tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12105831114160380062024-02-06T20:49:29.760-08:00Your Button ShopYour Favorite Store for Gorgeous ButtonsDragonLadyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14811478769182585440noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1210583111416038006.post-51193105580198441312016-02-05T05:58:00.002-08:002016-02-05T05:58:31.125-08:00Making Button and Bead Covered Bobby PinsI keep seeing cute little bobby pins with buttons glued on the ends, and decided to try my hand at making a few. Up 'til just last fall I had knee length hair, and bobby pins were a mainstay, but I usually wore a style that hid them. Now my hair is much shorter, and I would like to revamp my collection of accessories.<br />
<br />
I don't much like glue -and certainly don't want globs of glue in my hair, so I wanted to avoid using it. <br />
<br />
I made the first few "test" versions of very cheap plastic buttons, using 6-strand embroidery floss. The floss being so flexible made it easy to work with, but the abrasive action of threading it through the buttons and around the metal of the pin shredded it pretty quickly, so I switched to fishing line. <br />
<br />
It took me a few tries to come up with a technique that worked for me, using a variety of buttons and beads in various sizes and styles. This is the method that has -so far- given me the best results.<br />
<br />
If you want to give it a whirl, you'll need:<br />
<br />
<br />
Clear Fishing line (I used 12 lb)<br />
A 3" doll needle or long beading needle<br />
A hand sewing needle in a small size (I think I used a size 11)<br />
A collection of buttons & beads<br />
6-Strand Embroidery floss in colors that look nice with your buttons and beads<br />
Bobby Pins<br />
<br />
I started by cutting a section of fishing line about 2 feet long. I discovered early on longer is better, but too long tangles. So two feet seems about right. I folded it in half, and ran the ends through two of the holes on the first button (through the front, to the back). Then I crossed the lines and brought the ends back through to the front, wound it around the button, then slid it between the posts of the bobby pin. From there, I just repeated the same steps through the other holes, adding buttons as I went until it was covered.<br />
<br />
The back (smooth) post is your friend; you can wrap the line around it as many times as you'd like to hold the buttons securely. But you can also just wind the line around between the button and the post to give it some extra height & to give it a bit of "wiggle room" so you can adjust it a tiny bit once it's in your hair.<br />
<br />
Once all the buttons were secured, I ran the line back up parallel with the post to the very first button, and tied it off to ensure everything was secure.<br />
<br />
Next, I threaded the needles with three strands of embroidery floss, and ran it through the holes of the buttons to hide the line, and give the impression they're sewn on.<br />
<br />
To make the whole thing more hair friendly, once I was sure I was happy with it I used more embroidery floss to make blanket stitches that covered the back post (behind the buttons) and prevented the fishing line from abrading my hair strands.<br />
<br />
All total, the fanciest versions took about an hour at first, and about half an hour once I really got the hang of it. It's a fun little project, and if you use buttons and beads you really love you'll have a little piece of wearable art when you're done.<br />
<br />
Once you feel you've mastered the basic techniques, consider the possibilities of adding beads, charms, feathers, or other found objects to make truly one-of-a-kind pieces. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />DragonLadyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14811478769182585440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1210583111416038006.post-32519586315531322852016-01-24T00:23:00.002-08:002016-01-24T00:24:41.835-08:00Your Button Shop is live and well! After nearly two years, <a href="http://yourbuttonshop.com/">yourbuttonshop.com</a> is finally live -and well- again. :) I'm happy and excited with the new shopping cart features, easier PayPal check out system, new categories and lots of new product listings. <br />
<br />
If you're looking for buttons, you'll find 'em there! Stop by and check it out -and don't miss the random, one-day-only sales. <br />
<br />DragonLadyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14811478769182585440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1210583111416038006.post-68020715967864840872012-09-15T15:05:00.004-07:002012-09-15T15:06:48.541-07:00Storage of Buttons and Beads<br />
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 1.5em;">
<span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Proper Storage of Buttons and Beads</b></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 1.5em;">
<span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Nothing is prettier than a decorative jar filled with beautiful buttons or beads sitting on a side table or grouped with some family mementos on the mantle. But, it's really not good for the buttons. Everytime the jar is moved, the buttons will clink against the glass sides and against each other, causing tiny nicks and cracks. It can cause metal, mother-of-pearl or painted buttons to become badly scratched and glass ones may even break. Large cookie tins or deep canisters used to hold a big collection that have to be poured out or dug through is just as harmful.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 1.5em;">
<span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Better solutions:</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 1.5em;">
<span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">The plastic storage bins with slide-out drawers marketed for nuts, bolts, and small tools. You can find them in all sizes at hardware stores. I've also seen beautiful wooden "apothecary cabinets" with very small drawers that would be perfect.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 1.5em;">
<span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">A felt-lined jewelry box with individual compartments for rings and small items.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 1.5em;">
<span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Clear plastic bead boxes with individual compartments.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 1.5em;">
<span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Individual "gem jars" -little storage jars with a clear lid and a foam cushion will protect your favorites from just about any kind of damage.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 1.5em;">
<span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Contact lens cases or plastic pill organizers.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 1.5em;">
<span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">The little metal candy tins available in supermarkets. Paint and embellish the outsides and line them with a few layers of pretty tissue paper for a nice work of altered art that doubles as personalized storage. Some fancier chocoates come in nice boxes with partitions that would work nicely, too.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 1.5em;">
<span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">A three-ring binder filled with business card sleeves. Most pages will hold ten or twelve buttons, and several pages can be put into a single binder and still allow it to close.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 1.5em;">
<span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Give each button or bead an individual plastic zipper bag, and pin them to a corkboard.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 1.5em;">
<span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Stitch them to a piece of fabric, and wrap the fabric around the cardboard insert in a cute frame.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 1.5em;">
<span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Stitch them all to a wide piece of ribbon, and tack or staple the ribbon along a wall of your sewing room or creative space.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 1.5em;">
<span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">If you really can't give up the spice rack or the old Mason jars, fill them with inexpensive plastic craft buttons. They are just as colorful and decorative as Grandma's bohemian collection, but without the potential for damage.</span></div>
DragonLadyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14811478769182585440noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1210583111416038006.post-21424703586983639872012-09-15T14:57:00.002-07:002012-09-15T14:59:59.762-07:00Caring for Buttons<br />
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">H<span style="font-size: small;">elp! the garment is washable but the button isn't.</span></span></h4>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If a button isn't washable, but you want to use it on an item that is,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">there are several ways to do so.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Buttons come with all kinds of care instructions, from "machine</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">washable" to "dry clean only" to "don't even think about cleaning it".</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I can't advise you much on the last one, other than to say that usually</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">a little bit of rubbing with a dry tissue is probably good enough to</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">remove most grime.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The question is how to use an untreated wooden, horn, or very delicate glass button on a garment you want to be able to toss in the machine or have dry cleaned.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, here's a few suggestions:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Wash by hand. Most buttons can withstand a bit of water. It's the rough</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">action of the washing machine (or worse, the dryer) that causes the</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">problem. Glass buttons that get thrown against the agitator or the</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">metal dryer walls will get nicked or broken. So, washing the garment by</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">hand in the sink, then line drying it will solve the problem. Face it,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">most of us don't get our clothes filthy enough to require scrubbing,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and if we did, we wouldn't want to put beautiful, handmade buttons on</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">them anyway.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Cover them. A little bit of aluminum foil to cover the buttons may help</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">protect them from water damage, and dry cleaning fluids. A layer of</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">paper toweling, bubble wrap, foam, quilt batting or similiar under the</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">foil may also help by serving as padding in case of none-too-gentle</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">treatment. Afterward, just remove the materials and polish the button a</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">bit with a tissue.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Glass buttons can usually be dry cleaned with no ill effects, however</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">if they're painted the paint might come off with some solvents. Talk to</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">your dry cleaner beforehand, and consider covering them with aluminum</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">foil for protection.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Don't sew them on. A tiny safety pin instead of stitching will hold on</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">most buttons. It's invisible with most shanked buttons, but won't be</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">too noticible on drilled ones. After wearing, simply remove the buttons</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and have the garment cleaned. For a more permanent fix, sew the button</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">onto the back of the safety pin, making a thread shank. Then, attach to</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">the garment before wearing. The extra few minutes spent getting dressed</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">will be well worth it when you start getting compliments on your</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">gorgeous outfit.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>--</b>As a side note, this method has an advantage, especially for home</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">sewists. One set of nice buttons can be used on several garments. If</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">you reuse the same tried-n-true patterns, you can make up two or three</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">of the same garment, then buy one set of gorgeous buttons that will</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">work for all of them.<b>--</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the case of unfinished / untreated wooden buttons that can't be</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">soaked, dampen a cloth in a bit of water with a drop or two of wood</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">soap like Murphy's, then just wipe them clean. Cover (completely seal)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">them with aluminum foil and hand-wash the garment</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Most horn buttons can be washed, but shouldn't be immersed for very</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">long. Use a short, gentle washing cycle, and they should be fine.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Buttons come with all kinds of care instructions, from "machine</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">washable" to "dry clean only" to "don't even think about cleaning it".</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I can't advise you much on the last one, other than to say that usually</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">a little bit of rubbing with a dry tissue is probably good enough to</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">remove most grime.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If I think of or hear of any other good methods, I'll post them. And if</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">you have any suggestions, I'd love to hear them -just drop me a</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">message. In the meantime, don't let finiky care instructions stop you</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">from using and enjoying beautiful buttons, even on washable items. :)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">~DragonLady</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">PS: Please note that these instructions are intended for buttons that</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">will be used and enjoyed, NOT for antiques, one-of-a-kind heirlooms or</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">collectible buttons. If you have or suspect you have an irreplaceable</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">item, please contact a restoration service or someone who can identify</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">what your button is made of and can give you professional advice. The</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">National Button Society is a good place to find someone knowledgeable</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">about your particular specimen.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.nationalbuttonsociety.org/Home.html">http://www.nationalbuttonsociety.org/Home.html</a></span>DragonLadyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14811478769182585440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1210583111416038006.post-20922435898471652772012-09-15T13:31:00.000-07:002012-09-15T13:48:07.652-07:00Choosing Buttons and Making Buttonholes<div class="content" id="pageThreeMainContent">
<br />
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Choosing Buttons & Making Buttonholes</span></h4>
<br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">A ligne is the international standard for measuring a button’s </span><span style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">diameter. Domed, thicker, or handmade buttons may require a </span><span style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">larger buttonhole. Variations in measurement often occur, so </span><span style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">all </span><span style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">button sizes should be considerate approximate.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></div>
<table border="1" cellpadding="20" cellspacing="5" style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left; width: 85px;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td align="undefined" valign="undefined">Ligne</td>
<td align="undefined" valign="undefined">Millimeters</td>
<td align="undefined" valign="undefined">Inches</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="undefined" valign="undefined">14</td>
<td align="undefined" valign="undefined">9.2</td>
<td align="undefined" valign="undefined">.362</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="undefined" valign="undefined">16</td>
<td align="undefined" valign="undefined">10.5</td>
<td align="undefined" valign="undefined">.413</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="undefined" valign="undefined">18</td>
<td align="undefined" valign="undefined">11.6</td>
<td align="undefined" valign="undefined">.457</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="undefined" valign="undefined">20</td>
<td align="undefined" valign="undefined">12.5</td>
<td align="undefined" valign="undefined">.492</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="undefined" valign="undefined">21</td>
<td align="undefined" valign="undefined">13.5</td>
<td align="undefined" valign="undefined">.531</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="undefined" valign="undefined">22</td>
<td align="undefined" valign="undefined">14.2</td>
<td align="undefined" valign="undefined">.559</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="undefined" valign="undefined">23</td>
<td align="undefined" valign="undefined">14.8</td>
<td align="undefined" valign="undefined">.583</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="undefined" valign="undefined">24</td>
<td align="undefined" valign="undefined">15.0</td>
<td align="undefined" valign="undefined">.590</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="undefined" valign="undefined">27</td>
<td align="undefined" valign="undefined">16.8</td>
<td align="undefined" valign="undefined">.661</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="undefined" valign="undefined">28</td>
<td align="undefined" valign="undefined">17.8</td>
<td align="undefined" valign="undefined">.701</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="undefined" valign="undefined">30</td>
<td align="undefined" valign="undefined">19.0</td>
<td align="undefined" valign="undefined">.748</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="undefined" valign="undefined">32</td>
<td align="undefined" valign="undefined">20.5</td>
<td align="undefined" valign="undefined">.807</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="undefined" valign="undefined">34</td>
<td align="undefined" valign="undefined">21.5</td>
<td align="undefined" valign="undefined">.846</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="undefined" valign="undefined">36</td>
<td align="undefined" valign="undefined">22.9</td>
<td align="undefined" valign="undefined">.902</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="undefined" valign="undefined">40</td>
<td align="undefined" valign="undefined">25.5</td>
<td align="undefined" valign="undefined">1.00</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<br />
<div align="left">
<span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">If the button has a
shank, the width of the shank also varies, and needs to be considered when
determining the placement of the buttonhole on a garment. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div align="left">
<span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div align="left">
<span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Buttonholes:</b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div align="left">
<span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">The buttonhole needs
to be large enough to comfortably accomodate the button. If it's too small, the
buttonhole will eventually rip or the button itself will become detached (and
maybe lost), and need to be replaced. If you've used one-of-a-kind buttons, you
may have to replace them all. So err on the side of making the buttonhole a tiny
bit larger if neccesary. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="left">
<span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Generally, the
length of a buttonhole is determined by the diameter of the button, plus 1/8".
For ball, jeweled, or oddly-shaped buttons, it may be neccesary to allow a bit
more. Always make a test buttonhole or two on a scrap of the garment fabric
before hand, so you can set your thread tension, test the stitching, and make
certain the button will go through the hole and stay in place once the garment
is fastened. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="left">
<span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">If you're using a
sewing machine that holds the button while making the buttonholes, I suggest
that when using handmade buttons you make each buttonhole to a specific button,
then make a little note of which goes where. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div align="left">
<span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Garment Design and Construction:</b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div align="left">
<span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">When the center of a
button is placed on the center line of a garment pattern block, half of it will
extend to the right, and half to the left of the center. This makes it neccesary
to extend the center edge. The width of the extension should equal the diameter
of the button. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="left">
<span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">The buttonhole
extends at least 1/16" to the left of the garment to allow for a shank button.
If a button has a very wide shank, measure the shank and extend the buttonhole
to the <b>left of the center</b> by half the measurement of the shank. The length
of the shank does not change the size of the buttonhole. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="left">
<span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">On a neckline, with
or without a set-in collar, the buttonhole is placed one-half the diameter of
the button plus 1/4" away from the neckline. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="left">
<span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">A garment without a
belt should have a button placed exactly on the waistline to maintain close fit.
For coats or suits, the button may be placed up to 1/2" above or below the
waistline if the overall appearance is improved. </span></div>
<div align="left">
<span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">For a garment with a
belt, plan and mark the buttonholes above and below the waistline so that the
belt or buckle will be at least 1 1/2" away from the buttons. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="left">
<span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">After determining
the position of the neckline and the waistline, divide the remaining space by
the number of buttonholes you want. On a woman's garment, try to place a button
right at bust level to prevent the garment from gapping open.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="left">
<span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Women's garments
always button right over left</b>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="left">
<span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>A few more notes for
better buttonholes:</b></span></div>
<div align="left">
<span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>~</b>Don't skip or skimp
on interfacing in this area. Use the same pattern piece for interfacing as for
the fashion fabric where buttons and buttonholes will be placed, so the
interfacing extends all the way to the edge of the fabric. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="left">
<span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>~</b>To mark the
buttonholes for stitching, trace them onto a piece of onion skin tracing paper,
pin the paper to the fabric, and stitch through it. This is usually more
accurate then trying to mark on the fabrics, and eliminates worry about whether
the marks will be competely removable.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="left">
<span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>~</b>Just before
stitching the buttonhole, give the lines and the area around them a few small
whacks with a hammer. Not too hard, just a quick smack-smack-smack will flatten
and smooth that area so your sewing machine will run a little better.
</span></div>
DragonLadyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14811478769182585440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1210583111416038006.post-3913195246435364122012-09-06T22:39:00.000-07:002012-09-06T22:39:40.352-07:00Site Stats: I'm listening!<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've been reading my site stats since the day I started this little biz. I read the stats provided by my server, and then I read the information available at Google Analytics, and finally, I spend a half hour or more everyday poring over my Etsy statistics.</span><div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And I promise I'm paying attention.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My stats make it very clear that a huge number of people are always looking for unusual buttons and buttons that are not readily available at the big box stores. In the coming months, I will try to start adding more items that are further away from the beaten path.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">More buttons with fantasy, mythical, or magical themes. Mermaids, dragons, fairy castles, and fairy tale icons seem to be popular. I'll be trying to add some of those next. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">More novelty buttons in more shapes and sizes, and more in themes that are appropriate for boy's clothing, crafts, and activities. I see the terms 'race cars', 'dinosaurs' and bugs are high on the list. So I will see what I can do.
</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">More horn and bone buttons. For those, I will probably have to import directly from Asia. I'll see what I can do. One of the biggest drawbacks is the enormous shipping costs and the duty taxes. I hope these will also be what is meant by the terms "primitive" and "tribal" which I see occasionally. The buttons from Asia are usually less finished and more 'rough' in appearance, which I like. A row of less-than-perfect horn buttons one a leather jacket or even a tailored coat is a nice juxtaposition, I think.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Of course, the fancy glass buttons and larger buttons for handbags and scrapbooks are always popular, so I'll keep my eye out for more of them. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I also do take special orders, so if you are looking for something and just cannot find it, let me know and I'll try to help. </span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
DragonLadyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14811478769182585440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1210583111416038006.post-83900903740638281772012-08-24T10:00:00.000-07:002012-08-24T10:55:55.850-07:00Vintage La Mode Buttons<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I took the plunge and ordered a few of these. :D</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Okay, so let's face it: most buttons exist in our lives to fasten our clothes. If we make our own clothes, and carefully choose fabrics, linings, trims, threads, and whatever else our new favorite garment requires, we usually choose buttons as fasteners first. We might agonize over a choice like 'blue or gray?' or 'do I want leather or wood?'. But sometimes, we really want a button that stands out, a button that makes the garment. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Under those circumstances, I usually think of Czech glass or rhinestones. But...sometimes those are just too formal or too fussy. To me, these fit the bill very nicely. Most of them are metal, so they can be washed and dry cleaned. They're fancy and memorable, but not over-the-top. They're vintage styles, but they don't look outdated. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My personal favorites: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">How about ten or more of these running down the back of a dress?
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://yourbuttonshop.com/images/fashion/1729_flower_filigree_button.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://yourbuttonshop.com/images/fashion/1729_flower_filigree_button.jpg" width="185" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One of these at the collar of a plain white shirt?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://yourbuttonshop.com/images/fashion/1727_art_nouveau_lady_button.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://yourbuttonshop.com/images/fashion/1727_art_nouveau_lady_button.jpg" width="183" /></a><a href="http://yourbuttonshop.com/images/fashion/1725_art_nouveau_lady.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://yourbuttonshop.com/images/fashion/1725_art_nouveau_lady.jpg" width="186" /></a> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I expect them to arrive on Monday, August 27th; but they are available for preorder now. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />DragonLadyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14811478769182585440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1210583111416038006.post-54802453653605354432012-08-22T08:35:00.000-07:002012-08-22T08:35:18.267-07:00A lot has happened since April!<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Wow! To be honest, I hadn't realized that much time had passed. I often get busy and distracted, and just don't realize months are flying by. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Let's see: first, I have lots of new Jesse James buttons in stock, and plan to carry more of them in the coming months. They're cute, they're well made, the theme sets are well thought out, and one can find something for almost any occasion. I also appreciate they are relevantly inexpensive, so buying a bunch of them to satisfy my need to "have it all" doesn't put a significant crimp in the budget.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For those of you who love luxury items, there are new Czech glass buttons and new rhinestone buttons in stock. Whether you're tailoring formal wear, making costumes or just need some bling, there's quite a few new (and old) lovelies to choose from. I do hope to carry a larger selection in the future, and I also hope to be able to carry a larger number of each style. The shipping from the Czech Republic is still prohibitive, but not impossible, and I do believe they are worth it. Many are so gorgeous they take my breath away, so I'll continue to make every effort to keep new choices on the virtual shelves. :D</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've also begun adding a few digital files for those of you who enjoy scrap booking and paper crafts. A while back I went looking for some nice Photoshop textures for a personal project and was very disappointed. There are a few sites giving away freebies, and that is nice. But then I was a bit shocked -and annoyed, tbh- at the number of people who are repackaging and selling those same freebies. So I realized that if I wanted something really unique that every graphic designer in the land wouldn't point to and say: "oh, look, it's freebie paper #88 from yourffreegrraphics.com <i>again</i>" I was going to have to make it myself. So I did. Then I thought maybe a few other people would like it, so I zipped up a couple of batches, and made them available. They can be used for business, too. So if you need a background for a business card or a texture for a brochure, that is fine.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Next up: I hope to carry more items from Bluementhal-Lansing. They manufacture the ever fashonable La Petite and La Mode lines, as well as a huge selection of craft and novelty buttons. I really love their "vintage style" line and hope to add at least half of it in the coming month or so.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />DragonLadyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14811478769182585440noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1210583111416038006.post-30824243855423128482012-08-19T07:39:00.000-07:002012-08-19T07:39:31.168-07:00I'm in! It works!Okay, so I'm not the best blogger under the best circumstances. I'm just not real good at talking to "everybody" vs talking to "somebody". <br />
<br />
But my blog completely quit working. I could read the blog itself, but I couldn't sign in and couldn't make a post.<br />
<br />
I finally gave my DH the green light to see if he could fix it, and he (of course) put it on his list of things to do before he dies, and there it sat.<br />
<br />
Well, it's finally fixed! The only problem now is that I don't know how he did it, and he claims he doesn't either, so if it happens again, I'll just be back to square one, waiting for him to do it again.<br />
<br />
But, I'm here now. <br />
<br />
I don't have much to say at the moment, so I'll have to try to come up with some interesting and juicy gossip or maybe some awesome news of world import, but for now I'll content myself with just being happy I'm here. :DDragonLadyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14811478769182585440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1210583111416038006.post-65025017798945482972012-04-10T06:25:00.004-07:002012-04-10T06:25:49.085-07:00Just in time for Earth Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYOYxL5X4CU3fNKqCV9P45RDglRJLSX_vYW4mgJgpihneU8lfdi4pk4gImhSdEBppa858PJUrKU_F7khcHUabukrdLr0JnwXXBKu2idbcbAad7UTwdgbCZgTVnNGP6YsDk2R446NdxE_sY/s1600/go_green.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYOYxL5X4CU3fNKqCV9P45RDglRJLSX_vYW4mgJgpihneU8lfdi4pk4gImhSdEBppa858PJUrKU_F7khcHUabukrdLr0JnwXXBKu2idbcbAad7UTwdgbCZgTVnNGP6YsDk2R446NdxE_sY/s320/go_green.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW8BF7MVX0wX-75AQGV4a1EWI6aJTErzViSi284Nmqywe0D4HCoV8yx5v9aQe_z1ob1m-CUcQbKsc7KdaLqoS6DhpuPlDCc-O3dc_rYJr1i99T2xVRrnlr78671wzSTdMS9Zd8pZ_HyadJ/s1600/peace_heart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW8BF7MVX0wX-75AQGV4a1EWI6aJTErzViSi284Nmqywe0D4HCoV8yx5v9aQe_z1ob1m-CUcQbKsc7KdaLqoS6DhpuPlDCc-O3dc_rYJr1i99T2xVRrnlr78671wzSTdMS9Zd8pZ_HyadJ/s320/peace_heart.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk_97ChY-wFQ9HJ3hzhgY9WtFuB6mYrWc7mcFkip83eWCH3ylNIQl3SWrx60nplMFIIHMZkp0m9a5WQ-gmO1Bt7-6sVAfOkaLkhj1hXHFj2YsJ4N0TKafAS_tHHqEDOavArEPK0UnLfboB/s1600/love.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk_97ChY-wFQ9HJ3hzhgY9WtFuB6mYrWc7mcFkip83eWCH3ylNIQl3SWrx60nplMFIIHMZkp0m9a5WQ-gmO1Bt7-6sVAfOkaLkhj1hXHFj2YsJ4N0TKafAS_tHHqEDOavArEPK0UnLfboB/s320/love.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Show off your love of 70's hippy styles and remind others of environmental concerns with Blumenthal Lansing's large <a href="http://yourbuttonshop.com/index.php?main_page=index&manufacturers_id=10" target="_blank">wooden graffiti buttons</a>. Mix 'em and match 'em to embellish mod denims, patchwork or embroidery. While you're at it, why not try making up a <a href="http://www.macramelovers.com/blog/macrame-patterns/macrame-handbag-pattern/" target="_blank">macrame handbag</a>? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<br />
<br />DragonLadyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14811478769182585440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1210583111416038006.post-8334829997397767782012-04-01T16:32:00.001-07:002012-04-01T16:36:37.185-07:00Do you read this blog?<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If so, please take a 15% discount for the month of April with coupon code "Ireadyourblog" at either venue: <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/RoadsideAttractions">http://www.etsy.com/shop/RoadsideAttractions</a> or <a href="http://yourbuttonshop.com/">http://yourbuttonshop.com</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Enjoy!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Coupon expires April 30, so act now. </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />DragonLadyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14811478769182585440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1210583111416038006.post-71852933132900598182012-03-28T23:25:00.002-07:002012-08-22T09:02:45.251-07:00Speaking of Special Orders<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">In my last blog post I said:</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #ebebeb; color: #444444; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">"Special orders welcome. If I don't have what you're wanting, I'm willing to order it in for you if possible. Just send me an </span><a href="http://yourbuttonshop.com/index.php?main_page=contact_us" style="background-color: #ebebeb; color: #3778cd; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">message</a><span style="background-color: #ebebeb; color: #444444; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> with as much information as you can: what is it, what size, how many, etc."</span></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: #ebebeb; color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">What I didn't say is: that's not just limited to buttons, beads or the other items you see listed in the store. I've ordered other things that customers have asked for, too. Paint brushes, knitting needles, glitter, and embroidery threads are a few of the items I've recently ordered for someone who asked.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">If you need something special:</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">I need to know what it is. Even though I order and sell a variety of items, I may not be familiar with the product you're looking for. So please give me as much information as you can. If you know who manufactured or distributed it, that's a real plus. If not, tell me what it is made of, what size it is, and how many you'll be needing. If it's a button that comes carded, tell me both how many cards, and how many individual buttons. Sometimes I can only buy them one way or the other.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">A good example is: "I'm looking for 12 metal dome buttons with a squirrel paw engraved on the front. They are about 3/4" and have shanks."</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Please be patient after asking -give me time to find it. It can be very difficult searching through a dozen catalogs looking for something that matches a blurry picture, or with only a few keywords to look for. </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Please don't wait until you're in a dire hurry. While I'm happy to order things, most of the time it will have to wait until I'm ordering from the company that supplies it anyway. I simply cannot place a $300.00 order and pay the shipping just to get you 2 little buttons. Doing that would put me out of business. </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Please do let me know if you find it somewhere else, so I don't waste my time looking anymore.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 18px;">Sometimes people ask for something, I go looking, then when I find it I never hear from them again, or they say 'Oh, I found those elsewhere a week ago'. I would appreciate the heads-up so I don't waste hours looking for something that is no longer wanted or needed. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 18px;">Finally, please do be prepared to pay for the items when they arrive. I promise to let you know what the items will cost before I actually place the order. If that is more than you want to pay or can comfortably afford, please just say so. I do understand completely, and it won't hurt my feelings. But being stuck with 24 Tasmanian Kazoos that I can't resell and can't send back (most wholesaler don't take returns, others charge re-stocking fees) does hurt. I will work with you, but please be prepared to work with me on the subject of payment. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: #ebebeb; color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: #ebebeb; color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">So...if you're unhappily hunting, and just can't find what you need, please don't hesitate to ask. </span></div>
<span style="background-color: #ebebeb; color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: #ebebeb; color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: #ebebeb; color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span>DragonLadyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14811478769182585440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1210583111416038006.post-58155732295026477622012-03-18T17:52:00.002-07:002012-03-18T17:57:38.937-07:00Why Buy From Your Button Shop?<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1) Real, living human providing customer service. If you have questions or concerns, just send me a <a href="http://yourbuttonshop.com/index.php?main_page=contact_us" target="_blank">message</a>. I check my email about once every two hours throughout the day, and sometimes more often. I do not employ a call center, or forward my emails to someone else.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2) Satisfaction guaranteed. If you're not happy with your purchase, I will give you a full refund. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">3) Physical inventory. While mistakes do happen, 99% of the time if something as listed as being in stock, it is. It's here, and it's ready to leap into a mailer and be on its way to you.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">4) Fast shipping. I do my absolute best to get packages out the same or next business day. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">5) No minimum. You may buy one little button or all of them. If you do, in fact, buy all of them, I'll include some really awesome freebies. :D</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">6) Privacy. I do not sell or share your information with anyone. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">7) Fully secured e-commerce site. Secure socket layers protect your data. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">8) Special orders welcome. If I don't have what you're wanting, I'm willing to order it in for you if possible. Just send me an <a href="http://yourbuttonshop.com/index.php?main_page=contact_us" target="_blank">message</a> with as much information as you can: what is it, what size, how many, etc.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">9) Items from around the world. I'm always looking for new, unique, gorgeous items from all over the globe.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">10) US based business, complying with US laws and regulations, owned by a US citizen. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<br />DragonLadyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14811478769182585440noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1210583111416038006.post-33209969690605039112012-03-13T13:29:00.000-07:002012-03-17T02:25:57.642-07:00Mirage Mood Beads<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My first encounter with these cute little beads was in a pair of earrings on Etsy. I was immediately enamored, as I like anything that changes hue. But I also thought the style would work nicely in conjunction with many of the buttons I carry for hemp jewelry, wire-wrapping, or even crazy quilting.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I didn't buy every style; as I just wanted to test the waters a bit and see how they sell. I expect them to be in by Friday, so I can get them photographed over the weekend.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">These aren't my photos, but they are good representatives:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUO0CgOd89Rh-RqprhJ4FvZL5nNehpTKZi3QeeWW5vA5-t42KWReL5AihC0D7YxQBAASPllvq8Q4-MCYJS_4FQ1DWlHjohk4__gq3yUnRT0gltBgXIlAui7jINdeqzXoZOxQ9bnbRJr4cH/s1600/fancy_flame24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUO0CgOd89Rh-RqprhJ4FvZL5nNehpTKZi3QeeWW5vA5-t42KWReL5AihC0D7YxQBAASPllvq8Q4-MCYJS_4FQ1DWlHjohk4__gq3yUnRT0gltBgXIlAui7jINdeqzXoZOxQ9bnbRJr4cH/s320/fancy_flame24.jpg" width="228" /></span></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM-RQs9KtSzVt8tA9AInLWq2XrZjSX_P4MdntefKS-odKdY-cgck6JpCN5eNKJu5vCnJDnvRaFsoPVUpPVtoVOFPxvFEMSuDRN_OmhZ_h_W9NYY0X4nDrQ-A-Xx-v6NrOg4JvngGOwSiS0/s1600/fountain_fern.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM-RQs9KtSzVt8tA9AInLWq2XrZjSX_P4MdntefKS-odKdY-cgck6JpCN5eNKJu5vCnJDnvRaFsoPVUpPVtoVOFPxvFEMSuDRN_OmhZ_h_W9NYY0X4nDrQ-A-Xx-v6NrOg4JvngGOwSiS0/s320/fountain_fern.jpg" width="187" /></span></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy_bVEq_85AWrDgp1u0JYnqroi-v_FjEs4e57k8ak5_5eYNmItFMGm6Ro1c1GD1CpQnUiI2rCZlgj0Fd5xEWWvuQlVZ25rlt5tooMjr1OTPJCEjvLv8l2_OoGYzF1Noe9lvLaaq_l0yvU0/s1600/honey_bee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy_bVEq_85AWrDgp1u0JYnqroi-v_FjEs4e57k8ak5_5eYNmItFMGm6Ro1c1GD1CpQnUiI2rCZlgj0Fd5xEWWvuQlVZ25rlt5tooMjr1OTPJCEjvLv8l2_OoGYzF1Noe9lvLaaq_l0yvU0/s320/honey_bee.jpg" width="203" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If they prove to be popular, I'll try to carry more items like them.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Edited to say most of the new beads are available <a href="http://yourbuttonshop.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=65_174" target="_blank">here</a>. </span></div>
<br />DragonLadyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14811478769182585440noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1210583111416038006.post-57440886265687633202012-02-29T21:15:00.003-08:002012-02-29T21:15:46.878-08:00I'm easy! Really!<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I get emails sometimes from customers who don't want to use my shopping cart or who have trouble navigating through it. Most people only need fill up their cart, go to checkout, then hit the big orange button that will take them directly to PayPal. But...sometimes it just doesn't work that way.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A few people still don't feel secure shopping online. Some don't have PayPal accounts. A few are just convinced that a check in the mail is the only "right way" to buy something that will arrive via the post office.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Whatever. I'm easy.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's perfectly okay to simply log in to your PayPal account, and send me the money directly with a list of the items you want. Or email me the list and I'll send you a PayPal invoice. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you really don't like online transactions, that's okay, too I can't take phone orders at this time, but I do take money orders. If you feel more comfortable sending me a letter with details of your order and a money order, that is fine. One caveat: I can't promise the items you want will still be available by the time your letter arrives. I might be sold completely out, and may or may not be able to order more in a reasonable time frame.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The point is, the order can be taken and processed whichever way makes you most comfortable. The shopping cart is probably fastest and easiest for most (and it is completely secured) but if you don't like it, just send me a message and we'll work something else out.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />DragonLadyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14811478769182585440noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1210583111416038006.post-72650242196045210232012-02-27T19:39:00.000-08:002012-02-27T19:41:39.894-08:00I think I might be hungry....<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And if I wasn't when I started this post, I certainly will be soon!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I just discovered edible buttons! I was talking to my DH about making molds of various items a while back, and I mentioned that sometimes people use buttons for that purpose (always happy to bring buttons into any conversation, and DH has learned to ignore it). He brought up "food safe molds" and the idea popped into my head -could buttons be used as molds for candy?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That led to a quick search...and look what I found: </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We have <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/82181382/25-chocolate-buttons-burnt-copper?ref=sr_gallery_3&sref=&ga_includes%5B0%5D=tags&ga_search_query=edible+buttons&ga_search_type=all&ga_facet=" target="_blank">chocolate buttons</a>! Once upon a time, many years ago, my sister and I had a seal point siamese cat named "chocolate buttons" so one day I may just have to order a box of these. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB3yEgS-ic5B_LB9WvRGcMlPxTPWm3eBm2cDlm2rLwaUpB5p3yhyphenhyphenZYlzhG-mWJucYaHBeAn3mkYHMl3Se-vg474gO7ambvwKexgrZvNftUFBx756EgfZRQqbtky3I1TTl99fOlJckL4FQf/s1600/chocolate_buttons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB3yEgS-ic5B_LB9WvRGcMlPxTPWm3eBm2cDlm2rLwaUpB5p3yhyphenhyphenZYlzhG-mWJucYaHBeAn3mkYHMl3Se-vg474gO7ambvwKexgrZvNftUFBx756EgfZRQqbtky3I1TTl99fOlJckL4FQf/s320/chocolate_buttons.jpg" width="230" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">How about vintage buttons -<a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/72626882/edible-sugar-vintage-inspired-buttons?ref=sr_gallery_2&sref=&ga_includes%5B0%5D=tags&ga_search_query=edible+buttons&ga_search_type=all&ga_facet=" target="_blank">made of sugar</a>? What a wedding favor those could be!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQCE-SKXY4w79JfAYNVEpSTOcS6VUVEvhNkCMlFcHcbJtGTArSnUaBlabET-mzL1v6PUZt7wMUTEVHm8NHO0r_eXHT8_EyqhidkR_tisGVlbQaKNw_RwmuCOOvI6tB4AaGzAkrHDxzJTdw/s1600/sugar_vintage_buttons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQCE-SKXY4w79JfAYNVEpSTOcS6VUVEvhNkCMlFcHcbJtGTArSnUaBlabET-mzL1v6PUZt7wMUTEVHm8NHO0r_eXHT8_EyqhidkR_tisGVlbQaKNw_RwmuCOOvI6tB4AaGzAkrHDxzJTdw/s320/sugar_vintage_buttons.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you're craving something more colorful, maybe <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/93356128/fondant-button-sampler-set-of-8?ref=sc_1&sref=sr_206eda4b3f66adf809668db5c8048f7eb51035c7f0c1010215e74aa99f005a0b_1330399986_14203720_button" target="_blank">fondant buttons</a> are more your taste? I think these might be a hit for a sewing retreat or quilting bee.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY9KQH_elJ8m84sKrKrSh-1DbOH_bouSOm8Vt68DwtT5hEcMJuBVjzi6VjQ7iYYjqlgfgMhckGxHdtCZm3FLMc7-PPMBtuhbqoE27tirF3ik47TyC9UHmLccys3k2QaisnHdBkAAL-9agP/s1600/fondant_button_sampler.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY9KQH_elJ8m84sKrKrSh-1DbOH_bouSOm8Vt68DwtT5hEcMJuBVjzi6VjQ7iYYjqlgfgMhckGxHdtCZm3FLMc7-PPMBtuhbqoE27tirF3ik47TyC9UHmLccys3k2QaisnHdBkAAL-9agP/s1600/fondant_button_sampler.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now I just need to find the perfect blend of coffee to enjoy with them. :D</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />DragonLadyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14811478769182585440noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1210583111416038006.post-80375870287509760332012-02-26T09:59:00.002-08:002012-02-27T19:16:56.705-08:00<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sometimes I spin yarns in my head about the buttons I'm working with. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I dearly loved Alice in Wonderland and always suspected the Queen of Hearts was so grumpy because her guests didn't bring very nice hostess gifts to her unbirthday party. Maybe a nice set of gloves to match her outfit would've mollified her a bit. Although...when the guests are the March Hare, the Mad Hatter and a dormouse, maybe all bets are off (with their heads, of course). </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGHMRGugHiibFeXzH5kASf2u4oJuj673L4THHdZ1WK0Ql1EUuhQGya43F_KpHRUQqXwpAc1shUBPLNGr6s845dAaU2X1qjJpdlbIUe3rkJCKTMAb8JQsqzqDVtQY-zXGKuQdU4ATqku17f/s1600/queen_of_hearts_button.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGHMRGugHiibFeXzH5kASf2u4oJuj673L4THHdZ1WK0Ql1EUuhQGya43F_KpHRUQqXwpAc1shUBPLNGr6s845dAaU2X1qjJpdlbIUe3rkJCKTMAb8JQsqzqDVtQY-zXGKuQdU4ATqku17f/s320/queen_of_hearts_button.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">While I'm remembering old stories, how about this button to represent the Red Brick Road to Glenda the Good's home in the land of the Quadlings? </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvng0T6AzhPdD7h45L7jMKsnJutkPzfvEzD099nBvNFgeWyCdTY4FKvbzh9A7O4tnwpNWciKs7idI-gMf_MRHLFkYLYI1HB4JsL5F70W3nMCWUqe9eg64A0ioRXtiImstRtXL8hy7IOUN5/s1600/red_brick_road.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvng0T6AzhPdD7h45L7jMKsnJutkPzfvEzD099nBvNFgeWyCdTY4FKvbzh9A7O4tnwpNWciKs7idI-gMf_MRHLFkYLYI1HB4JsL5F70W3nMCWUqe9eg64A0ioRXtiImstRtXL8hy7IOUN5/s320/red_brick_road.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've always wanted a pair of ruby mary janes, and I'm certain someone in Oz could stitch up another pair, if asked very nicely (and maybe bribed a bit), and I'm sure these would be perfect for them. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">These buttons are available for purchase <a href="http://yourbuttonshop.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=33_35&products_id=643" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="http://yourbuttonshop.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=33_35&products_id=647" target="_blank">here</a>, and in my <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/RoadsideAttractions?ref=si_shop" target="_blank">Etsy</a> shop. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>DragonLadyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14811478769182585440noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1210583111416038006.post-26769016379800988192012-02-24T22:15:00.001-08:002012-02-24T22:24:39.172-08:00Sometimes, things go wrong. Very, very wrong. :(<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Today, something went wrong with one of my orders. FML.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">No, it's true. Someone had me special order some buttons I had discontinued, so I did...and when they arrived, I took them from the shipper, transferred them to a mailer for her, and enthusiastically let her know they were here and ready to go home.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Fast forward to this afternoon, when I received an email from her saying the buttons were only 1/2 the size they were supposed to be! Wow! I had not even noticed they were not the same...ouch.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I want my customers to rip open their packages and feel immensely satisfied and happy with their purchases, not disappointed and irate because all is not as it should be or as they had hoped. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bottom line is: sometimes things go wrong. If you order from me, and something goes wrong, please don't hesitate to let me know right away. <i>I promise I will do everything I can to make it right. </i></span>DragonLadyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14811478769182585440noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1210583111416038006.post-77433715422510715922012-02-23T21:00:00.000-08:002012-02-23T21:00:28.602-08:00Brand new buttons have arrived!<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I just received a whole box of new glass buttons from the Czech Republic. Over the next few days I'll be photographing them and making them available on both shopping sites. I can already say they are lovely!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the meantime, I'd like to share a couple of my favorite items that my customers have made with the buttons they purchased. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/93676255/reserved-the-oriental-vine-lover" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Isn't this a lovely hair stick? </span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEXBTPirfC6USuVuqlbZWocPw5rv8Mb_e2ROGyWuw2bvUvCijaWhtMqmAKC23B0IvHCgxZae1p2yFdw-PFdmSmLajBXYgJn6uTbv0eX5Vm2qCxwUZmj7s1HZ5YJdyVr2n_5Rrjd8dcjMYM/s1600/TT_Hairstick.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEXBTPirfC6USuVuqlbZWocPw5rv8Mb_e2ROGyWuw2bvUvCijaWhtMqmAKC23B0IvHCgxZae1p2yFdw-PFdmSmLajBXYgJn6uTbv0eX5Vm2qCxwUZmj7s1HZ5YJdyVr2n_5Rrjd8dcjMYM/s320/TT_Hairstick.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Timberstone Turnings always does fantastic work, IMO, but I'm partial to the ones that use my buttons. ;) This particular beauty is reserved for someone, but I'm sure they would be happy to make another. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/76373373/iridescent-czech-button-and-leather" target="_blank">I also like this leather necklace by Spiral Stew.</a> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW-jZcJKHXEQI59L9QJVfhupBSwgoxljBDj6vAbQhFC7iZoL63UeWn7yDiFYtj4b8orjGewk97vsriiUHlYRtEriC_oRKQAImvqcFut8wpbq-9loDvWVsezEa0LjUrAvhL0aepEDa8DIJA/s1600/SS_Leather_Necklace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW-jZcJKHXEQI59L9QJVfhupBSwgoxljBDj6vAbQhFC7iZoL63UeWn7yDiFYtj4b8orjGewk97vsriiUHlYRtEriC_oRKQAImvqcFut8wpbq-9loDvWVsezEa0LjUrAvhL0aepEDa8DIJA/s320/SS_Leather_Necklace.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Quite a few of her creations are made with buttons, or by using buttons as molds to model clay into small cabochons for her jewelry. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I could go on and on, as I dearly love seeing the items my customers make, but...the new buttons and my camera are waiting, so I'd better go. </span></div>
<br />
<br />DragonLadyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14811478769182585440noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1210583111416038006.post-37298343663268486172012-02-18T08:39:00.000-08:002012-02-18T08:39:35.969-08:00Life is short: Buy the Buttons!I'm continually getting emails that say something like: "DL...last (week, month, year) you had some buttons in your shop. They were (round, square, purple, orange) and I loved them. But now I can't find them. Do you have any more?"<br />
<br />
Sadly, many of the buttons I carry are not available in large quantities, and are not around for long. A simple fact of retail is that slower-moving items stop being offered. Other times the resources (like 14k gold or sterling silver) used to make a particular button drive the prices up too high to be readily affordable, or the artisan simply moves on and decides to focus on a new direction. Either way, the quantities are limited, and once they're gone, they're gone.<br />
<br />
I see having a button stash much the same way as having a fabric stash or a collection of art supplies on hand. You may not have a particular use for them when you see them, but if you like them, buy them up -you never know when inspiration will strike, when a particular project will just cry for an item seen somewhere last month or when you'll simply decide the time is right to use them up. And if you are working on a project that calls for three or four, buy an extra, because you may never be able to find another that is a perfect match later.<br />
<br />
OTOH, when replacing the buttons on a garment, if the old ones are unique or handmade, keep them! You just may decide you need them later for another garment or they may prove the perfect finishing touch for a scrapbook page, handbag, or custom jewelry item.... Buttons have so many uses and purposes that I firmly believe you -or a friend - will most likely find something, somewhere they will be perfect for. <br />
<br />
Life is short...buy the buttons, the incredible fabric, the art supplies, the shoes or other items you love. You may not have another chance, and even if you can't picture a project or use right away, you'll know that when the right idea hatches, you'll have the most beautiful supplies to make it with right at hand.DragonLadyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14811478769182585440noreply@blogger.com0