Art Buttons and Felt Flowers

I promised I would post the directions for this project a month ago. Sorry for the delay.

Supplies needed:
Felt :: 1" Button :: 3/4" Art Buttons :: Pattern :: 18 gauge wire
24 gauge wire :: Small pot

Make your pattern, I drew around the 1" button then added petals. Cut out the flower.

Cut 2" of 24 gauge wire, I used copper, any kind can be used. Center the 3/4" Art Button on the flower. Use a needle or piece of the 24 gauge and poke it through the button holes felt, wiggle it around to separate the fibers of the felt. Fold your 2" piece of wire lightly in half. From the back side of the flower, push the wire through the button holes to the top and twist once. Lay the wire down flat so it is out of the way. Putting the stamen wire in now keeps these 2 pieces together while adding the stem wire.

Cut 6" of 18 gauge wire. From the backside of the flower push the wire through one of the button holes. Approximately 1 3/4" through the flower, bend 90º, as you would when making a wire loop. Slide the long end of the wire up further from the top, enough so you can finish bending the wire to go back down through the other button hole. The wire will naturally want to curve and cross. Straighten a little as you go to make it easier to push it down through both holes. With your wire straigthened and through both button holes, slide the 1" button onto the wire and through both button holes. I used shell buttons because it's what I could find in my studio. Plastic would work also.

Wrap the short end of wire around the long piece of wire. Use your pliers to bend the tail of the wire into the stem.
Curl your stamen wire.
Repeat this as many times as you would like for your bouquet.

I used a small terra cotta pot for my flowers. A yogurt cup would work. Decorate the container. Put styrofoam, flower foam or in my case, clay (it was within reach in the studio), in the bottom of the pot. Place wood Excelsior, paper shred, easter grass, yarn, whatever you like on top. Arrange your flowers. Viola!! A gift your mother or yourself.

Studio Saturday at Art Bead Scene

I found this cool website where you make a talking character (free!) for your website or blog. So I just had to make one! I tried to make it look like myself and this was as close as I could get. My buttons are the background. I used Quicktime to record my voice. It is now on the homepage of my website. I put the little character on the left just in case you don't have Flash Player to make it to work.

Visit Art Bead Scene, leave a comment on today's post and you could win a prize!

Blog Slacker and Life

Nancy at The Rabbit Muse just posted that she is a "slacker of the blog." Well, I am right there with you! Don't get me wrong I always have something to say but it doesn't translate into being put on a blog. I'm hoping to get better at blogging. Well maybe more consistent.

I will be taking the summer off. My husband is a teacher and he is off for the summer. So, I decided to take the summer off also. Maybe I will get my kitchen finished, clean out the garage, paint my studio, finish the floor in the basement, landscape, convince my husband he wants to extend the front porch, the list goes on and on. Unless I crack the whip nothing gets done on, in or around the house.
I am not doing any shows this year except the Wool Festival in September. Plus I am not advertising to save money this year. I really need some down time. My juggling act isn't going so well. All the balls seem to have been on the floor more than in the air.
The 3 R's are needed-rest, reflect and reassess.
What do I want to be when I grow up? Do I want to continue or do I need to find another path? I have been asking myself this a lot lately. I am in search of answers and unsure of what the outcome will be. My creativity makes me restless so I won't be idle for long. I really have a strong desire to paint again. It may be something I do for a while and get it out of my system.
Any thoughts?

It's my Birthday!

I will post the directions for this project on my blog soon.

Till then visit Art Bead Scene.
Leave a comment on ABS for today's post and you could win a set of buttons!

I'm off to go play for my Birthday!

Make Stuff, the Economy is bad!

This article from the NY Times was posted on the Shiny Little Things blog by Cynthia of Ornamentea. It was amusing and it made sense that in a down economy people learn to make things and once again use thier hands. We stay at home, where it's less expensive, and make wonderful handmade items for ourselves and others. I think this is fantastic! We all need to learn how to be creative and work with our hands and minds...fine tune our small motor skills.
This article goes with a news report I heard that in a bad economy lipstick sales increase. The top selling color is red like what Marilyn Monroe wore. Lipstick is something you can buy rather inexpensive and it makes you look and feel better.
So ladies, go buy that tube of red lipstick, put it on and start creating! You look marvelous as you bead, knit, crochet, felt, quilt, make jewelry, paint, sculpt, glue, sketch, or anything that is creative and makes you feel good.

Get your Sass on!

I'll be wearing my Fred Babb T-shirt that says "Go to your Studio and Make Stuff"

Grandma Lady

I'm a grandma again! Way too young to be a grandma at 48, even though I love it! I was in Minneapolis last week for the birth of Alexander Jack. A beautiful, healthy 8lb8oz baby boy. This is my daughter Kristen and Artem's (husband), second child. Shown also is big sister Anastasia who calls me "Grandma Lady." It's been quite an adjustment for her especially at 2 1/2. Kristen is my oldest child. Kali, in the second picture, who is beaming as she holds Alexander, she is my youngest child. There is a sixteen year difference between she and Kristen. It's insane, I know. We have yours, mine and ours. Kali is ours, Kristen is mine, with 4 more in between of mine(2) and yours(2).
My life revolves around my family. I have weeks where I don't seem to accomplish much at all in the studio. It's really tough when there are orders to fill. I have a family with 3 still at home, they have to come first.
Don't get me wrong I have many days where I want to lock myself in my studio and ignore everything so I can get work done. It's tough to ignore the banging on the door :) and the what's for dinner question!

Waiting

I'm in Minneapolis waiting for thr birth of my second grandchild.
We are all patiently waiting.
Things should get back to normal when I return.

Rock On!