Wednesday, December 3, 2008

buttons...

I'm always dipping my fingers into my button collection. Sometimes I'm looking to finish off a particular project - but more often than not - I'm just playing around.

My collection is 'stored' in an old glass measuring jug, which sits on my desk. It's so tempting just to dip my fingers in and SWOOSH the buttons around. And I never resist the temptation! I allow myself to indulge...

jug

At the moment, I have this thing about layering buttons. I don't seem to be capable of using a single button. I'm always wanting to go with the 'layer upon layer upon layer look' Somehow they just seem way more interesting that way!

I've been thinking about the eyes for the alien creature I am making for Master Nine. At first I was just going to use these large yellow buttons...

buttons

But then I started layering... and VOILA!


eyes

I think these will make fabulous alien eyes...

17 comments:

Beth said...

they look great, but I'm just curious how you will construct them so they stay together given that the holes for stitching are all in the middle
Glue?

campbellgirl said...

Brilliant! They will be perfect.

You ARE a very clever lady and I've been enjoying your blog so much since I discovered it.

Best wishes, Diane

Anonymous said...

Perfect alien eyes if you ask me. I too love buttons and layering them, can't wait to see the alien finished.

Jenny said...

I like them a lot!

Jenny said...

I like them a lot!

Biddie said...

They look so much cooler when they're layered!!! I bet Master 9 will like your alien.

Anonymous said...

Very cool... I love the star buttons - will have to keep an eye out for some of those.

Robbie

Sicilian said...

Cute idea!
Ciao

Valérie-Ann said...

So perfect! I love it. Can't wait to see the alien! :P

KAF said...

They're wonderful alien eyes. I'm looking forward to seeing more of this alien too.

laughing purple goldfish said...

beth - I would prefer not to glue them... I will find a way to position them so that I can still stitch them on... for example going through the top two holes of the purple ones, but he bottom holes of the yellow ones... does that make sense?

diane - thanks so much

jacqui - you may even see him finished (or close to it) in real life at our next crochet meet

jenny - thank you

lizabeth - yes... it definitely adds an extra dimension and a heap more character

robbie - thanks... stars are my all time favourite shape... oh... and hearts, of course!

sicilian - thanks

valerie-ann - he's coming to life... you'll see him soon :)

kaf - sweetie... so nice to hear from you again xx

Tess said...

You didn't quite get the Swedish accent in "layer upon layer upon layer", but you did succeed in making me hungry!

Sam said...

They do look perfect all layered up. I can't wait to see the finished alien too, and I'm very jealous of all you who will see it in real life :-)

I like the swooshing jar. We have a tin of beads that makes a good swooshing noise, or clanging if you drizzle them from your hand. My beads are in a bag though. Time to move them :-)

Alicia @ Oh2122 said...

Perfect!

Swooshing is the kind of thing I find myself doing absentmindedly all the time too.

Anonymous said...

Really cute buttons!

Can I ask at what age did you start to use button eyes for your kids toys? I don't have any kids yet so I'm not sure at what age it would be ok to switch from embrodered only to buttons and beads. Thanks!

laughing purple goldfish said...

tess - my swedish accent isn't what it used to be... I was hoping you would recognise all those layers!!!

sam - thanks... I have my beads in glass jars (right next to my buttons) ... they're fun for swooshing too!

oh2122 - swooshing is good for the soul!

kelly - I would definitely avoid buttons on a cuddle toy for kids aged three years and under... frome age four and up MOST kids would be okay with buttons

dudara said...

fantastic alien eyes! great idea there