Here's a new treasury I created last night. Orange leaves fold and fall to make way for cool gray and blue. I have a slight obsession with origami so there are many folded and papery items in here.

September Sale

Come take a peek at magpieandbutton.etsy.com for amazing special offers on almost everything. I'm making room for lots of exciting new Christmas stock, coming soon! You can pick up a pretty necklace for just over €8, or sweet little button earrings for under €3! Sher how could you resist? ;)

Christmas Calm Treasury List

Are you trying to keep your Christmas shopping local this year? Or joining the handmade revolution? Come take a look at this seasonal treasury list I've put together, featuring cool and calm Winter greens and blues. All of these lovely items were created by members of the craftyirelandteam on Etsy, and most have been handmade here in Ireland.

A Pretty Picnic

 

On Easter Sunday we went for a fun and delicious picnic to Rineen Wood in West Cork, where we enjoyed our lunch in the sparkling sunshine, Bliss! I decided to myself it would be the first picnic of many this year, so I'm going to make sure we get out for lovely day trips as much as we can. So, who wants to come along? :)

Featured items:

1. 1970s Summer Splash Pitcher and Glasses, from BootsNGus

2. Good Day Sunshine, Hat, from littlemissdaffodil

3. Hill Country Lavender 4oz WesternCowboy Mason Jar Candle, from truetexassscents

4. Cloth Picnic Napkins, GreenGingham, set of 6, from PeppermintPinwheels

5. Charming Renaissance Woodland Fairy Garland Wreath, from avintagebride

6. Set of Vintage Japanese Pedestal Mugs, from DawnJessica

7. Harvest Bunting Banner in Green, Orange, Purple, from Pamelaquilts

8. Vintage 70s Hobbit Floral Saddle Bag, from OmniaWears

Treasury Love

My Dauphine Button Ring was featured this week in this pretty Spring treasury, curated by MadeWithLoveAndArt .
It was also in the spotlight in two Etsy Finds emails yesterday!
Lucky me :)

Although Dauphine is now sold, along with lots of other rings that have been snapped up the past few days, I'm happy to make something very similar. Drop me a line or visit my shop if you'd like some special button jewellery made just for you ♥

And the winner is...

 

Thank you to all of you who entered Magpie and Button's birthday giveaway :) I have just drawn the winner from my trusty top hat, and it's Paper Addict Emma!

Well done Emma, you've won a custom, one of a kind Magpie and Button bracelet and a special bonus prize too.  Thanks a million to everyone for entering. Keep an eye out for more giveaways and fun posts here, and in the meantime, check out my etsy shop for Spring button jewellery. Don't forget you can receive 20% OFF ANY PURCHASE for the whole month of March, by using the coupon code BIRTHDAY20 when you check out, on magpieandbutton.etsy.com  Yay!!!

Free Magpie and Button Bracelet!

Magpie and Button is 2 years old today! It's amazing to think it's such a long time since I set up my little etsy shop. What a great couple of years it's been, thanks to all my lovely customers, blog readers, facebook fans and friends ♥

As a special gift to you all, you can now receive 20% OFF ANY PURCHASE for the whole month of March, by using the coupon code BIRTHDAY20 when you check out, on magpieandbutton.etsy.com  Yay!!!

But that's not all! I'm also giving away the very special prize of a gorgeous custom-made button bracelet to one of you! All you have to do to be in with a chance is become a follower of this blog and comment on this post. Of course existing followers can enter too, just leave a comment below. What an easy way to get a free bracelet, made especially for you, using your favourite colours :) The bracelets pictured above can give you some ideas, or you can come up with your own colourscheme to create a one of a kind piece.

Within a week I'll enter everyone who has commented into a draw and pull out the lucky winner of this lovely bracelet, worth over $25! Oh, and there will also be a mystery prize included with the bracelet - an EXTRA BONUS for you!

So, do you want a birthday present from Magpie and Button?
Then become a follower and get commenting :)

♥ Thanks everyone, and good luck ♥

Support Your Local Roller Derby :)

 

For the past 4 months I have been skating with the Rebel County Rollers, Cork's roller derby league, and I've completely fallen in love with the sport! Flat track roller derby is a fast paced and very exciting game, and is one of the fastest growing sports in the world at the moment. There are existing leagues in Cork, Dublin and Belfast, (as well as all over the US, UK and many other countries) and new leagues developing in Galway, Kerry and Carlow. 

So, it's likely you know someone who's involved :) Support your local roller derby by checking out these fantastic derby themed items from Etsy sellers around the world!

1. Red and Silver Striped Sports Shorts, by knickerockeroller

2. Cubic Zirconia Bearing Pendant, by CausticThreads

3. Red Roller Derby Skate Patches, by DollyCool

4. Red Rebel County Rollers Girlie TShirt, by rebelcountyrollers

5. Custom Roller Derby Helmet Panty Set, by JoyTheSeamstress

6. I Love Roller Derby Necklace, by sculleydesign

7. Red Stay Down Hot Pants, by hotacrossbuns

8. Derby Love Gift Card Set, by infraredstudio

Want to know more about roller derby or the Rebel County Rollers?

Visit our website or drop us a line on facebook :)

♥ Beth (aka Bettie B.Goode)

Crafty Quickie: Button Heart

Here's a quick and easy project to while away a dark January evening. This button heart will look really sweet hanging on a window or mirror, swinging on a drawer handle, tied on a ribbon to decorate a gift or even decorating next year's Christmas tree! It's a very cute way to display those lovely treasures that have been lying idle in your button box even though the coats, dresses and baby cardigans they once belonged to are long gone...

So, the first thing you need to do is gather up the buttons you want to use. You can use any colourscheme you like, but I find these hearts work very well when similar coloured buttons are put together. Now, lay your buttons out in a heart shape. Try not to have too much variation in sizes, but do play around with the positioning to see what looks best.

Next you're going to need some wire to string the buttons on. I have used a silver colour 20 gauge craft wire, which can be bought on a reel at any craft shop for a couple of Euro. If you want to make smaller hearts you could also use florists' wire as it comes in short lengths rather than a roll, though it's less flexible and you may need a pair of pliers. Measure a length of wire that will hold all of your buttons and leave about 5 inches extra. Cut the wire and you're ready to put on your buttons!

The easiest place to start is with one of the top two buttons. String the wire through the buttonholes and pull it tight, leaving about 2 inches of wire to spare. Continue your line of buttons along the wire, working around your laid out heart pattern. Try to make sure the buttons are facing the same way up and are nice and flat. Once you get to the last one, you should have a neat line of buttons and some spare wire at each end.

Bend your wire around to make the heart shape, and cross the wire ends over eachother. Twist them together to secure your heart shape. Now clip the end off ONE piece. Bend the second piece round to create a loop, twist it in to close your loop and now you have a hanger for your pretty button heart.

Reshape the heart as required, add a ribbon if you like, and hang your gorgeous handmade button decoration somewhere nice :)

Done! If any of you makes one of these, I'd love to see your pictures or hear about where you've put your pretty button heart ♥

What else but...

As anyone who knows me is well aware, I really do love buttons and, by association, many things made with them. With this in mind, I've gathered up not one but two selections of adorable items from wonderful Etsy sellers who do wonders with the humble button! What better way to kick off the blog's new year :)

 

This first collection features a stunning blue glass bracelet by fellow Etsy Ireland team member Balanced, a cute felt and button brooch by bucketofuzz, a really quirky fascinator by crafty Australian gal Nicole, of NicAnswer, a very sweet little button bookmark from greenlacecorner, an absolutely adorable apple jacket by jacquelineknits, and a practical and pretty double oven mitt by Helen of ModernHomewares.

How cute are these girlie button items?! lovahandmade's whimsical plush owl is just gorgeous :) Etsy Ireland team members LolaDee, homespunireland and heatherstreasure often feature in team treasuries, and here they are again with gorgeous things to tempt us.

So, what about you? Do you collect buttons or use them in your crafts?

Also, if anyone of you has a jar, tin, box or bag of buttons lying around the house and would like them made into something special, drop me a line and let me know! 

Beth

Treasury Love

The lovely Anne Marie of byAMOR has featured my Elise Button Necklace in her new gift treasury on Etsy :)
Thank you!

A little project!

In my day job, I teach painting to teenagers, which can be difficult work at the best of times, and even more tricky when I'm having a particularly clumsy day! I had one such day very recently, when I spattered red paint down the front of one of my favourite tops. Argh! I spend so long telling the kids to be careful, I often forget to do so myself. So, as a result, I was left with a really tough stain that just wouldn't budge. It was acrylic paint, which is especially hard to get out of fabric.

I really didn't want to have to give up on wearing my stripey top, so I decided to cover up the stain instead of removing it, and with my favourite craft supplies: buttons! I have lots of black buttons that aren't suitable for jewellery making, so I gathered up a selection of pretty ones and laid them out in a pattern that would decorate the neckline and cover that stain. I sewed each one on very securely in its assigned place, and in just 30 minutes I had a very cute button embellished top, ready to wear again! Yay!

I'll definitely do something like this to some other things in my wardrobe, whether they have a stain or not it's a nice way to add an individual touch to any item of clothing! Do you have any ideas for personalising or decorating clothes? Or getting rid of paint stains? Let me know ;)

Spring forward, Fall back

Next weekend, Daylight Savings ends in Europe, and we'll put our clocks back one hour. Time to get ready for darker evenings and really prepare for Winter! Here are some beautiful timepieces and clock inspired items from wonderful Etsy sellers...

Featured items:
Missing Time Clock by CyberMoon
Vintage Style Filigree Pocket Watch by lunashineshine
Angel of Time Earrings by miskay
Every Story... Quote Clock by mbartstudios
Kirie 02 Bamboo Clock by decoylab
Vintage Mechanical Alarm Clock by ClockworkUniverse

Etsian serendipity

 I've sometimes met people who had previously been unknown to me aside from an "online" alias, whether it's being introduced to a friend of a friend I've already encountered on facebook, or meeting with up the talented members of the Etsy craftyirelandteam.


Very recently I've had the pleasure of meeting a fellow Etsian, Lisa Falzon, also known as Meluseena. Since I started my own Etsy shop in 2009, I have admired Meluseena's gorgeous art work, and had featured it in both my own and the craftyirelandteam blog. Earlier this year my sister Ruth secretly commissioned a special painting of "Snow White and Rose Red" by Meluseena for my 30th birthday, and I absolutely love it! It was the perfect present.

In the completely Etsy free side of my life, I joined Cork's roller derby league this month (the fabulous Rebel County Rollers), and on my first day of training I was introduced to Lisa, who I immediately recognised as Meluseena herself! How exciting! I am delighted to make a real life link with yet another Etsy artist, and especially glad that Lisa is just such a lovely person to know :) She even brought me a little present at training on Sunday, which is a beautiful pendant printed with the Snow White and Rose Red picture. How thoughtful!

So, I just want to say a big thank you to Lisa/Meluseena for the gift, and also invite you all to take a look at her amazing Etsy shop. Here are some gorgeous examples of original work by this talented artist.

Featured:
The Peckish Moon large print
Queen Elizabeth cuff bracelet
Ann Boleyn pocket art mirror
Jumpin Jack Me lustre print

Buttons!

I love buttons! ... but I'm guessing you already knew that ;)

Here are some other Etsy sellers who love them too, and are making some very cute items using either new or repurposed buttons.

Chocolate Brown Letter S Pillow by letterperfectdesigns
Candy Floss at the Circus, Large Button Felt Brooch by nicedaydesigns 

Hand Embroidered Simple White Flowers Wall Hoop Art by AnnaHailey
Pastel Garden iPhone iPod Cozy by SewSweetStitches

Thanks Very Much Card by LuckyRainbowDesigns
The Diamonds and Pearls Button Bouquet by letters4lilly

Do you collect buttons or use them for crafting? Leave me a comment to let me know! I'd love to feature you or your work in a future blog post about buttony fun :)

Beth

Cleopatra, Queen of the Nile

Well, I've decided I'm definitely going to be Cleopatra for Halloween this year. I've started to put together some bits and pieces for my costume, and I've already bought two parts of it :) A lot of it will be homemade, as usual. I'm going to have a white dress and gold jewellery, with a twist or two to the accessories, yet to be confirmed! So, while I've been deciding on the finer details and browsing for treasures, I found these beautiful Egyptian themed items on Etsy, all of which have me dreaming of a boat trip down the Nile in the hot sun...

Featured items:
1. Handmade Bracelet by wwwjewelrybyandrea
2. Philae Temple 02 Print by Artitorium
3. Pharaoh Perfume by solsticescents
4. Egyptian Gold Safety Pin Bracelet by MysticLily
5. Egyptian Scarab Earrings by GardenOfSecrets
6. Cleopatra Egyptian Revival Style Cigarette Holder by sweetheartsinner
7. Tribal Tattoo Armlet by catchalljewelry

An Autumn wedding

Featured items:
Satin Flat Shoes by cheerfulrosette
Rich Poppy Wrap by bonzie
Upcycled Steampunk Shoes by EvitaAFD
Forest Mushrooms Clutch Bag by BagNoir
Poison Apple Button Bracelet by magpieandbutton
Autumn Berries Flower Fascinator by SewSweetStitches

I know it's only August, but...

Ok so Halloween is still two months away, but won't be long coming, believe me! I must admit I have already started to think about this year's costume, but I haven't made anything yet as I'm torn between two ideas.

What about you? Do any of you already have plans for this year? A costume you've always wanted to do, a party you're having, a special event you're going to?

And the most important question... what will you dress up as?

Ladies and Gentlemen...

Andrea has won this "Sew Cute" Magpie and Button necklace and a special bonus prize too. Keep an eye out for more giveaways and fun posts here, and in the meantime, check out my etsy shop for new Autumn button jewellery :)

Blog Giveaway!!!

Hello!
Well, I've been very busy lately with Magpie and Button, and have had lots of sales, orders and general good karma coming my way. I think it's time to share the love ♥  so I'm giving away this gorgeous necklace to one of YOU! Yay!!!

All you have to do to be in with a chance is become a follower of this blog and comment on this post. Of course existing followers can enter too, just leave a comment below. What an easy way to get a free necklace ;)

Within a week I'll enter everyone who has commented into a draw and pull out the lucky winner of the Sew Cute Button Necklace, worth over $20! Oh, and there's also a mystery prize included with the necklace - an EXTRA BONUS for you!

So, do you want free stuff?
Then become a follower and get commenting :)

♥ Thanks everyone, and good luck ♥