Regular readers of this blog may remember that back in the grey days of February I made a pouch using a vintage dandelion transfer. In those dreary winter days the occasional brave dandelion was the only occasional splash of colour in my muddy garden. Now of course everywhere is full of colour, primroses, bluebells, honesty, blossom of all kinds, fritillaries, and in my garden at least – plenty of dandelions!! I don’t care one little bit, I love their blaze of yellow.
The dandelions in the wilder parts of the garden have flowered and set seed already, though more flowers are in bud. I was out there earlier today pegging the sheets on the line, and was struck once again by their cheerfulness. So .. I decided to embroider them again – this time using my own design. I discovered some self-cover buttons at the bottom of a box and thought that to create buttons featuring the dandelion in the stages of its life would be fun. Above is the result before cutting out .. from the bud with the first hint of yellow showing at the top, through the blazing yellow flower, fairy clock puffball, seeds blowing on the wind to the final empty stalk, its task completed.
Observant readers may have noticed that only four buttons feature in the image at the beginning of this post, whilst you can see from the work in progress picture that I made five designs. This is because the fifth button in the pack turned out to be bent and so I couldn’t cover it. I will have to go shopping on Monday for a replacement to finish the set.
So it is the exact same set of 5 dandelion buttons featured in this post that is the free giveaway. They’re all hand embroidered onto vintage linen by me and the last button will of course be completed before they’re sent out to the lucky winner!
If you’d like to own these buttons, then please leave a comment below – and just for a bit of fun – please say what you’d do with them. The winner will be chosen by Amy – who is hoping for lots of entries(!) in a week’s time – so entries will close midnight BST on Saturday 15 May 2010.
Beautiful buttons!
If I were to win them, I would put them on a bag I have been given by my Gran. It is a linen bag with a house embroidered on it. The garden of the house is crying out for some flowers!
If I don't win, I will try and make them myself from your tutorial!
Oooh lovely idea, I too have a garden full of dandelions. If I were to win them I think I'd add them to a quilt I am in the process of making 🙂
Oooh I'd remove the plain buttons from a chunky cardi I have and replace them with your wonderful dandelion buttons and it would look sooo pretty…Lucey xx
THOSE BUTTONS ARE SO SWEET! AS A CHILD, I ALWAYS GOT EXCITED WHEN THE "LIONS" BLOOMED. I LOVED TO BURY MY NOSE IN THE BLOOM AND ENJOY THEIR SWEET SCENT. MY MOTHER COULD ALWAYS TELL THAT I HAD BEEN SMELLING THEM BECAUSE I WOULD COME HOME WITH A YELLOW "LION BUTTER" NOSE!
THOSE BUTTONS WOULD LOOK VERY NICE ON A LINEN BLOUSE THAT I HAVE. IT WOULD CHANGE THE BLOUSE FROM ORDINARY TO SPECIAL.
I LOVE YOUR BLOG BECAUSE YOU ARE SO TALENTED AND DESIGN HAPPY THINGS.
KIND REGARDS, JUDY
Thank you so much for the patterns and creative genius! Oh these buttons are lovely. If I were to be the lucky person chosen by lovely Amy I would put them on a purse I'm making that has buttons on the outside for decoration.
What lovely buttons! I would love to have them as fasteners for tea towels to hang over the oven bar in my kitchen!
They are such gorgeous buttons, I would design a wall hanging to put them on so I could enjoy them every day!
([email protected])
I love how you captured the various stages of a dandelion on your buttons! If I won I'd spend some time looking & admiring and then… use them to embellish a bag, or maybe my bulletin board?
Lovely buttons! Thanks for sharing the patterns too. My favorite is the one which is full bloom – a white puff ball! I've enjoyed reading how others would use them. Loved the idea of the towels on the oven bar or on a special pocketbook. I might use them on a dress for our almost 1 year old grandgirl.
What wonderful buttons, I love the ethos of them and the way that they chage, so perfect.
My lawn is covered in the yellow things already
Eveytime I go out with my dog I pick a clock (the dandelion when it's White and fluffy ) and I just love looking at the I intricate detail I've always tried to draw it, but never could so I'm really happy that you have made a pattern which will allow me to capture it. Thanks
if I won the buttons I would put them on my favourite jacket so that everytime I saw them It would feel like spring
I'd have to make a funky bench cushion to go on the bench that overlooks our dandilion addorned garden.
I love your style and choices of colours and fabric etc … I find them a real inspirational!
Oh Helen what would I do with those gorgous buttons. For me I think they would have to be used on my bags. I think Amy is trying to pull a fast one as if we did not know her motive for wanting lots of replies. Bless her. Hope she is doing ok, Lynne xx
I have a very hard time with decisions, so I can't be perfectly sure what I'd do. I think I would probably make a bag and feature them on it. I may not qualify for the giveaway since I am in the U. S., but I couldn't resist joining in on the fun.
oh, you are so very talented!! i love these buttons so! not sure what i would use them for just yet….or if i qualify as i am in the us, too. my school is dubbed *dandelion hill* and i do just love them in all forms! 🙂
I have a wall hanging with cross-stitched birds on it in my sewing room. With all kinds of pins and buttons stuck on it that are super special that I want to see and dream about using everytime I'm working in my 'happy place'. Your sweet buttons would fit in perfectly. Just rec'd your newsletter, thanks ever so much for the calendar bunny patterns!
Love your 'Canadian' dogs, we have a 'British'
Jack Russell. LOL Hugs from Canada
http://sideroadstitcher.blogspot.com/
They are so cute!! I would love to win them and put them on a special bag or use in the center of a fabric broach. I love your stitchery patterns…they remind me of my mother's old embroidery patterns that I love.
Hi everyone – of course you can enter if you're in the US – Benjamin the Easter Bunny went off to a lady in Texas who won the Easter draw. It's not as though buttons are expensive to post after all…
Just a quick note to let you know that a link to this post will be placed on CraftCrave today [09 May 02:00pm GMT]. Thanks, Maria
Hi Judy:
I'm making a white linen top and could use the buttons to embellish it. I also like the idea of using them on a purse. I love that you have used simple dandelions so prettily.
If I won the lovely buttons I would make a little headband for my daughter using them.
Great blog and wonderful, inspiring photos!
The buttons are really cute. I would put them on a wall quilt for my grand.
April's link for the bunnies; it went to the Jan-Mar.
Thanks for super work.
Nancy in IN
I quite like dandelions — I even like the pattern of their leaves. 🙂 I will use these pretty buttons in one of two ways — either as decoration on a new summer hand bag or on an embroidery as embellishments.
🙂 Linda
I'd have to make a sun dress and use them down the bodice. I LOVE dandelions and I still drool when thinking about your dandy bag.
I also may have to make a bag and use them to close the pockets and one button attached to a zipper…that's be better 'cause I could see them everyday that way….
Then again they'd look cute to make some aprons with where the straps button on the side crossing in the back…leaving one button left…
Where I could make a simple bag with a flip close strap that could have the button on it…
I don't KNOW what I'd do!!!! Too excited to decide!
With the one I could even use it in the kids Montessori works…button or dandelion…
Do you accept bribes?!? And, I'm still working on the bunnies. Started out as handwork for the kids but…they're not interested. I think I need to wait until cold weather sets in…they're too antsy to sit still….me too.. 😉
LOVE your works!!!!
Honey
http://www.mondorfment.blogspot.com
Oh wow, these are so, SO pretty! I love them! Thank you so much for sharing, I'll be linking.
These buttons are adorable! I think perhaps I would decorate a purse with these.
And thank you so much for sharing your lovely Bunny of the Month embroidery patterns. So sweet!
What fab buttons…you are so clever, and thanks for this months news letter, full of exciting things to make….I look forward to reading it every month.
All the girls in our family are getting together for a bake-day and I'm making all the spring inspired aprons for us to wear. I think I would use your buttons to embellish the apron bibs, although there are eight of us so a good excuse for me to have a go at making some too.
Florrie x
I just love those buttons. I think I would probably create something special for them. Something like a cushion or perhaps a bag.
Julie xxxxxx
These are so very lovely! As to what to do with them–ahh! They're so pretty I'd want to do so many things with them! Hm, maybe make a jewelry holder so that I could have them hanging up in my room to admire all the time.
I think that I would cluster them on a patch of a CQ or add a ribbon to the back and tie them in my grandaughter's ponytail. They are certainly a lovely lot. Thanks for the opportunity to win them.
i would save them for the right bags
and i all ready have an idea for them
they are my tipe of buttons
i love them
thanks!
Your buttons, along with all of your work, are beautiful. I would love to win them. I would probably frame them up or incorporate them into a bag or quilt. Great Job!
Beth
These buttons are so cute.
I can not say what I like best; On my jacket or on a linen cushion.
As all your desings: Beautiful!!!
And thank you very much for the May newsletter.I love the Bunnies!
Suzanne xxx
I'm going to be redoing our bedroom and I want to put some extra cushions on the bed for propping up while reading. These buttons would compliment what I have in mind beautifully.
They are just lovely. The detail is wonderful!
Carolyn
My Mom was born and raised in England and has a huge love for intricate embroidery (who doesn't Ü). Those buttons are so gorgeous, I would love to have them framed and in a plate stand by her bedside table. She also has a 75 year old teddy bear from her childhoodthat wears a hand knitted cardigan. Those buttons would be ust precious on that sweater.
You did a beautiful job on them *Ü*
Your work is exquisite – the buttons are truly beautiful. I'd want to frame them and look at them a lot and show them off. It's a lovely giveaway.
I love your dandelion buttons. I think I'd have to make a special quilt for them should I win. BTW the dandelions here in Nova Scotia are in full bloom, wonderful yellow blossoms wherever I look. I enjoy them. Jane
As usual the things that you make are absolutely gorgeous and I would just love to win! They do say that plagiarism is the sincerest form of flattery so failing to be the winning snack I shall be plagiarising with the greatest speed!
Jille x
I would love the dandelion buttons…and I would use them on a quilt I am making which is the colours of spring.
Cool buttons!
If I won them, I would use them in our Montessori inspired homeschool as a little work for my children to do. I would have them alongside some books that mention dandelions.
Then, when we would finish our study and using them as a work, I would them use them to go as a decoration on a bag that I have for me…so they would be enjoyed by my children and by me.
Honey from Mondorfment blogged about your work and your giveaway…so glad that she did, as you make lovely things:)
I love the dandelion buttons! In fact all of your blog is a revelation to me … so many fantastic ideas and the tutorials encouraging all of us to get making!
If I won them (thinking of that black random selection paw which you told me about!1) I would sew them onto a hessian bag I have. It's made from an original coffee sack and I'd embroider a bigger dandelion on it too.
Lesley XX
Seeing dandelions always brings memories of childhood.
Your buttons are beautiful.