Changing Gears

A whole year has come and gone since I started working at a local flower shop. It has been a year of learning and a year of change and growth. I have decided to leave my job there and pursue other dreams. I don't have photos of my bouquets I put together for customers during this time (which you might be thankful for... ;o)

Instead, will this qualify as proof that I really have been working at a flower shop??? This is what I managed to assemble for myself from the "unsaleable" odds and ends left after closing on my second to last weekend of work. I had no preconceived idea for this, but was very happy with the colour combination and variety when I finished.

Next up, another hat. The morning I put the beret on for work, I knew it needed a little special something. I started digging through my vintage brooches and found this treasure. This brooch belonged to my maternal grandmother and this is the first time I have worn it. I used to wear brooches and such all the time when I was younger (read: before having kids) and got out of the habit, but think it's time to return to my vintage pieces. I do love vintage jewelry.

It really seems that it's all about hats with me these days. Which leads me to share with you that a door has opened for me to begin marketing my creations. I have had a vendor at the farmers market approach me to ask if I would like to try selling my hats in her booth.

I said, "Yes!" This weekend I will have two hats available in her booth and will see where the venture leads.

It looks like leather...

and it goes great with corduroy to make my second version of a newsboy style cap. Yet, the fabric I used for the brim and band are 100% polyester. I originally bought this fabric when I made cowboy "chaps" for my sons several years back. The great thing I'm discovering with my hat making experiments, is that sometimes all you need are scraps.

Pairing corduroy (from an outgrown shirt of my son's) and these "leather-like" scraps gave me a comfy and casual styled hat.

I'm still staying simple with my detailing. I used a twin needle to do my top stitching in thread coloured to match the "leather" and used a self covered button to add to the very top of the hat.

I'm enjoying the learning process (and the wearable end results) of my hat making ventures. I will come clean and tell you that not all of my "great" ideas have resulted in hats I'm happy to wear. I've definitely stitched up some 'tossers'. I won't be posing in them. They're that bad. They do seem to be a part of my creative process - I learn something every time I make a flop and I'm grateful for that much. Just curious, what do you do when you make a 'tosser'?

Still here and still crafting....

Eek. I can't believe how long it's been since I last posted. Thankfully, I recovered from that nasty bug I caught just before Valentine's Day. I wasn't a 100% when I went to work that weekend, but I survived and am recovered now.

While I was on the mend and didn't have the energy to even sew I still wanted to be "making". I sat down and sorted through what I could do that didn't require too much concentration or energy ( I was so weak and without stamina), so here's what I came up with...


a button bracelet made completely from my stash of buttons and some glass beads I'd also been saving.

My technique for working with wire needs some refining, but it was so much fun!

I was able to use one-of-a-kind and special to me buttons. Like the sparkly ones Nicolette sent me and the pearly white ones from Corry. My new bracelet has survived its test run at the flower shop as well as receiving interested looks. I love it and now I'm thinking I need some earrings and a button necklace to complete the ensemble. ;o) More good reasons to keep collecting buttons, right?