a question for you

it's an easy question....about buttons!

In my online shops I sell lots of buttons.  In my craft room I sew with a lot of buttons.
I know how I like to buy my buttons ( I have had a lot of practise, after all!)
But what is the best way for YOU to buy buttons?

Do you prefer Pick n Mix, where every button is available individually, or do you prefer Mix bags which contain a set number or weight of buttons for a set price ?

Or perhaps you'd prefer both options to be available....????

 The photos are of my X-Small polka dot buttons, sold individually for 10p each, but grouped here as a bag of 50 for £4
So what's the answer?
please choose from the following: 
Answer 1 : I prefer pick n mix!
Answer 2 : I like mix bags, it's quicker to shop!
Answer 3 : Both ways for sure :-)
Answer 4 : an answer I haven't even thought of yet!
I'm excited to read your replies! 

Limited Edition

Back in February when I went to the trade fair I went looking for something a little bit special. 

Something that isn't for sale everywhere,  something that will make your craft projects a little extra special.

These buttons are just what I was looking for!  They had to be forward ordered (which is why they were only delivered yesterday) and they are a strict limited edition, never to be repeated or ordered again.

They are a little bit more expensive than the products I usually choose, but they are also a little bit higher quality too, so they are definitely worth it.

The Crystal Clear Flowers are available individually, and the other flowers, 2-Hole Matts and 4-Hole Glossys as mix packs.
Quick Links:
for all limited edition buttons : click here

baking!

at the moment half my days are being spent doing boring (but very necessary) computery/spreadsheet things* so I gave myself a treat today and spent a happy hour or so choosing colours and buttons for my next batch of cupcakes

* the very boring things are actually going to lead to very exciting things, so really they aren't that bad, and I shall tell you all about it as soon as I can!

new supplies

I've just been updating the website...lots of new supplies have arrived, some are a tad Christmassey, but if recent orders are anything to go by then Christmas crafting has already started!

star shaped key rings

hair clips

mini pegs

wooden snowflakes

 multi coloured jingle bells

AND the wooden hearts are back! hooray!

Quick links:

star key rings are here

hair clips are here

wooden items are here

jingle bells are here

PS the wedding was AMAZING!  Lovely people, lovely food, very generous hosts, gorgeous weather...and a bride and groom that are so happy, and so obviously in love,  perfect!

practical sewing

we're off to a wedding tomorrow....my outfits have been bought for quite a few days and have been waiting patiently on their hangers for me to shorten the legs...posh trousers for the wedding, new jeans for the next day...

I have shorty short legs, nothing some scissors and the sewing machine can't cope with...but I do like to leave things to the last minute, just so I can get a bit stressed out with it all ;-)

one of my favourite things

I love my teeny tiny buttons!  after my felt (of course!) they are a top seller ... and because they are dyed especially for me, to my exact dye recipe, it gives me a little buzz every time a pack is sold .... and when I'm running low it's never a chore to sit for an hour or two and count, count, count until lots more packs are packed!

so imagine my joy today when one of my bestest customers emailed me the links to her new Etsy shop and blog, to show me her teeny tiny crotched baby bootees, adorned with my teeny tiny buttons!

How cute are they?
Quick links: 
for Pretty Crochet Things Etsy shop, click here
for Pretty Crochet Things Blog, click here
for teeny tiny buttons, click here

sunshine = flowers

Wow!  I am loving this mini heatwave we are having...the sun is pouring through the windows & the little breeze (and the fan!) are keeping me cool whilst I work, I hope the sun is shining where you are too!

I've been re-jigging my felt flower pack colours and have just been photographing and then updating the website with them.
Quick Link :: felt flower packs are here

NEW RIBBONS!

Some new ribbons have arrived!
They are slightly wider than my normal size of 1/2", coming in at 5/8" (15mm) which means they have even more room for Big Bright Patterns on them~perfect for all sorts of cheerful projects!
Quick Link :: for New Riley Blake Ribbons click HERE

hen party brooches

Last night I finished 15 bird brooches, all of which are destined to be worn by 15 hens on a customer's hen do!

 I've made the bride's brooch extra special by adding a ribbony tail and two teeny tiny heart buttons!

Next Job?  finishing off the packaging and wrapping it all up ready for the post.

Last Chance Saloon!

 Quick! Quick!

There are only a few Jubilee craft packs left...they will be taken of the website tomorrow so hurry if you'd like to order everything you need to make your very own bunting!

A sliver of sunshine

For one brief moment today the sun came out,  so I grabbed the camera and snapped a few photos of orders that I finished last night before they were wrapped and packed & posted to their new homes...a set of 6 drawing pins and 3 storage boxes ::

slowly stacking the shelves

I've had a Folksy shop for AGES...but a while back I neglected it and it all got deleted ...it's been on my to do list to re-do it for a while and finally I've made a start...a small start of 5 products so far, but if I try to list a few a day the shop will soon be full!

button delivery!

Time has flown today!

Who could think that so many hours could disappear whilst playing with buttons

 *ahem* I mean, whilst working really, really hard sorting out my new button stock !

Jubilee Bunting Tutorial post

Hooray!
It's Jubilee tutorial day!

The brief I gave myself was that I wanted to make something BIG and EXTRA special, but also something flexible that everyone could try, no matter how much sewing they had done in the past,  something that could be handsewn, machine sewn or glued, and something that wouldn't cost a lot of money...

...and I made .... Special Jubilee Bunting ::

The flags are scalloped, two layered flags, some are embellished with Jubilee ribbons and buttons, and some have special jubilee appliques.
a corgi:

a stamp:

a Union Flag heart:

there's one pattern for the flags:

 and one for the appliques:

 Just right click a pattern and select 'open in another tab' then go to the other tab and right click the pattern again and select 'save as' then you have saved the pattern and can print full size (each pattern fits onto one side of A4)
There aren't any formal instructions for constructing the bunting, use the pictures as guides for colour/embellisment ideas and use the patterns to cut, cut, cut and then sew, sew, sew.  I made 7 flags and the bunting measures 2m in total.

If you'd like to join in and make some Jubilee Bunting too I'm pretty sure most of you will have everything you need, but just in case I have put together a selection of Jubilee goodies so you can make your very own set for just £10!...it's a limited offer so get in quick if you want a set!
(all the details are on the website)
I'd love to see some photos of bunting if you do make some, we could have a little gallery here on the blog on Jubilee Day!

and the winners are...

Yay!  It looks like cross stitch kits mixed with felt embellishments are a hit..thank you for all the lovely comments, i'll make sure Jayne reads them too :-)

The 3 winners are:
73 Jannie said...
thank you so much for the chance of winning this adorbs kit!
love
Jannie
72 CreaThings said...
Sweet kits. I adore them!
Thanks,
Hajni
33 Юлика said...
So adorable kits!!!
cross my fingers :)
Please can the 3 winners email their address to me :  mail (at) paper-and-string.co.uk

nearly ready...

I can't get enough red, white & blue!!

I've just got another few hours of hand sewing to do, some more photos to take & a teeny bit of computer faffing to faff with AND THEN the tutorial will be ready!...

working on: a jubilee tutorial

it will be ready in the next few days...

Freebie Day :: MAY 2012 :: Stitching Shed Felty Kits

 This month's freebie is for something a little bit different ... Cross Stitch Felty Kits by Jayne @ The Stitching Shed.

 Earlier this year Jayne asked me to supply her with felt pieces for her kits...she settled on owls, flowers and a newly designed felt house....and just look at the magic she weaved:  3 gorgeous kits

 I was lucky enough to see them stitched and framed when I went to the NEC (remember?) and now I am super lucky to be able to share them with you!

Jane has very kindly sent me some samples so I have 3 kits to give away, one of each of the new designs...here are the rules:
Rules: freebie opens today Thursday 3rd May 2012 and will close Wednesday 9th May.
How to enter: leave one comment and one comment only on this very blog post  
Prize: Three winners will each win a cross stitch kit.   As always I will post the prize worldwide.
Good Luck!!
Quick Links ::
for Felty's at The Stitching Shed click here
for The Stitching Shed website click here 

FREEBIE IS CLOSED AT COMMENT # 114