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 ♥

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 ♥

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

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 ;)

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

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 ♥

If you go down to the woods today...

... you probably won't find me! Not this week at least. You're more likely to find me shopping! Being a  teacher I tend to think of Autumn as the beginning of the year, and so it often feels like the time to start fresh. When I was younger that meant shiny school shoes and a snazzy new pencil case, (it still means both of those things actually!) but this year I'm thinking of re-vamping bits of the house as well, for a new start! I want to do up my bedroom, but of course there are a few things in there I'll always keep...

These are all parts of my room that I love. I probably have too many treasures really, and I realise this every time I move house, though it never stops me gathering pretty bits and bobs!

I really like this forest fairytale part of my room, though I know if it grows and takes up any more of the place it'll look way to cartoony and girly! Since dressing up as Snow White last year I've daydreamed about living in a cottage in the woods. I probably won't add any more woodland touches to my current house, but if I move to the forest here are a few things I'd definitely take with me!

(Incidentally, the Snow White and Rose Red print by meluseena was actually commissioned especially for lucky me! My sister Ruth knew I loved Lisa Falzon/meluseena's work and had it designed for me for my 30th birthday. How sweet! x)

Featured items:
Snow White and Rose Red Print by meluseena
Tiny Gnome Village by MoontsyandFloontsy
Poison Apple Button Bracelet by magpieandbutton
Tiny Ivy Leaf Necklace by SilkstoneDesigns
Little Red Riding Hood Print by elsita
Forest Mushrooms Silk Lined Clutch Bag by Bagnoir
White Tree Silhouette Pillow Cover by Modernality
Woodland Acorn Necklace by designbirdie

So... who wants to move in with me? ;)

Lucky Me!

On Wednesday, I ordered some packaging supplies from one of my favourite Etsy sellers, the lovely Odette of packagesandstrings. I was lucky enough to have been her 100th customer at this shop, and so she said she'd pop in a special surprise with my order. Now, any of you who have ordered from either of Odette's shops, packagesandstrings or swannandsmerlin, will know that her items are beautiful and her attention to detail in packing up orders is AMAZING!

So, I always look forward to receiving my order but I knew this one was going to be special... I was SO delighted when I received it in the post this morning, I nearly grabbed it out of Mr.Postman's hand! Here's what had me so excited :)

This girl really knows how to make me smile - lots buttons and strings for me to play with! I'm really looking forward to making rings out of some of these buttons, especially the red fabric covered one, it's so cute!

Everything I received is so lovely, I just want to say a big THANKS to Odette, and invite you all to go and take a look at her shops. You'll find pretty packing tapes, baker's twine, glassine bags and more at packagesandstrings, and if you're looking for a very sweet way to let your loved ones know you're thinking of them, check out swannandsmerlin!

Tea time!

Earlier this week I went with my Dad to help him clear out some things from my late Granduncle's house in East Cork. We found some really interesting bits and pieces, from Uncle Steve's RAF memorabilia to his old binoculars, and hand knitted dolls made by his wife May, along with some mutant spiders and alot of dust!

One thing we came across was a very pretty china teaset, which Dad later said I could have if I liked. I was delighted as it really reminded me of going for Sunday tea at May and Steve's when we were small :)
So, I wrapped it in plastic, took it home and carefully cleaned up the cups, saucers, plates, jug and sugarbowl, and now I think it's the prettiest teaset I've ever seen!

Apart from a small crack in the sugarbowl, it's all perfect, and the bright turquoise and pink pattern is really vibrant. Even the gold edges on each piece are all intact. I want to display it on the shelves in our little sitting room, but I can't wait to actually serve use it first. Tea, my dear? And sugar? One lump or two?

How cute would these plates look filled with French fancies, cucumber sandwiches or macaroons?!  I'll have to have some friends over for some girlie afternoon tea really soon.

Below are some gorgeous items I found on Etsy while day dreaming about the perfect Summery tea party...

Featured items:
1. Bunting by giggleberry
2. Box of Macarons by Bokolette
3. Eat Me Party Picks by vintagetwee
4. Custom Patchwork Dress by mariansmale
5. Pink n Orange Sparkly Napkin Ring by Vividhome
6. French Pink Vanilla Cupcakes by SugarPlumsCupcakery
7. Custom Handpainted Maryjanes by Puremystyc
8. Aqua Star Burst Tealight Votive by yevgenia
9. Pink Lilies Earrings by blueserendipity

New photos!

Last week I packed up lots of necklaces, rings and bracelets, grabbed my trusty camera and my model Áine, and we made the most of a gorgeously summery day by heading over to the park for a photoshoot!
I think it's great to have model shots of the jewellery, as you can get a better idea of the size of a piece and how it might to look on you, or see how much fun it is to wear buttony jewellery!

We had such a fun and sunny afternoon :)
Here are a few snaps of Áine wearing some cute pieces from Magpie and Button's Etsy shop...

Why Buttons?

People often ask me how and why I started making jewellery out of buttons. I'm by no means unique in doing so, in fact buttons have been used for more than functional fastening throughout history.


In 1520, King Francis I of France ordered 13,400 decorative buttons from his jeweller. They were sewn, purely as embellishment, onto a black velvet suit, which he wore to a meeting with King Henry VIII of England, in an effort to impress (or dazzle!) him into alliance. Button jewellery was in fashion in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when young ladies would save buttons on long cords, called button charm strings, until they had 999 buttons. Not only would she seek buttons for her string but family members and friends would also give buttons to her. Apparently when the 1000th button was placed on the young lady's long necklace, her Prince Charming would appear!

During the Great Depression of the 1930s, turning buttons into earrings became a hobby for thrifty gals in America. They would take fancy buttons off their old dresses, and make earrings out of them as gifts.


My Grandmother was a seamstress, and during her many years of work she gathered a huge collection of buttons, some of which belonged to her own grandmother. Playing with the contents of Granny's button box was a delight every time we visited her house as children. We'd spill out hundreds of them to count and sort through the treasure, or use them as counters for Ludo and Snakes and Ladders, or as play money in an imaginary shop, or as pretend sweets at a dolly tea party.

My mom had a smaller collection, though there were sparkly and shiny gems to be found there as well, so over the years I liked to admire those too. I made my first button jewellery using some from that collection, over 15 years ago! I bent florist's wire into circles and then threaded buttons and tiny seedbeads on to make little rings for my schoolfriends.

After over a decade of dabbling in beading and making small pieces of jewellery, mostly for gifts, my sister and I found some of those button rings last year, and Magpie and Button was born when I decided to make button jewellery again!

The designs have changed but I do still make button rings, along with pendants, charm bracelets, earrings and necklaces. Some of the buttons I use in these pieces are new, but more of them have already had a previous life on a jacket or dress from many years ago. A few have even come from my own Granny's button box.

 I just love the idea of re-using these old buttons to create something new and special, and have lately been thinking that probably many homes have a button collection somewhere... are there treasures stored away in a sewing box, sweet jar or cigar box in your house?

Purple...

 

As I mentioned in a previous post, I've been using alot of purple in new jewellery pieces recently. I've also been seeking out purple pretties in other shops! Here is a selection of gorgeous purple items from some wonderful Irish Etsy sellers. From delicate mauve like the flower in this necklace from ABoxForMyTreasure, to the soft heather colours in hedgehogfibres' yarn and the really vibrant violet of AlejandraJacoby's earrings, purple can so versatile and pretty. I just love it!

Featured items:

Taryn amethyst and brass necklace by Balanced

The Peckish Moon handmade notebook by meluseena

Teardrop silk/merino yarn by hedgehogfibres

Stained glass suncatcher byRainbowStainedGlass

Purple crocheted doily earrings by AlejandraJacoby

Romantic purple rose and pearl necklace by ABoxForMyTreasure

Hydrangea leather cuff bracelet by SilkstoneDesigns

Summer jewellery

I've been gathering some really pretty buttons and beads in the past few weeks to make new Summer pieces for my Etsy shop. I love floral patterns at the moment so I've used them many of the designs. Purples seem to be featuring alot too - it can be such a Summer colour.

< Peony Button Necklace

I like to put purple with greens and blues, it's such a soft and natural combination of colours. In this button bracelet I've also included some silvery mussel shell charms as the colours of the buttons reminded me of the sea.


Shoreline Button Bracelet >

Many recent additions to my shop have been nautically themed, as it's a style I've admired in fashion lately. I've used alot of navy, white and red in other pieces, but with this necklace I've kept things simple and stuck with silver and grey. I love the cute anchor charm!

< Anchors Away Button Necklace

Button rings are some of my best sellers, and since they were the first pieces of jewellery I ever made (though the design has changed alot in 17 years since the first ones!) I love to see that people still enjoy them. They always seem to draw compliments as they're just a little bit quirky :)

Sweetpea Button Ring >


These items are all available at magpieandbutton.etsy.com right now!
Of course if you'd prefer to see some jewellery 'in person', I'm having my third Magpie and Button jewellery night on Friday June 18th at Jacob's Island.

I'd love to see you there for a glass of wine and to have a browse through the jewellery. As always, bring a friend or two with you if you like. Just contact me for more details!