It's About Big Buttons at GoofingOff Sewing

When out thrifting I am attracted to sewing stuff, especially vintage sewing stuff. supplies. I can sniff them out better than an old coon dog on a trail….which leads me to this post. Buttons. Lots of buttons of all types, colors, and sizes. Today it is about these big, beautiful buttons.

Big buttons are more than closure devices. When buttons are big they have the ability to show off, to shout out on their own. They become a focal point of a design. They are much more than a way to close a coat.

Tan shank buttons with copper inset, 1 1/2 inch diameter

These buttons were most likely a rescue from an old coats that had seen better days. I found them in the most adorable sewing basket at an estate sale. I will share that later. Today, it’s about the buttons.
The buttons are big, 1 1/2 inches in diameter. They are made of a plastic material, maybe Bakelite. The round brown insert is copper. The buttons have a metal shank.

Black textured buttons

These buttons are big, thick, and textured. 1 1/2 inches in diameter. A heavy button that would stand up to the thickest wool. The hole is recessed in the back.

Jade green buttons 1 1/4 inch diameter

These lovely jade color buttons are 1 1/4 inch diameter. A small mark on the side of one. Still, lots of vivid, beautiful color.

Post by Eileen of GoofingOff Sewing. Make magic with every stitch.

Ralph Lauren, Dramatic Capes, Fanciful Felines, Asian Styling, and Soft Trucks

New pattern listings in the GoofingOff Sewing Supplies shop.

Evening gown with halter neckline, Ralph Lauren designer

Add a touch of drama with these gorgeous capes.

Fanciful Cats, Pricilla and Percival, McCall’s 4531.

Soft trucks for the little ones.

Design your own Asian style outfit with Simplicity 9868.

I also listed some extra wide bias tape and hand-made pincushions. The pincushions were made by moi (didn’t know I could speak French, did ya?). I cut the bias tape, too. I like my bias tape a little wider than I can find in the stores. I figure there’s a few folks out there that feel the same.

 

 

Happy Stitching! Keep those seams straight!

Post by Miss Eileen aka GoofingOff

MissEileen vintage
Goofingoff Etsy Judaic fabrics, sewing patterns
GoofingOff Artfire Sewing patterns, plus size patterns
Metal Woods N Water unusual stuff and metal work

Gift Ideas

There are some people ready for the holidays. They have all their gift shopping done, cookies baked, and home decorated. Then there are people like me. Shopping, not a clue. Cookies, not yet. Decorate? I made a couple of stockings and the wreath is half done. So, if you are like me, you need a few ideas, a list, and a nudge. OK, a push. Here's a few ideas from my friends at Etsy.  My Snowflake Pyrex casserole dish is in this one. Beautiful collection.

 

'let it be beach christmas!' by EJbutik

<> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <>

Winter Photo-Christmas photo... Maddenphotogra... $15.00	Crochet snowflake - Christma... maricatimonsin... $12.00	Santa dreams of a blue Chris... KClarkPhotogra... $7.00
RESERVED FOR LM Last One Chr... CaptainCat $28.00	Porcelain Sea Urchin Bud Vas... blueroompotter... $28.00	CARD "Ho Ho Ho" Or... PhotographyByA... $6.50
Unique Christmas Gift - Canv... MedBeachStones $24.00	Turquoise Stoneware Bell Wit... MyClayDay $20.00	CARD "Starfish Christma... PhotographyByA... $6.50
RESERVED for Sonia - Friends... winkcreations $30.00	Leather medium size cross b... rinarts $36.00	At the Beach Tissue Paper Po... PrettywithSpri... $25.00
CARD "Christmas Breeze&... PhotographyByA... $6.50	Large Beach hut doorstop martinasmith $40.00	Vintage Pyrex Snowflake Turq... misseileen $18.00
Light Sand Color Adjustable ... beliz82 $35.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

  Post by Eileen Patterson of GoofingOff.Etsy (sewing supplies), GoofingOff.Artfire (more sewing supplies) and MissEileen (vintage fun)

Fashion Week: Miss Eileen’s Etsy Picks 9.9.11

September is such an important month. Not only is it National Sewing Month but the autumnal equinox occurs, school begins, the Jewish High Holidays are during September, and last, but in no way least, Fashion Week just started. For someone like me, not quite the fashionista, Fashion Week is something that happens in NY and will filter down to my local Wally World eventually, but to a fashionista like my beloved daughter, it is a downright cause for celebration. Lucky her, this year she is going to be in NY for fashion week. Nice. Hope she sends me pictures. I would like to know what I might be wearing (or most likely NOT wearing) next year.
In any case, I’ve been looking around Etsy again for some of the coolest shops with the most wonderful items. I learned a long time ago that cool designs will be copied and mass produced too soon by folks in other lands. Often you will find the coolest on sites like Etsy and Artfire.
Here’s what I found.
 

Black Leather with Metallic Blue Bow Tie Necklace 14 inch Length Beautiful Repurposed Leather Silver Chain Accessory by A Little Leather

Bows are classic but I like the use of leather. A little different but still traditional. Cute and understated.

 Blue Inductor Earrings by GeekkiBoutikki

I still can’t get over the idea these beautiful earrings were once electronic parts. Recycled is always chic.

                                                         Swirly Pop Felt Bag by YUMMI by CraftasticParties Love the use of color in this bag. Brings a smile to my face whenever I see it.

 

Cranberry Small Pleasures Mini Shoulder Bag by LBArtworks 

 Love the design and the use of natural wood for buttons and hardware.

Paisley Ink Iku Dress Baby Doll Style by ThreeLittleDucksAust 

A style from the 60’s updated. Love it!

 

Stepping Out Black Faux Fur and Leather Spats by KimKatBags 

Good way to change the look of shoes and these are cool!

Bolero Jacket Shrug In Black Trimmed with Elegant Black Chinese Silk Long Sleeved by PixiePocket

Beautiful shrug that graces any dress it is worn with.

 

Empress Style Dream Coat by Enlightened Platypus Amazing coat!

OK, those are my picks. What do you think?
Post by Eileen
Etsy Shops
GoofingOff


MissEileen


MetalWoodsnWater
and
GoofingOff Artfire

Don’t forget to check out the costume pattern sale going on now and remember to use the coupon code HALLOWEEN for 40% off all costume sewing patterns!

A Day Off

My day off from work. Never before has there been such a misnomer as “a day off.” For me, a day off translates to “I don’t have to get up at 4:40 AM and drive 50 miles to work inside for 12 hours.” I’m still working. The list for the day is so long I that the hospital stuff looks easy, or at least not so hectic. Anyone else feel that way? Need a day off from your day off, a vacation from the vacation? That’s my life.

My crochet is picking up. Finally. My hands are remembering the stitches my brain forgot long ago. I am almost done with my handbag. Just need to add the lining. I must have put the pieces together 5 times until it I looked right or the handle wasn’t twisted. Pictures will follow for sure.

Now I am looking for more projects. I feel the excitement building with each idea. I love the stitching process. I find it soothing. It is my therapy without the price tag of a counseling session and without the side effects of medication. Like a good book where you savor every delicious word I relish each stitch and almost mourn the completion of the project. Got to get over that, though. Too many incomplete projects that way.

Lots to list on Etsy, too. Here are some of the treasures I’ll be listing and the respective shops:

MetalWoodsnWater

Sweet Camping Manual from 1967. 

Oyster shells with barnacles on one side and pearls forming on the other side.

MissEileen

 Vintage crystal atomizer.

Yes, that is a mink cuff in the picture. Yummy soft, too.

 Vintage handheld mirror. Check out the detail!

Vintage Owl Ring

Isn’t this sweet?

GoofingOff

 Vintage Vogue Christening Gown Pattern

Vintage China Pitcher, European made

Dainty and gorgeous. Fabulous roses.

OK, back to work.

Post by Eileen of GoofingOff.etsy, GoofingOff.artfire, and MissEileen.etsy.

Etsy Picks Winner 4/1/11 Dawnorama

The Etsy Picks for April 1 yielded 2 winners, LemonLizard and Dawnorama….yup, we had a tie. LemonLizard’s creation was her incredible Bluebird Note Cards and Dawnorama’s creation was the Funky Pin Cushion. Here is Dawnorama’s interview.

 Funky Felt Pin Cushion

Tell us a bit about yourself  My name is Dawn Parizek... I live in Des Moines ( Clive) IA... I am a stay at home mom/artist/photographer/new crafter...

What are your favorite materials?   My favorite material, right now, is felt. But that is ever-changing...

What is your favorite color combination?  My favorite color combination, as of now, would have to be... navy blue and a light yellow...

  Funky, Felt Pincushion

What is the first thing you can remember making by hand? How and why did you make it?  The first thing I ever remember making by hand... hmmmm... I remember making an Easter Bunny, with my grandma, out of a dish soap bottle... We made it together, for an Easter decoration... I don't really remember how we did it... or all of the materials we used... just kind of remember sitting with her...

What inspires you? Who is, or was, your greatest inspiration?   The more I think about what inspires me, the more I realize that it truly is my grandma. She died when I was 15... but she was always making stuff... sewing, knitting, crocheting, crafting... I think she was the head of her local Homemaker's of America group... or some such thing. She saved EVERYTHING... and then actually used it for something. I used to think I was verging on pack-rat status... because I would save things, to use for future projects... so I think I inherited her creativity and inventiveness...

 

Feathers 8x12 Photograph

Where do your ideas come from?  Where do my ideas come from... that's a good question... they kind of just happen...

What is your favorite thing to do with your creativity? My favorite thing to do with my creativity... again, it's ever changing. At this moment, I'm loving sewing pincushions. I was making yo-yos out of felt, and somehow stumbled onto making a pincushion... now it's a borderline obsession for me.

 Funky, Felt Pin Cushion

Why should people buy handmade? Any tips of wisdom on selling handmade items?  I think people should buy handmade for many reasons... I think it's nice to know who created and crafted something your purchasing, on an personal level. There's a connection with the crafter that you don't get when you buy from the mass-produced market. Handmade items are one-of -a-kind, which is very satisfying... it's a great feeling to look at something, in your home, and think, " No one else in the world has one exactly like this"... makes you feel special... Handmade is awesome for the environment... buying something that was made with recycled materials... buying something that wasn't manufactured in a big, old factory...
I'm really new to the whole handmade world... so I'm still learning... I would LOVE some tips myself...

What have been the most valuable lessons learned from other artists?  I have quite a few friends that are artists/crafters... Just watching them do what they do has been inspiring to me. My biggest take-away from them would have to be... Get yourself out there. Get on Etsy... get your butt into some craft shows... find some unique shops in your area that would be willing to sell your awesome creations... Facebook your stuff...

Apart from creating things, what do you do?   Aside from creating and crafting, I am a mom to 2 wild and crazy boys... so life is full of volunteering at school... sporting events... doing housework is not my forte', so I'm trying to get better at that... and I am married to the best guy in the world... who coaches our boys... plays drums in an awesome band... and takes care of me like no one else could... among many other things...
What are the Web addresses for your work?  You can find me on Etsy at : www.etsy.com/shop/Dawnorama ...and I am working on a website... www.dawnparizek.com ...

Are you offering my readers any specials?  I'd love to give your readers 10% off any orders... just have them mention your blog ...

Thank you, Dawnorama, for this wonderful interview. Your creations are wonderful.