Facebook has arrived

After several requests to move into the modern age, Button Pocket has finally got a page on Facebook!

Click on the logo below and 'like' our page, to be kept up to date with all of the latest news, special offers, and be the first to see any pre-made bags (and buntings dare I say) before they are shown anywhere else!

See you over on FB!

Back into the swing of things

So after a long earned holiday rest, I have been getting back into the swing of making Button Pocket bags.

I must say, I do love the consultation process of making a bag. Working with a customer to choose the fabrics, bag style and functions that are right for them is great. Its very satisfying to come up with a design for a one off bag for someone, that I will never make again.

Over christmas I did some fun really fun bags, here are two of my faves

The first is one of Alexander Henry's famous pin up prints, in a gorgeous winter wonderland style...and I added a warm and cozy crochet tie...my customer loved it, and so do I.

Another was with a cute as a button Japanese fabric called Wonderforest.

This bag was made as a birthday present for a customers friend, but I would have been happy to keep this one for myself :)

The bag in progress...you can see the lovely soft cotton velvet fabric used for the bottom which added a sense of luxury.


The completed bag


I have lots of new and fantastic designs on the go at the moment, as well as plans for some funky and bright buntings in your favorite of fabrics (which seems to be Henry Alexander going by all of the requests for his modern and wonderful designs)
I have also got a new batch of fabrics in to make some pre-mades (non custom bags) so if you like your manga characters, or a fancy a bit of a nautical twist for a day by the sea, watch this space

Here are a few other bags I have finished recently:

Henry Alexander Azucar skulls across the body mini messenger bag. This fabric is rather special as the flowers and skulls are encrusted with a beautiful fine glitter - and it doesnt come off all over your hands I was pleased to find!


Michael Miller spotty mushrooms across the body bag, with a curvy front pocket


Henry Alexander Willow Grove Messenger bag


To the lovely lady in the Staffordshire Needlecraft shop, the fabric you liked on my bag was Willow Grove as above, but in the Autum colours.
x


Remember to check out the flicker photogroup at the side of the page for more photographs of Button Pocket bags

Cute as a button Etsy shop

I am in love....but my poor bank balance may not be!

Today I found Snapcrafty...possibly the most addictive and drool inducing etsy shop I ever did see.
From amazing skeleton cameo's, to pretty vintage flowers, the store has enough inspiration to keep my mind whiring over for hours!



Take a look for yourself Snapcrafty

A sky of starlings...

Yesterday was a special day for my family, and so we decided to make a trip to the Welsh seaside town of Aberystwyth to see the spectacular Autumn display from thousands of starlings.

And it really was spectacular.

It started like this - a beautiful sunset




Then a few starlings...







We missed the Autumn Watch crew who were there the day before - its on tonight, 18th November if you can catch it. Or, even better, get yourself down to Aberystwyth, or any of the following places just before dusk (about half 3) :

* Ham Wall RSPB - Somerset
* Westhay Moor Nature Reserve. - Somerset
* WWT Slimbridge - Gloucestershire
* Otmoor RSPB - Oxfordshire
* Starlings on Brighton Pier. - Sussex
* Leighton Moss RSPB - Lancashire
* RSPB Saltholme wetlands - Durham
* Minsmere RSPB - Suffolk
* Snape Warren RSPB - Suffolk
* Rainham Marshes RSPB - Essex

Earlier in the day we stopped off at Bwlch Nant yr Arian Forest Visitor Centre, about 10 miles inland from Aberystwyth.
Here they do Red Kite feeding every day. Now I am totally in love with Birds of Prey, and to see kites on this scale was amazing - but the photos dont do it much justice. I recommend popping along to see it yourself - see the Forestry Commissions website for more information








I am off to meet a lovely lady about some buttons, and this evening I shall be snuggling down to watch Autumn Watch whilst cutting a pattern for a new foot poof.

Happy Thursday people - tomorrow is Friday!

Lazy saturdays

Lazy Saturdays are the new lazy Subdays. Trust me

Today I packed the hubby off with my Father to the Classic Bike & Motorshow, and looked forward to the long day full of me time stretched out ahead of me.

So what did I do with my time? Well, nothing too taxing, of course.

Amoungst all the coffee in my 'big cup' (organic decaf of course!) was a little reading, a little letter writing, button pocket bag designing, a natter with my mother who really does make me giggle, and a bit of crochet. I really do need to gather all my little crocheted (sp) squares together to see how many more I need. I suspect its quite a few...how many squares roughly would you neef to make a single bed sizrd blanket if the squarez are 25x25 cm on average?
Sounds like one of those awful questions from GCSE maths dont it! I dont think Ill try to calculate it, Ill just go with the fliw and make squares from any random balls of over 50% wool I come across.

Tomorrow will bring more me time, and I really need to get busy bag making. I am doing a little craft fair in Preston in December, and I really want to show the best examples of my work that I can.
More details of the fair to follow, but right now its back to crochet and the galaxy national book awards.

Long time no post

Oh dear - I have been useless here haven't I?

Well, life in Button Pocket land has taken a few unexpected turns in the last few months..meaning it has closely resembled a rollercoaster at times.

But all is well, the ride is almost over (well, I certainly hope so anyway) and I am getting all my thoughts and projects back together.

I have managed to make myself the most gorgeous Button Pocket bag, which I will share as soon as I get photographs, eaten too may cupcakes - and hence joined the gym to work off afore mentioned cupcakes ;)

There has also been much travelling around the country, birthday celebrations, face painting, gardening, more baking (you can never bake too much) and much much more.

I am currently about to burst with creativity. I feel as though if I do not get these fabric combinations through the machine soon, or crochet the shawl, decorate the cake etc etc etc (the list goes on) I shall go simply crash with too many thoughts!

So I am off to make a list. A good list sorts everything out and puts the world to right.

Ill be back with photos and a sneak preview of things to come soon

In the meantime, I suggest we all buy a book for Christmas (yup - its that time again) from here, Green Metropolis...www.greenmetropolis.com I love this site
x

Bags, trees and Handel

Another week has gone without an update. I dont know where all of the times goes, I really dont.

Tonight I have the house to myself. The Hubby is off at archery and I have peace and quiet...or at least I would if I was'nt playing Incubus rather loudly! I think I may have blown a computer speaker, its hissing a me a bit. Hmmm


Anyway...a quick piccy update then:

Fathers day - My Dad took me to the most amazing place. It's no secret to anyone that knows me how much I adore George Fredrick Handel. I walked down the aisle to his Sarabande last September, and I can not get enough of his passion and gusto (even though I am not religious, at all)

So my Dad takes me on a little walk through the woods. I love this photo, it looks so ethereal, like there should be little pixies peeking out of the branches.



At the end of the walk, there was a folly, which may not look that much to anyone else, but made me a little bit soppy and pathetic



For this Folly is where Handle is supposed to have wrote the Messiah, one of the most amazing pieces of music ever written. It was A.mazing.







Thanks Dad *hugs*

In other news, I have of course made a few bags, not too many, but some.





I have others but I cant post piccies yet. That Happy Play messenger was amazing, I seriously loved making it. It was slightly difficult because the fabric actually turns upside down several times, so getting decent pieces from a large piece was difficult...but worth the work I think.

Im off to enjoy my evening to myself and maybe potter around the garden, pick a few peas and munch, and ponder what the hell to do with the beetroot I have grown???