Buttons Galore

This is part three on the inspiration I get from Pinterest.

(letss1.tumblr.com)

There is a fascination for me of jars filled with buttons. The variation in the tones of white, the sizes, the shapes, the textures and the luminosity makes me want to find a way to display them. Or maybe I just like to play with them.

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Sometimes putting them in a pretty jar is all that is needed to display a collection of buttons.

(zoomin24-7.blogspot.com)

I thought this jar worked well for these identical buttons.

(lauracaseyinteriors.com)

I pin my button ideas to either my DIY board or my Neat Stuff board on pinterest so I have it for reference when I feel like some button therapy.

(clothpaperscissors.com)

I haven't tried this one yet but I think it is rising to the top of that "must try" list.

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This one is awesome. It would be fun to do a series of dresses in buttons....if I could just stay focused long enough.

(zoomin24-7.blogspot.com)

I was losing interest by the time I finished this pillow so I'm not sure I have the attention span required for a series of anything. The blog post on this pillow can be found here.

(lilybeanpaperie.typepad.com)

I thought these were quite sweet and I did make 3 of them. That project is on hold until I get the right gauge of wire but I think I'll make more. They are easy enough when you have the right materials.

Many times going back to the origin of these projects does not net you any instructions so there is some trial and error involved. (FYI: a dab of glue on the paper petal to hold it close to the button helps.)

Here they are in sepia...not the full bouquet I saw on Pinterest but I like this just as well.

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Here is a variation on the flower idea and I will probably give that a whirl too.

(fionaandtwig.blogspot.com)

This is a little country for me so I doubt I'll make this but I threw it in for those of you who might get inspiration from it. Maybe a tree for Christmas done in all button ornaments...who is feeling industrious?

I kept playing with my arrangement as you can see from these photographs.

I gathered the white and creamy buttons in my collection and arranged them with a few other items. Then I played with Picasa for some different effects.

Pencil sketch is an interesting variation. I like the way it makes my vintage postcard stand out. I saw the picture/card holder on Pinterest too.

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I have several glass doorknobs and I want to make these for sure. Again, no instructions so I need to find the right gauge wire and....

(zoomin24-7.blogspot.com)

perfect my technique.

I am still struggling with lighting techniques as well.

The effects offered in Picasa do make it easy to give some "so-so" photos a little edge.

Before dismanteling all my props, I had to snap a few with my antique sewing machine.

I played with effects here...

and here.

and couldn't resist the pencil sketch one more time.

All in all I had several hours of cheap entertainment just playing with my stuff. Retirement is a lot like early childhood. It's all about playing with your favorite things.

On The Upswing

After the last post, it seemed a good idea to do a follow up post to report that things are moving along nicely. This shot was taken before the remodel started. The door at the end of the hallway leads into the bath now being remodeled. This is where the changes started. The trim is off the doorway and the door opening will be enlarged to the width of the hallway. This shot taken of that same area now looks like this. By closing the entrance from the hallway, that bathroom will now be the master bath by keeping the entrance from the bedroom only. This is how it looks from the bathroom side. the door on the left leads to the hallway and the one on the right into the bedroom. Now it looks like this. Part of the hallway has become part of the bathroom. This is where the vanity will be installed. The partial doorway you see on the right leads to the bedroom. Turning 180 degrees and looking across the room to the opposite corner, you see the window and the en

Out of No Where

Isn't it uncanny how a project can sneak into an already crowded schedule? Recently a friend invited me to do a walk through on a two-family he was planning to buy. A couple pieces of furniture had been left behind and they were dumpster material to him. Did I go with him thinking there was something there for me? NO. Was I looking for something in particular? NO. Did the thought of finding a new project ever cross my mind? NO! But, see for yourself. Could you have passed this up? It was sturdy (translates to a little heavy). There was nothing wrong with it. It even had all the shelves and the pins that hold them in place. And without the shelves it was not quite as heavy. (Try telling me that as my friend and I are hauling it down a flight of stairs.) More shelving on the side made it even more practical. I'm sure they could be used for something besides VHS tapes. Here it is in my studio where I could do a complete assessment. Looks like a good cleaning

Small Storage Containers RECYCLED

With the way grocery products have skyrocketed this past year, it has somehow made the containers they come in seem more valuable. To be transparent, I have always saved glass jars from jam, pickles, and spaghetti sauce.=) You know, small, medium and large. I also saved yogurt cups, sour cream containers, etc. When I was painting furniture and mixing colors, the small containers came in handy. This past summer I got a good laugh when I found a stack of yogurt containers in the back of a cabinet in my studio...at least 60! Needless to say those made it into the trash. More recently I have collected a fair amount of plastic containers with lids that are similar to the food saving containers you buy for that purpose. These are fairly large, about 5x7 inches and approximately 3" deep. They are great for leftovers but also good for storing a multitude of other smallish items. The bottoms are see through which makes them perfect for organizing hobby/craft and workshop items. But once a

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