Crafty in the Med

I am here to enjoy meeting other bloggers and to share my love of craft ,mostly crochet, my thoughts and my daily happenings here in Alicante,Spain, my adopted country. I belong to a local choir because singing and music makes me happy. Flea markets and book shops are two of my favourite places to be. I read lots......sci´fi/fantasy,buried treasure, and off world adventures. I have a passion for history! I walk and walk and walk for about 10 months per year during the hot months I swim.

Tuesday 25 May 2021

Button Scrooge

 I love buttons and never throw any away but I have also discovered something about myself..I am a bit of a Button Scrooge!

Since my daughter has taken up sewing I have been gradually sending over to her via Cookie (grand), Cookie visits us once a week now, sewing bits and pieces of what I had here and which I don't use. I told my daughter to let me know what she needed and one of her text messages came back indicating she needed buttons (she has a cushion making craze at the moment).  

Cookie and I sat down together last week over my pot of buttons 

 

 

and she was digging out the buttons she liked and I was there pushing them to one side mumbling ..no I like these...no I want that one...no that's pretty I am keeping that... no I can use that one... No I have ideas for this one and when we looked at the pile of buttons that she could take to her mother there was the grand total of 5 buttons. Mostly shirt buttons! My grand-daughter looked at me laughing and said "that's not much and you have loads". I felt totally Scroogish (I dont think that word exists) and did give her a few more and said I'll look through them again. Would you believe it I am reluctant to do that !!   I will of course but it is hard!  I love my buttons!

Talking about buttons!  My sister NΒΊ 4 and I have a monthly parcel swap which we have been doing for years. I send her herbal teas and other bits and pieces mostly craft supplies from here and she sends me items I can't get here and also craft supplies among other things. One of the things on my list is buttons particularly old buttons.  I received a parcel from her yesterday in which she said she had put a bag of buttons. I looked everywhere among the parcel's contents but I couldn't find the buttons. I texted her and she told me to look again at the bottom of the parcel as it was a small bag. 

This is what I found!

 


 

I have never seen such small buttons ever!  On the label it indicates 3mm Mini Doll Buttons!  I should think they are a nightmare to sew on!


The Second One.

Sr P went for his 2nd vaccination jab yesterday. 

It seems he was assigned the job of head chauffeur as his mates had theirs too the same morning. Sr P and these chaps know how to organise these things. Their vaccination appointment was at 12 so they met up to have breakfast in their favourite cafeteria at 9am. They of course had to discuss it all a bit over breakfast first and then left about 11:15 am to go to the vaccination post on the outskirts of the city. After the event they went on for some Tapas to have another chin-wag, probably all about that second vaccination experience, you know all what they went through. Sr P didn't get home until 2:30 pm and he didn't feel much like lunch either.  

Sr P is a very social person and when he says he is having breakfast with friends then I know he wont be back until past lunchtime πŸ•°.

 

RAOCK Crochet

I have been crochet doodling again and mixed it with a bit of recycling and made this but I still wasn't sure what I could use it for!     Definitely free-form! 

I really did not know what I was making when I started this just felt as I was making it something would come to mind.


for this perhaps...


with a smaller candle I think!

 

or even for this ...


 

 


I have no recent outing photographs because once again there was no outing last Sunday 

 

 Just ..... this one from the park!  

 

BIG CACTUS!

  

 Please don't mistake this for a stool!

El Palmeral Park Alicante 

 

OUCH!

 

 

Happy Blogging 

 

Amanda :-)

 Teresa in my Thoughts  πŸ’–

 

 

 

 

 


 



41 comments:

  1. I love a button box - they are a joy to look through. Button Scrooge is a new one on me, but I can relate -I am the same when I have to sort out my stamps and dies - "no, I need that one"... I like the crochet too, even if you're not sure what it is yet.
    Best wishes
    Ellie

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    1. Hi Ellie :-) Thanks. There is just something about a jar or box full of buttons that thrills me. It is very difficult for me to give any of them up ... but as it is for my daughter I have to put my mind to it. :-) A x

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  2. I used to love playing with my Nana's button box when I was young. I love old buttons and can relate to your button scrooge syndrome! Your crochet looks good as a plant pot coaster. What is the centre? It looks interesting. I'm pleased Sr P has had his 2nd jab. Have you had yours yet? And no, I don't think I'll sit on that cactus stool! xx

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    1. Hello HH, Thanks :-) The centre is an old DVD disco. I cover out side part in felt and I find the disc it gives it a firmer base and it lays flat. That is my contribution to recycling and repurposing DVDs :-) I get my second jab on 9th June.

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    2. A great idea! It looks so good. Thanks for the info. Not long to wait for your 2nd jab. xx

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  3. I love my buttons, recently I had my old ones set in resin and made into a pot. I have often purchased buttons because I like them and have no project to use them on. Just to look through them is heaven.

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    1. Thanks for popping in :-) It is such a strange thing this button collecting. I am always drawn to a basket/pot full of odd buttons old or new! It is as if there were treasures there to discover! A x

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  4. I love buttons too, and have many vintage buttons-two cookie-biscuit tins full to the top and a small wooded cabinet with over 20 drawers filled to the top with vintage buttons-I have a tin that was my Grandma's buttons, and on occasion I would pick up a jar full of unique buttons at resale shops. I would not want to share these either haha so I am for sure being hogish. I have used a few in fabric journals or large ones on handwoven pieces.
    One of these days I will need to think about selling these-but not yet haha
    I love your crochet piece around the plant the best.
    Nice your husband was able to get out with his friends. Have a good day hugs Kathy

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    1. oh and those doll buttons are adorable-I have seen different crafts with buttons-which I would not want to do with vintage buttons, but I have seen some bracelets that look fun to wear

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    2. Hello Kathy :-) I am so looking forward to being able to go to flea markets are boots sales. Sometimes you can find pots of vintage buttons for next to nothing! I have seen some blogs where they make pictures with buttons some are very attractive. Food for thought :-) A x

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  5. Amanda and the buttons! It is so funny that i loved them and will not make or knit items that require them.\ Your doodles would make very pretty bathroom scrubbies with a bar of round soap

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    1. Thanks for popping in Kathy! Now that is an idea! Thanks A x

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  6. The buttons made me laugh - I have quite a stash too, and I HATE it when anyone else tries to raid my pots! They are stored by colour and size and I spend a ridiculous amount of time tipping out the jars to make sure I am using the 'best fit' set and not leaving odd ones behind....To my shame I have also squirrelled away my favourites where NO-ONE can find them....sad or what!

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    1. Thanks for calling in :-) I am not so organised as you mine are just stored in one big jar. In actual fact I really should store them in a more organised fashion because it takes me ages to hunt through them for an ideal button for a project! A x

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  7. I have a tin full of buttons. Think there's some really tiny ones in there, too. I don't use buttons often, but save any I find for future use. I think we always believe that we will one day use all those things we keep saving. But I'm getting to the point now where letting go is a really good thing to do. Nice crochet piece -- can be used in so many different ways.

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    1. Thanks for calling in Tammy. I really should be braver and trying to let go as well. I am becoming such a hoarder. Sr P complained that my study/craft room looked a mess! That is the very first time he has said that so I think I should give it a serious clean up. A x

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    2. Thank you also for your email reply to the comment I left on your “Love and Care” post. A x

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  8. I'm here after finding many links to you from other blogs, and what a day to arrive. My mother was also a button Scrooge, removing buttons from clothes that no longer fit, or were worn out, or were being donated to Goodwill (which alwasy seemed mean.) I loved going hrough her button box, running my hands through the smoothness and listening to the clicks.

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    1. Hello KSD Thank you for visiting my blog. Buttons and crochet are important part of my life. Crochet for therapy and buttons just pure joy to admire and hoard! :-) I am now going to pop over to your blog and say hello A x

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  9. I'm the same with buttons. I would have to say 'choose what you want but don't show me them. I've made some nice ones with Fimo.

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    1. Hi Cherie, Your handmade buttons are really gorgeous and so original. Did you use them on any make at all? A x

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  10. Ah Amanda I too am a button Scrooge, I’ve a jar that belonged to my mum and many are seventy years or older. I think it’s the memory those buttons engender, like you when a friend mentioned a need we went through the jar together, and yes she took some and returned when she didn’t use. Did I say not don’t bother, no they’re back in my jar! πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚
    Loved the story of Sr P Breakfast expeditions ... that’s sooo funny. Usually that’s what we are blamed for.
    Praying you’re better soon to go out and about, God be with you Amanda as you seek help.
    Thanks for Sharing, God bless and keep you safe, and all those you love, hugs Shaz in Oz.x

    {Wonderful Words of Life - Shaz in Oz}
    {Calligraphy Cards - Shaz in Oz}

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    1. Thank you Shaz for calling in :-) I'd love to see those vintage buttons...treasure indeed! A x

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  11. Always fun to read your thoughts and happenings. Thanks for the chuckles on Sr P's excursion to the vaccination clinic!

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    1. Glad you enjoyed the touch of humour. Sr P does make me laugh. They say women gossip but those chaps can go on for hours LOL! A x

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  12. Love buttons too. Breakfast expedition lol Keep safe we are back in short lockdown here in Victoria Australia ☺

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    1. Hi Wendy,thanks for popping in :-) Hope the lockdown will over soon! I am thinking of doing a button swap....it is just in the "thinking about it stage" as I am not sure if I could part with any of my buttons LOL! tch! A x

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  13. I have a box of vintage buttons. It's a while since I looked through it and admired the various buttons. Others I have in a sewing box that has compartments. They've been sorted into size and colour. They get used to replace lost buttons on clothes. I don't sew enough to use up this stash of buttons but like to keep them as I inherited them from my mother. I'm sure you enjoy getting and sending parcels. Glad things are opening up a little and your husband and friends got the vaccination done. All the best Amanda.

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    1. Hi Linda. Thank you for calling in. Vintage buttons are a dream! If only I could find more. Keep them safe Linda they are just like treasure :-) A x

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  14. I have so many buttons and they aren't confined to just one jar either, the funny thing is I never use them much the small baby ones are really the only ones that I need. I wonder what it is about them that make us hoard them, I have all my Mothers buttons and a friends Mothers buttons too, she was going to throw them away! I love your crochet it looks lovely with the candle in the centre, wow that's a big cactus I have a small one exactly the same and it's flowering now for the first time. Have a great weekend. xx

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    1. Hi Linda, I wonder about this too! Perhaps in the distant past they were used as coinage and that is why my fingers tingle when I see a pot full of lovely buttons! LOL! A x

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  15. Thank you very much for the buttons , I´ll give them a good use!

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    1. If there are any of no use pleases return daughter NΒΊ 1. A x

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  16. I love the button story. If something you love makes you happy it is hard to let it slip away. I do have some buttons my grandmother had, other than that I am free to let all other buttons go. Stay safe.

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    1. Hello Mere, thank you :-) Always good to hear from you. I so agree buttons do make me happy and so I hoard them LOL! Vintage buttons are the tops! A x

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  17. I love the vaccination outing! Everyone should do it, so sociable 😊
    I also have a weakness for buttons, and I don't like to share them, you never know when you will need them πŸ˜‰ xx

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    1. Hi Radka, Thanks for calling in :-) There is nothing anti-social about my husband in fact there are times I have to drag him away from chatting with people LOL! A x

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  18. I love buttons and the history of them is quite fascinating. I have even made my own Dorset buttons, which I turned into brooches. I had a huge box of buttons, collected from Grandma and Mum, but they mysteriously disappeared when we moved over, so gutted. Love your crochet doodling, very pretty. We too have a cactus like that, its got 3" spikes, lethal, but we just treat it with respect lol xcx

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    1. Hello Chrissie,Thanks for popping in :-) That is awful! I would be furious as well as "gutted" if my tub of buttons went missing. A x

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  19. Button Scrooge! Love it! LOL

    Your *mini buttons* are 1:6 scale. Think fashion dolls, such as Barbie, Fashion Royalty, some action figures and others in the 12-inch range. I'm not a Scrooge with most buttons (a few exceptions and those purchased for specific projects/fabrics). Those tiny buttons can be a bit pricey, so I do plan their use carefully! Now, my sewing tools... ;-)

    Your crocheted--cozy?--is sweet. Looks like anything you put on it is snuggling into it! :-)




    ...Taja

    Replying from The Valley on the Surface of the Sun (greater Phoenix, Arizona, area). Not quite, but we're expecting high temps above 115F degrees with overnight lows in the low to mid 90s for the next few days. Sorry! It's too early in the morning to convert to Celcius!

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  20. Many thanks for visiting my blog. I have sent the "mini" buttons on to my daughter who is more in to sewing than me. I think she is gong to use them for decorating some little houses she has made. Thank you... I plan to use those crocheted flower rings as RAOCKs. The meaning of RAOCK is explained on my blog just follow the link :-) Keep well Amanda :-)

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Thank you for your comments. I do read them and try to reply to all as well.Please keep them coming. Amanda :-)