Anoka River Fest Craft Show 2015

Patty and Pam

Hello all, I fell behind in my blogging so forgive me once again. This has been an amazing, busy summer for me and August is right around the corner. On Saturday July 11, I joined Pam at her Anoka River Fest show. It was her 4th year there and  she did very well. Now that she has established herself with her pressed dried floral art, people expect to buy from her. I must say, by mid day, her tables were getting bare. Pam created 10 new designs for this show and they all sold. I am so happy for her that she has finally found shows where people find her work unique. Anoka is a beautiful, historic town, There were over 140 artisans, two live bands, the food court was amazing. Along with all of the unique shops that lined the town including the antique stores. Everything was so clean and the breeze from the river was welcoming.Thank you Pam for a great day, I enjoyed spending time with my sisters.

I added our Sisters picture for luck

Our First Show of the Season- Hopkins Main Street Art and Craft Festival

Saturday, May 16th was my first show of the season with my twin sister Pam. I set some new goals for myself in 2015 and I call it a "New First."  Allow me to explain. The Hopkins Main Street Art and Craft Festival was a new show for us to attend. A new adventure and the first time Pam and I shared a new idea and created it together to sell.

The show was at least 6 blocks long and booths lined up down both sides of the street. Out of all the artisans that were there, I  only saw one other gal that was at the Anoka River Fest Show last year.

Pam and Patty's Button Bouquet Creations

Our booth was directly across from the Old Opera Hall and we were smack dab in the center of the town. When we first got there all we could smell was bacon in the air. Oh my goodness, our nostrils were flared to try to detect where that oh so delicious smell was coming from.

We had no time to search, our mission was to get our home of 7 hours, set up and get our wares ready for sale. In spite of the inclement weather, we met a lot of nice people whom were very complimentary of our work. Sister Pam say's "We will be returning her next year."

Thank you Hopkins, I had a wonderful day spending time with my sister Pam and my "adopted" sister Dale.

Button, Button, Who's Got The Button

Does anyone know where the phrase "Button, button, who's got the button" started from? I remember playing the game in kindergarten in the 60's. On a rainy day when we could not go outside to play, so we would form a large circle with our hands out and palms together.

One kid was picked as the leader and would walk around to all the hands and secretly drop the button in your palm. The trick was to guess who had the button. Once the button owner was guessed, you would get up and start the game again. I think the teacher just had us play that game to keep us out of her hair. Of course everyone wanted to play and be leader of delivering that secret button. 

Welcome to my new journey of vintage button creations, button history and DIY button projects. I started collecting buttons two years ago. I get them from friends, auctions, antique stores and free, from perfect strangers with incredible stories about their family buttons. I found I had a passion for 
re-purposing "Old" buttons, just ask my husband, I have thousands and thousands of them. The dirtier the better and after I clean them they are beautiful. Each has it's own personality and I wonder "Where did they come from?". "What clothing were they on?." and "How old are they?". 
I love them all. 

Afton Art and Craft Festival September 27 & 28

I have not been blogging in a very long time and I need to get back into sharing my newest creations. I finally feel comfortable enough after many trial and errors on perfecting my vintage button bracelets to be able to share my creations. I have spent nearly a year gathering buttons and I have met so many wonderful people along the way who are willing to trade or give me theirs. I have created 50 memory bracelets for ladies compiled of their mother and grandmothers buttons. I feel so honored to be able to bring them back to life from an old tin can that were once hidden in a closet or trunk. I have designed over 300 bracelets and recently, created stretchy reversible bracelets.

I will be in Afton MN this weekend at The Old School Art Studio selling my work, along with my 100% cotton wash cloths. Our Creative Chick Café members will be selling their wares as well. We hope you can come to our show and also help the town of Afton celebrate it's 36th Annual Art in The Park Fall Festival.

Afton Art in the Park Fall Festival 2013

With much excitement, I want to remind everyone that The Creative Chicks Café will be hosting our own club members at the Old School Art Studio in Afton. Kate Sullivan always puts on a great show with lots of enthusiasm with her God given talents. We hope to see you there.

Vintage Buttons from Grandma

Fall colors

Gold metal buttons

I am feeling a bit guilty since I have not blogged in a very long time. Since I have become more involved with Facebook for Creative Chicks Café, my personal page and other adventures, I have forgotten about me.
I have had a very busy year with crafting,working a fulltime job, attending art and craft shows and spending time with family.
Now, Fall is just right around the corner and I am working on new creations to sell.

Silver metal buttons
 

For years I had vintage buttons that belonged to my grandma sitting in an old Butternut coffee can. When my mom passed away, I received all of her sewing things, including a lot of buttons. Again, I stored them for 4 years wondering what I could do with these.

Then, I started finding jars of buttons in antique stores, I kept buying them for no apparent reason. I started "self talking" to myself- "You are becoming a button hoarder and you don't know why?" I attended art and craft show in Elk River, there I met a wonderful lady named Sherry. She had a jewelry booth and had one bracelet she was selling made from buttons. Still, I procrastinated and figured "Someday when I find time I will create vintage button bracelets."

My niece Kelly, creates beautiful bracelets and necklaces from glass beads. I helped sell her jewelry at our last Afton show in May, as she could not attend. While I was setting up her table, I thought, I can do this with my buttons, not just any old buttons, but vintage buttons.
I am excited to share with you my newest project. I love the little buggers and having a blast with my new creations.

Seashell buttons

Fall Inspiration To Put You In The Decorating Mood