buttons, buttons ...

Here are the buttons I designed for the Embroidered Button Swap sponsored by greetingarts. I wondered, "How much of a design can I get into a 1-inch button and embroider the details?" A lot, I figured out. I carried around a square of paper with a 1-inch hole cut out. I would stop at all the card displays at Hallmark, Publix, Wal-Mart and put the circle up to sweet designs I found on cards. That's how I drew the rubber ducky design (I bought the little gift card). The teapot came to me while sitting in my studio embroidering and looking at some fabric my sister-in-law has picked out for an apron - teapots. So, I traced out my little circle and started drawing teapots. I had to cut out the main part of the design, a beehive like shape for the pot, center that on the fabric within the circle area, and trace around it. Then I added the spout and handle. The boat came from an embroidery book suggested by oldschoolacres, called Embroidered Treasures for Children. That book has the little embroidered baby shoes pattern, too. The butterfly came from a great book I found at the bookstore the other day and bought on Amazon's second market. I think all crafters will like it. It is Sew Pretty Homestyle, by Tone Finnanger. You won't be sorry to purchase it. There are a lot of good ideas in there, and I have one in the making for the -- are you ready? -- Fall Swap that I joined. Okay, okay, I'm going to stop soon -- I think. It's really a lot of fun, AND, if you know what is going on at my house lately, this blogging and these swaps have been a real blessing to me while I care for my grandmother. They keep me busy, entertained, and on my toes. Otherwise, the hours in the day gets lost with caretaking. So, maybe I won't stop just yet! Well, back to the buttons. I am expecting to receive five buttons in return. As soon as those come, I'll update this little piece as well as my flickr with my new prized buttons and you can see what little masterpieces come my way. I'm just wondering what to do with them!