With A Little Help From My Friends...

...I can get a remarkable amount done!  Don't know what I'd do without them.  Look what came in the post today... all the way from South Africa

My friend Jenny, known as Button Mad on Facebook,button maker extraordinaire,  read the post where I said I might use a button as a closure on my bag.  Go look on my site, she said, and choose a button for your bag, and I'll send it to you.  Wasn't that kind?  And the big one is the one I chose; she has sent me a couple extra...so I might have to make a jacket to go with them... Check out her blog for some great tutorials using buttons in ways you might not have thought of before.  And of course, their website, for remarkable buttons.

And this is what my chosen button looks like on the fabric;

Now, all I have to do is make the second part of the closure, and the handle.  Jenny's gift makes this bag even more special.

I thought I'd make a bag to go with the waistcoat I showed you in this post, the one for my Mother in Law.  I wanted an unusual handle, and this time, used braid that my friend Clare Hedges had made for a different bag.  Because I wanted something a bit firmer than a single braid, I have stitched two lots  together using a plum coloured thread.  That has proved to be very effective, and goes quite nicely with the unusual colours of the African fabric. I'm now contemplating getting her to make me a tassel or two for the sides of my bag...check out what she does here

Thanks, guys.  I couldn't have done it without you. 

Lucky Me....

just look what arrived in the post today!  Jennifer from Incomparable Buttons asked us to tell her which of these we liked best...and being a truthful person, I said...I like em all... so she sent them to me!  There's a lot to be said for Facebook, and not all of it's bad!  Thank you, Jenny...you just know I'll put them to good use.

Here's what it says on the website about this incredibly creative company; 

"Incomparable, SA was started as a small company in 1984 in Johannesburg, South Africa.
 
Working around a kitchen table, often late into the night, Jennifer Pascall was busy transforming small pieces of ground stone & clay into buttons of all shapes and sizes. Many of the first designs, which are still popular today, were inspired by Africa’s rich ethnic artworks, colourful flowers and distinctive wild animals.
 
Over the years Incomparable began specialising in the creation of handmade buttons, craft pieces, craft kits, painting kits, greeting cards and jewellery.

As the company evolved, ladies from the local community were hired and trained in the art of button making. Today, Jennifer’s son & daughter, as well as several women from the local community are involved in the business.

Most of the Incomparable team had never held a paintbrush before they joined the company and are now absolute masters of their art and justifiably proud of their work. 

The ladies sense of belonging within the company and skills as crafters not only gives them tremendous pleasure but also provides them with economic empowerment.
 
Many of the team are the sole breadwinner of their family."

Their buttons are fabulous... do check them out!