Stumpwork Embroidery - Mushrooms Part 2 / Stems and grasses

I have been very lapse with the blog I'm afraid - so I'd really like to remind everyone that I do post more regularly on Facebook and Instagram - mainly because I can add a simple sentence, as opposed to writing a blog that I am convinced is terribly boring...

So, what's been happening? Well, if you missed it we have brought out a little set of stumpwork embroidery tools. The above video is part 2 of a little series to show how to use them with a basic piece of embroidery - and hopefully inspire you to take it even further. Part 1 is of course available over on YouTube :)

We've been busy getting in new stock - expanding our embroidery range slowly (we've some gorgeous Rajmahal embroidery kits in stock), adding fabulous Wonderfil threads, and last week we finally have been able to start stocking Japanese Nori paste - which is the perfect glue for Kanzashi flowers. All of the Japanese craft books use it. 

It is also great for pasting fine papers for journals and fabrics. Just a really nice, non-toxic glue with a history dating back to 1899! I'm personally really pleased we are able to stock this, as I really like the product.

So, there's a quick catch up as I go back to doing paperwork - oh joy!!

Have a great day!

 

Tutorial - The "Changing Sides" button

Well, I have been rather lapse here on the blog, haven't I?

Just a little heads-up, if you "do" facebook or Instagram, that's probably the best place to find out what I'm up to in between posts...

Very busy week plus - our machine died, and we now cannot manufacture anything until the new one arrives next week. We've been re-arranging the unit, finding a place to put it, and generally sorting out. Certainly needed, but I'd rather be working on getting kits packed!

Speaking of working on, busy busy designing the next kits - something quite different, but that we've wanted to do for a very long time. I hope you all will like it. 

So, although we had a sell out - and it won't be available again until next week - I have also posted up a product support video for the Basketweave Button Kit, you'll find it here -

https://youtu.be/3PVUftd1yyc

Making a Yorkshire Flower button

Here's a new idea for your Yorkshire button loom - and I know that many of you will take this one a level or two and use the flowers on so many other textile projects. In fact, I'm reminded that quite a few of you already make cards with Yorkshire button flowers, and gorgeous they are too!

It's funny really - back when we created our first Yorkshire button kit 5 years ago, there wasn't one commercial kit on the market. We spent a lot of time testing the best tabs, material and sizes. Until then, people used cardboard looms or pins (as I describe in my Buttons book). Since then, we've been copied quite a few times - sadly, usually by people who have actually bought from us! And that is why we call our kit "The original & best". 😀

Don't forget, you can get our kit over on our website -

https://www.ginabsilkworks.co.uk/

Another Dorset Button! How to make a Dorset Flower Button / plus chain s...

Look at me! On a roll at the moment! 

A quick little video for making a Dorset Flower button. I've also added an idea for adding extra colour - and how to create a "chain stitch" border. It's a nice touch that can be added to most Dorset designs.

This button is included in my book, Dorset Ring Buttons, available over on my website.

Stay hydrated everyone - seems the weather is going to get hot here in the UK again next week, and I know it is elsewhere too.

Ivy Covered Log Studio Button - walkthrough

Hi everyone! It has been a little while since I updated this blog. Of course I am updating the One Button a Week blog every week (do pop over and have a look!), so I am not neglecting things really, I just haven't got that much to say. I'm sure you don't want to read me just writing for the sake of it!

I decided to try a slightly different take on things for this video. Goodness, that wasn't a good idea! Usually, I know what I am filming, do it in quite an organised way, and Mark is able to edit it based a lot of my silences - or simply by me turning of the camera for anything repetitive. Well, not this one. I did not know how this was going to turn out - or what I was filming. So the editing took forever - I had to do it as Mark couldn't remotely figure it out, and I had to narrate afterwards and it just took ages. Not really cost effective by way of time, haha. I hope that you enjoy it though.

Speaking of time, can you believe it is already nearly a month since we were last on Create & Craft? Well, we are back this coming Tuesday (the 26th) and the show will feature Teneriffe Lace. Which hasn't been on your screens for at least a year. I'm looking forward to it and have been making some lace (spoiler alert, there will at least one lace themed video next week to add to the playlist).

Take care of yourselves, thanks for stopping by, and have a great weekend - or week, depending on when you are reading this.

How to make a basic Zwirnknopfe Bottle Cap Button - aka Dorset Bottle To...

I've had quite a few of you ask me for this, so here it is. A very simple version - I think the real beauty of this button lies in the extra doodling that each maker adds. Because you need a larger ring, there is more scope for decorative stitching and wraps.

We also have those larger rings available now (well as I finish the listing on the website haha).

Don't forget I'm on Hochanda on Monday evening - 5pm and 9pm. I will of course add another blog entry to let you know beforehand.

I've had my first covid jab - yay! Really does feel like it is an important day. This time last year I was at Hochanda and it was such an odd day. No one quite knew what to do, but everyone knew life was about to change. There was a real heavy feeling in the air, and a lot of stress flying around. 

Stay safe and well everyone x

How to make a simple wire torsade trimming for tassels - also called a w...

Another video! More filming this weekend for the next batch. This is getting to be a bit of a habit ;) 
Of course, that's in between all of the other work that needs doing. I am not sure what the weekend is!

Which reminds me. At work, when we turn on the answer machine on, a woman's voice states the day of the week as part of the message. Well, on a Wednesday, she sounds positively happy, like "yay!", yet on a Friday, she sounds quite blah really. I have come to the conclusion that she is having an affair. And her paramour "works late" on a Wednesday, but on a Friday goes home to their family for the weekend.

My mind works in an odd way sometimes. 

Have a great weekend everyone, stay safe and well.  

How to make a prepared thread ganutell petal or leaf - ganutell flower m...

A very short and sweet video for today's upload on YouTube - just a refresher for those of you who have recently purchased our latest kit. 

Are you all keeping well? We seem to be really busy - we have another two Hochanda shows on the 22nd and that seems to have come round fast! So, organising and planning is keeping us both busy.

And of course, the sun has decided to just about push through - at the springtime angle that makes you really see that the place needs a proper clean. Yes, it's that time of year again where I discuss purging and probably only manage a bit. But, a little every year will surely mean I will, eventually, get rid of all the excess Stuff.

Wish me luck!

Please stay safe and well all of you.

A little bit of fun

A little bit of fun for you - the above is an online jigsaw using an image from my One Button a Day 2016 buttons. It's free to play, and rather addictive (and you can choose a different number of pieces to make it even harder on their website!). If the above doesn't work for you, do visit the puzzle on the puzzle page by clicking here. We'll add others I think!

I saw the idea from Izabela of Prior Attire, who's been releasing some awesome photos as online jigsaws. Do look her up if you are over on the site. 

In other news, in case you missed it, I've also added a new tutorial over on YouTube. This one is for a lovely shiny base underneath your needlework or crochet buttons. 

I'm aiming to try to upload these on a more regular basis this year, so let's see how my time management works out...

hmmm. :)

Stay safe and well all!

Four seasons embroidered button clock by Anne Waller

Today I just have to share with you design team member Anne Waller's blog. She has outlined how she created the stunning clock shown above, using our new Button Display Clock Kit (MDF version) and various other button kits from us.

It is stunning, and such a lot of effort to take the images as you go and write it all up, so do please, pop over to her blog and have a read. 

Four Seasons Embroidered Button Clock

How to Make Fabric Buttons at Home

Hi everyone! Another video uploaded to YouTube today. This one shows how to cover a button mould - or a button come to that - to make a fabric button. The two gold ones in the still screen above are the two types that I show. 

Those at the side are just some reasons why fabric buttons are so good - you can use embroidery, add needlework over the top, and many other embellishments because you have started with a fabric base. And even better? They are some of the easiest buttons to make at home. 

I've seen some really lovely fabric buttons made with vintage embroidered tablecloths, as well as with stamped fabric - it isn't just about the 18th century button. And you don't need anything special to make them, just a button mould (a button or circle of cardboard will do), fabric and basic sewing equipment. 

I know I've been a bit slow on this blog recently - but you do know that I post daily over on the One Button a Day blog don't you?

I've just finished quite a long article with tutorial for the online subscription magazine "Foundations Revealed", and am also currently working away at my next book. So, with that, and the usual boring paperwork and everyday small business stuff that doesn't change even with lockdown, I've been pretty busy. 

I hope you are all keeping well and safe, and enjoy the how-to!

How to Make a Bottle Top Button

This tutorial shows how to make the Bottle Top Button from my "20 to Stitch: Fabric Buttons" book, published last year by Search Press.

In a nutshell, the button uses a plastic bottle top - so you can use top from milk bottle, tonic or plain water bottles and even little cosmetic bottles (the tiny little bottles of conditioner in a box hair dye make cure buttons!).

You can also make a pincushion using the same method - just make a bigger circle in the second part and fill more firmly to make a nice big ball. 

The point of the button was that I was once told that most recycling places don't actually recycle the plastic tops. So, they should always be taken off of the bottle as they are a different plastic, otherwise the whole recycling batch can be rejected.

I know at the moment many, many people are self isolating, and in many areas of the UK recycling services have been stopped as it isn't really safe for the staff to be so close to each other. 

I hope to work on quite a few more tutorials and projects while we are working from home (once the book keeping has been sorted!), so watch this space.

Take care everyone, stay home if you are able, and heed advice. And if you are a key worked, thank you.