fish and 4 hens.

Not that the last few of those create much 'mess' but can you tell I am a bit p**d off with this 'forgetting' to do his 1 job in the house? Wonder if I could get away with 'forgetting' to cook/clean/iron? Okay, okay I've stopped now!!

Indoor drying

Now I love Autumn weather, I am a real windy, wet, wild kind of girl but not where it relates to the laundry. I am getting just a little bit fed-up with having the washing hanging around quite frankly. Bring back the mild sunny days so I can peg out in the fresh air!

Diggers and destruction

There are men in yellow jackets in the field next to us. They have a huge yellow digger and have turned the lovely field into a muddy mess.

They are from the council and they're putting in a new sewage pipe. In a few days they will take down our fence and come through into our garden. Flossie's swing will be ripped out and part of our lawn dug up to complete the pipe.

When they came and talked about it, I thought fine, that's okay. But now they are close by with that awful digger, it doesn't feel very nice at all. I am in fact dreading it. Our garden is like a little oasis, with its apple trees and its quirky bumpy lawn and paths which go nowhere.

AND the beautiful, gorgeous rhodedendrums in the field have been completely destroyed. They were HUGE and had stunning flower displays and now they're gone.

Well, it could be time for a nice cup of tea and a bit of a snuggle under the comfy blanket! x

In search of colour.......

As you can see - it is a very grey day here - the weather is playing games today and keeps doing that huge instant downpour for the five minutes that you need to walk from the supermarket to the car and from the car to the house to unload all your groceries.

It stops in between as if someone has turned the tap off. I think someone is having a laugh.

It is so grey that today the colour will have to come from inside the house. Hmmm... well, I enjoyed making the make-up bag so much that I made another! I love this retro 50s inspired fabric. For this one, I chose a polka dot lining which makes me smile every time I open it!

Now, I really want to make another!!!

We don't normally do very well with plants in our house. They either get over-watered or no-one bothers at all thinking someone else has done it and they wither quite quickly. Not so this beautiful orchid. This lovely lovely plant has flowered for many weeks and is so pretty in its paleness. I just love it.

I also love what was is the packet the postman delivered yesterday. Just look at these gorgeous velvet ribbons. What colours!! Just look!! I cannot wait to use them!

Well, the day is already half gone with hardly anything done, thanks to a trip to the orthodontist with youngest son so that he can be put 'in the system and onto the waiting list'. (which incidentally, is 2 years!!!! 2 years!!!!!) and a trip to the supermarket in the aforementioned downpour!

Must dash now and try and fit in just a little sewing before school pick-up time beckons again! x

Just for pleasure....

I had decided to do no sewing on Sunday this week - having done a lot last week, my house had been overtaken by the all-powerful mountain of ironing, the bulging wash basket which was spilling onto the bathroom floor and dirt and untidiness were EVERYWHERE!!!!

Hmmm, doesn't it sound great? Come round for a coffee anyone?!!

So, Sunday was for reclaiming the house. I made an early start and, as always happens, once things started to look and feel a little more organised, I made a few trips into the sewing room to....er......tidy......straighten things up......and the fabric and my trusty Bernina were just calling...

After lunch, to the sounds of the Grand Prix in the background where ALL the boys were glued to the tv, I thought I might just make a little something......

Something I have been thinking about making for a while now. A make-up bag with a curved top to make it easy to get things out and a flat bottom so everything doesn't roll to the middle!

Since there was no pressure and this was just for fun, it all went oddly smoothly!

I chose contrasting fabrics for lining and outer fabric and some yummy jumbo ric rac to trim it.

I am really pleased with the results and think I'm going to make some for the shop.

It really reminded me how wonderful it is to sew without a deadline or the need to make six more!!! And I do LOVE sewing!!

p.s. I was thinking about doing a 'how-to' sew a zip in to make a little pouch maybe - if anyone thinks that would be a useful thing? x

A very cute shop

Yesterday, I received a very pretty parcel in the post.

I have taken part in a few swaps with swap-bot and this is by far the best!

For those of you who don't know about swap-bot, it's an on-line community where you can swap all sorts of things, loads of 'crafty type' swaps going on.

I entered a Shop Swap - you get to find 2 new online shops and the people behind them and this parcel was from the lovely lady behind the first shop -Esther, who owns Essie's handcraft cuteness, this is currently only in Dutch at the moment but she also has a DaWanda shop for the rest of us.

Esther lives in the Netherlands and the name for her shop comes from her nickname, Essie.

Having always been a creative person, Esther likes to paint, draw, sew and design, and loves using cotton fabrics, wool, beads and felt.

Check out some of her beautiful products - this very talented lady makes t-shirts, bags, wallets, purses, bracelets and more!

I was lucky enough to receive a beautiful felt bracelet, a really well-made little purse and an Ipod Nano cover in such gorgeous fabrics and my favourite colours.

You can tell a lot of time and effort has gone into these with their professional finish and Essie clearly loves what she does - as she says:- 'Sewing is a kind of relaxation for me. When I sew I only have to think about the product I am making, while listening to the radio. It's fun to have a picture of something in your head and then make it into a product.'

Esther's handmade business began a few years ago when she started sewing little purses and wallets as gifts for friends. After getting many requests for more, Esther decided to open an online shop and Essie's handcraft cuteness was born.

And for the future? Esther says:

'I hope to spend more time designing and making new products and work a little less at my current day job. Ideally, I would work at my everyday job for 3 days and have 2 for my own business.' I'd say it won't be too long before she can do this!

If you like Essie's work as much as I do, then take advantage of the 10% discount Esther is currently offering - just leave 'Shop swap & blog' in the comment field.

So, even more delicious online browsing!!!

P.S. If you would like to take part in a swap, just visit Swap-bot and join in the fun!!

And the winners are......

Okay, so all the names have been written on little pieces of paper and these were placed inside...not a hat....not a box even...but a bowl - and a bright pink one at that!

They were shaken and stirred and then with eyes tightly shut, our Floss picked out the three lucky winners one by one....

Winner number 1 who wins the felt pack is-

Winner number 2 who wins the huge button set is-

Winner number 3 who wins the polka dot buttons is-

TA DAH!!!!

Could the winners please email me (designbyviolet@gmail.com) with their addresses and Meagan, you need to choose the colour of the polka dot buttons you would like!!!

Congratulations to all and better luck next time to everyone else - I have decided to have an End of the Month Give-Away EVERY month as it was such good fun - many thanks to all those who dropped by and come back soon y'all. xx

p.s. must just add - although it says Thursday on today's post, it is actually Friday here - just realised the reason all my posting has been at odd times - I was on Californian time!! Wish I really was!!

My creative space....

today has had a little makeover! Shelves have been tidied, jars straightened, papers filed.....

I needed another table in my little room (and it really is small, you know!) but where to put it? I ended up moving my Grandma's chest of drawers into the space under the stairs which is next to my room, which meant I could squeeze the table in which in turn meant virtually everything else had to be turned around!

I also commandeered the shelves in the space outside my room which had previously housed the dvds and cds but which of course, were just the perfect home for all my buttons-

Isn't it a funny thing - whenever you tidy a place, it tends to look a lot worse than it ever did, before it gets better!

Anyway, it looks lovely now. I took some more pics but my camera battery has just died!

See more creative spaces here.

*EXCITING NEWS* It's my FIRST EVER GiVeaWay!!!!

Couldn't wait any longer - I am a bit impatient!!

Okay, so I am going to give away 3 things to all you crafty people out there!!

1 - the first person will get a full pack of my 71 colour 4" mini felt squares - a complete rainbow of felt in THE most gorgeous shades. Just think what you could do with all those colours!

2 - the second person will get a full set of the most HUGE buttons - you will get 12 - one of each colour - red, turquoise, pink, purple, white, yellow, black, chocolate, blue, navy, cream, and green!

and 3- some lucky person will get 60, yes 60 polka dot buttons and will be able to choose their colours from lime, soft orange, red, black, racing green, yellow, teal, aqua, royal blue, lilac, baby pink and candy pink. You could have all 60 in one colour or a mixture, it's up to you!

Good luck everyone!

All you need to do is leave a comment below and your names will be put in a hat (well probably a box actually) and Flossie will pull out the 3 lucky winners on Friday. x