50 Button Crafts: idea #25 – pearl button necklace

Posted on June 22, 2015 by tellingfamilytales

Earley pearls – a necklace made from the Earley family buttons

Got a box or jar full of buttons carefully saved by your mother or grandmother? For 2015 I’m in search of great ways to put those buttons to use. Here is this week’s idea:

I love this eclectic collection of buttons made into a lovely and fun necklace. The base of the necklace looks like some type of braided string or cording. I think one of the things that makes this work is how the creator make groupings of buttons, often of the same type. While most of the buttons are basic white pearl buttons there are a few other fun trinkets sprinkled in. I’m putting this project on my someday projects list. Sure hope that isn’t too faraway.

It would be a good idea to document where the buttons for your project came from and any relevant stories or information about that person or family. If you are looking for more button crafts, check out my Pinterest board.

Pupdate: #10

Posted on June 19, 2015 by tellingfamilytales

In just 10 days our 10th puppy in training for Guide Dogs for the Blind will be coming! We are expecting a female yellow lab with a name starting with the letter “G”. Keeping with tradition I am having a guess the puppies name contest. The prize is a personalized travel mat. There is no limit the number of entries per person but the deadline is June 28th. If more than one person guesses our little girl’s name, the winner will be picked by random drawing of those who guessed right. Just comment on this post to enter the contest.

50 Button Crafts: idea #24 – button tote bag

Posted on June 15, 2015 by tellingfamilytales

button tote bag via pinterest

Got a box or jar full of buttons carefully saved by your mother or grandmother? For 2015 I’m in search of great ways to put those buttons to use. Here is this week’s idea:

I think this is a lovely way to use a bunch of buttons from your stash. I tried to find the original source of the photo but failed. I really like the simple square quilting and how it sets up the even spacing for the buttons creating a pattern yet letting each button stand on its own merits too. This would make a great gift for any woman in your family, from a grandmother to a young adult. Especially if paired with some stories and a photo of the person whose buttons were used in the creation of the tote bag.

Pupdate: Apex & Yakira visit

Posted on June 13, 2015 by tellingfamilytales

Yakira and Apex

We were privileged to spend a whole week with two of the puppies we raised, Apex and Yakira. They flew in from Florida, with their owners just to visit us and do some sightseeing in the area. They are both healthy and happy in their careers and their lives in general.

coming down the jet-way

We got gate passes so we could “help” Sue and Sharan, but it was really so we could see our pups asap. When they saw us they got super excited and ran to greet us. Not sure what everyone at the gate thought but it was super fun to have two happy black labs come running to say hi. It was so great going places with them.

Sharan, Yakira, Apex and Sue outside the Conference Center

the whole gang at our house

Only fly in the ointment was Fable was in heat so she had to stay home. We did borrow another puppy in training, Tamara, for a few days. I wonder what people thought to see three black labs traveling around together. There favorite activity was watching the Tabernacle Choir practice.

Apex at the Tabernacle Choir rehearsal

Yakira at the choir rehearsal

I was sad to see them go. Too bad they don’t live down the street so we could all get together every week or so. Can’t wait until we can swing a trip to Florida to visit them!

Apex

Yakira

50 Button Crafts: idea #23 – button bouquet

Posted on June 11, 2015 by tellingfamilytales

button bouquet from LillybudsBouquets on Etsy

Got a box or jar full of buttons carefully saved by your mother or grandmother? For 2015 I’m in search of great ways to put those buttons to use. Here is this week’s idea:

If you have a wedding in your families future, consider a button bouquet for the bride. What a priceless keepsake this could be made with buttons from the brides ancestors and maybe even some from the grooms side of the family too. An add-on gift would be any information you have about the ancestors whose buttons you use and any provenance on the buttons themselves. Here are a few more of LillybudsBouquets from her Etsy shop.

Family Tree: Faux Embroidery

Posted on June 2, 2015 by tellingfamilytales

Faux Embroidery Family Tree from PiecesByPolly.com

Here is a light-hearted family tree that many a grandma would love, featuring all of her grankids. Instead of doing the traditional and time intensive embroidery that the pattern (see below) was designed for, Polly used what she calls a faux embroidery technique using crayons instead of thread to add color to the design. Great idea for today’s busy lifestyles. Click on the image above for Polly’s tutorial.

Our Family Tree pattern from TwinStitchers.com

50 Button Crafts: idea #22 – button tie tack

Posted on June 1, 2015 by tellingfamilytales

from feelgoodstyle.com

Got a box or jar full of buttons carefully saved by your mother or grandmother? For 2015 I’m in search of great ways to put those buttons to use. Here is this week’s idea:

Here is a super easy idea for Father’s Day. Find an interesting button and super glue it to a tie tack back you can buy as a craft store. Wait for the glue to dry and all you need to do is wrap it up and add a card. It would be great to include the background of the button to add sentimental value to the gift. Maybe I should make some of these for all the fathers in my life. If you wants a little more detail on making a button tie tack, click on the photo above.