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I am delighted to say that my Folksy Pinterest Board 'Green Britain' has been chosen for the front page of Folksy.com today.

Here it is:-

Visit Folksy.com to find all sorts of handmade arts and crafts from UK sellers.

Vintage Buttons From Love Buttons HQ

Afternoon all! Well, after a busy week visiting the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and my home county of Oxfordshire, I am just about recovered enough to show you some of the latest buttons added to Love Buttons HQ!

These unusual vintage plastic buttons are black with a wash of metallic-look teal paint. They have a deeply domed centre, with irregular outer rim and raised, criss-cross lines for decoration. They cost £4.00 for four buttons.

These charming Art Deco vintage plastic buttons are in lovely, glossy condition and coloured bright red. They cost £5.00 for eleven buttons.

Finally, these charming beaded shank buttons have the look of blackberries! They have a metal base. They cost £5.00 for four buttons.

Enjoy the rest of the Bank Holiday weekend! Posted by Julia of  * Love Buttons HQ * Love Buttons on Folksy *

Collectible Cookbooks

I recently came across some wonderful little vintage cook booklets.  They are so fun to collect with thier bright covers and illustrations.  Often they contain advertising for products that may not even be in existance anymore.  They might be framed or displayed.  I prefer reading mine with thier interesting lost recipes and techniques.  I have several currently for sale in my shop Yvonne's Vintage & More.

Gifted Exhibition and Craft Fair, Kircudbright

Rob and I went to see the 'Gifted' exhibition in Kirkcudbright Town Hall this week. The show contains some of the paintings donated to Dumfries & Galloway council and had several artworks by one of my favourite artists from the area, Charles Oppenheimer. The image below shows his painting 'A Sun-Dappled Pool'. There were even a couple of Henri Matisse screenprints, a Joan Miro lithograph and many other artists' work. Well worth a visit! The exhibition is on until the 27th August 2012.

Downstairs was a craft show featuring the work of local artists and crafts people.

Handbound notebooks from Anthea Robson of Borgue Books.

Pottery from David Alexander of Brackland Pottery. Rob and I bought these two beautiful dishes, which we will use for serving olives, nuts etc or individual portions of hummus, salsa etc. They cost £8 each.

Paintings by Kie Stewart. 

Mosaics by Kate Anderson.

A great place to get an early start on your Christmas shopping! We also bought some cards by artist Eddie Saul (three for £5) which are always useful to have on hand for thank you notes and birthday cards.

Posted by Julia of * Fire Horse Textiles on Etsy * Fire Horse Textiles on Folksy * Love Buttons HQ *

Lovely handmade knitted items at ebid

http://uk.ebid.net/for-sale/cupcakes-scarf-chocolate-pink-strawberry-sweet-cherry-food-hand-made-crochet-57749873.htm

http://uk.ebid.net/for-sale/handbag-colourful-flowers-red-trim-hand-knitted-new-60627309.htm

http://uk.ebid.net/for-sale/gorgeous-hand-knitted-flower-trim-shoes-to-fit-m-baby-girl-reborn-70758617.htm

http://uk.ebid.net/for-sale/hand-knitted-pram-blanket-41937067.htm

http://uk.ebid.net/for-sale/hand-knitted-ladybug-mittens-red-black-age-years-bnwot-68238027.htm

Free pattern dolls sweaters

These Sweater Ornaments make great package toppers and ornaments that may be hung from your Christmas tree. Or they can be used as decorations. You can make them smaller or larger by using various weight threads or yarns. The sweaters pictured above were make using size 10 thread and sparkly thread.

RATING: Intermediate(I always rate thread projects as intermediate although there's nothing too terribly difficult in this except the joining of the sleeves may be a new technique for some crocheters)

MATERIALS
Small amount of Size 10 Cotton in Color A (and B if desired) for a smaller sweater. I used a Sparkly red and white for one of my sweaters (OR Small amount of Fingering weight Sock yarn for a larger sweater )

Steel hook 1.50 mm - (Clover Size 2 hook or a 8 Steel hook) or a hook that you feel comfortable with

Embellishments (optional) : Tiny Flowers, beads etc. You can also carry a strand of Sulky metallic thread with your crochet cotton for more glitz.
(See the blue and white sweaters above)

GAUGE: Doesn't matter. Switch to larger hook if too small or switch to smaller hook if too big

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Don't chain after the slip st because it leaves a definite line - just hdc right in the first st pulling up a long loop. 
2. Always crochet your first stitch in the same stitch as your slip stitch

STRIPES: if making stripes, start out with Color A and crochet 2 rounds, then change to Color B and crochet 1 round. Keep alternating 
colors having 2 rows of A and 1 row of B. Or invent your own striping patterns.

SPECIAL STITCHES
Hdc dec over next 2 sts: yo hook, insert hook in next st, yo and bring up a loop, insert hook in next st, yo and
bring up a loop, yo and draw through all loops on the hook

ARMS - Make two Both Arms MUST BE MADE Before beginning the sweater

ROW 1: Leaving a long tail. Ch 9. Hdc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch. Sl st in first st to form a ring - you'll be 
working in Rounds from now on. (8 sts) With Long tail , sew first and last st together and weave in ends

RND 2: Hdc in each st (8 sts)

RND 3: Hdc in each st. Finish off and weave in all ends

.

SWEATER - Starting at the bottom of the sweater:

ROW 1: Leaving a long tail , ch 23. Hdc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch, sl st in 1st st to form a ring(22 sts). Thread long tail through needle and wind through 1st st and weave in. (you can wait until later to do this if desired). you'll be working in rounds from now on





RNDS 2-3: Hdc in each st, sl st in 1st st.

RND 4: Hdc in next 5 sts of sweater, *Holding Sleeve with last row facing towards the top, hdc in each of the 8 sts around Rnd 3 of sleeve, *, hdc in next 11 sts on sweater, repeat from * to * . ending hdc in last 6 sts, sl st in 1st st (38 sts)

RND 5: Mark beginning of each rnd. Hdc in next 5 sts ,* hdc dec over next 2 sts, hdc in next 6 sts on sleeve, hdc dec over next 2 sts,* hdc in next 9 sts, rep from * to * once, ending hdc in last 4 sts , sl st in first st (34 sts)

RND 6: Hdc in next 5 sts ,* hdc dec over next 2 sts, hdc in next 4 sts on sleeve, hdc dec over next 2 sts,* hdc in next 9 sts, rep from * to * once, ending hdc in last 4 sts , sl st in first st (30 sts)

RND 7: Hdc in next 5 sts ,* hdc dec over next 2 sts, hdc in next 2 sts on slv, hdc dec over next 2 sts,* hdc in next 9 sts, rep from * to * once, ending hdc in last 4 sts , sl st in first st (26 sts)

RND 8: Hdc in next 4 sts ,* hdc dec over next 2 sts, hdc in next 2 sts on slv, hdc dec over next 2 sts,* hdc in next 8 sts, rep from * to * once, ending hdc in last 2 sts , sl st in first st (22 sts)

RND 9: ( hdc dec over next 2 sts) around. (11 sts)

RND 10: Sc in each st. fasten off and weave in ends. 

You can hot glue small flowers or beads onto your sweater if desired.

Pretty Handmade Jewellery Box and Notebook

Morning all! I thought I would show you my latest two purchases of lovely handmade items from Folksy.com.

First up is this very pretty jewellery box from Sascalia. This item costs £15 + postage and packaging. Visit her shop for art blocks, prints, and jewellery boxes featuring her sweet and magical art works of flowers, animals, and faeries.

Next is a gorgeous covered notebook featuring a collage of lace, fabrics, buttons and nostalgic images. I love the romantic feel to Edwina's pieces. This particular notebook cost £6.50 including P&P. Visit her shop, Handmade by Edwina, for a variety of items, including bags, totes, purses, journals and more.

Posted by Julia of * Love Buttons HQ * Fire Horse Textiles on Folksy * Fire Horse Textiles on Etsy *

Hebden Bridge Vintage Car Display 2012

Just thought i would show you a selection of Vintage Cars from the annual Hebden Bridge Car Show. A fabulous 2 day event with cars & bikes from various eras up to the early 1990's.  Saturday cars from 1970 - 1991, Sunday 1906 - 1960's.

Olympics Buttons and Sports Buttons

Hello everyone! Here are a few of the sports-related buttons available from Love Buttons HQ.

First up, a pair of vintage metal buttons with the Olympics logo:-

These buttons cost £4.00 for two buttons. They were probably blazer or jacket cuff buttons. It is possible that they date to the 1948 Olympics.

Next, a football button, priced at 20p each.

Something for equestrian fans: a set of six buttons in gold tone metal, featuring horse jumping. These cost £2.00 for six buttons.

And finally, these sweet, little buttons featuring sailing boats. They cost £5.00 for three buttons.

Posted by Julia of * Love Buttons HQ * Love Buttons on Folksy *

Handmade finger puppets

Finger puppets take just a tiny bit of yarn – don’t stick to my color suggestions, use what you have laying around! Prefer a lioness? Leave off the mane!

US G, 4mm hook
Body/snout: yellow or other worsted weight yarn, small amount
Mane: medium brown or other worsted weight yarn, small amount
Details: dark brown worsted weight yarn, small amount
Tapestry needle, scissors
Optional: small plastic eyes or buttons
Body (yellow)
Row 1: Starting with magic circle, 6sc into the circle. Join with sl st and ch1.
Row 2: Work 2sc into each st. (12 sc) Join with sl st and ch1. Stop here for a moment and weave in the starting end while you can.
Row 3 – 10: Work even around (12sc). Join with sl st and ch1.
Row 11: Work even around. Break yarn and use seamless join to finish off, weave in end.

Snout (yellow and dark brown)
Row 1: With yellow, starting with magic circle, 6sc into the circle. Join with sl st and ch1.
Row 2: Sc evenly around. Break yarn and use seamless join to finish off. Leave long tail to sew to body.
With dark brown yarn and tapestry needle, embroider the nose and snout line. Leave a long tail. Stuff the starting end into the snout. Attach the snout to the body, using the dark brown yarn to center, and the yellow yarn to sew around the edges. With the dark brown tail, create french knot eyes, or sew on plastic eyes/buttons. Weave in ends.

Ears (yellow) – Make 2
Ch2.In the second ch from the hook, work 3sc. Finish off and sew to head.

Mane (medium brown)
Ch5, sl st in the fourth ch from the hook. *Ch4, sl st in the fourth ch from the hook. Repeat from * until 12 loops are made. Finish off and sew to body, working behind the ears, with the ends meeting under the snout.

ROAR! Tee hee! Finger puppets are fun for all ages. 

US G, 4mm hook
White worsted weight yarn, small amount
Black worsted weight yarn, small amount
Optional: small plastic eyes or buttons
Body:
Row 1: Starting with white yarn and magic circle, 6sc into the circle. Join with sl st and ch1.
Row 2: Work 2sc into each st. (12 sc) Join with sl st and ch1. Stop here for a moment and weave in the starting end while you can.
Row 3: With black yarn, work evenly around (12sc). Join with sl st and ch1.
Row 4: With white yarn, work evenly around (12sc). Join with sl st and ch1.
Row 5 – 10: Repeat Row 3 – 4 3x.
Row 11: With black yarn, work even around. Break yarn and use seamless join to finish off, weave in end.

Nose and Eyes:
Row 1: Starting with black yarn and magic circle, 6sc into the circle. Join with sl st. 
Row 2: With white yarn, ch1 and work evenly around (6sc). Join with sl st.
Row 3: With black yarn,ch1 and sc in first st, 2sc in next st, sc in each of next 2 sts, and then 2sc in next st, sc in last st (8sc). Join with sl st.
Row 4: With white yarn, ch1 and sc in first st, 2sc in next st, sc in each of next 5 sts, and then 2sc in next st (10sc). Join with sl st.
Row 5: With black yarn, (do NOT ch), sl st somewhat loosely across next 6 sts.
Row 6: With white yarn, ch1 and turn. Working in FLO, dc in first sl st, 2 dc in next st, dc in next 2 st, 2 dc in next st, dc in last sl st (8dc).

Break yarn and finish off, leaving about 12″ of tail to sew nose to body. Add eyes, either plastic doll eyes or french knots of black yarn, to dc row as shown in picture. Stuff the end of the nose with a little bit of scrap yarn and sew to the body, with the center of Row 6 nearly at the top of the body.

Ears: (make 2)
With black yarn, ch 4. Sl st in the second ch from hook, sc in next ch, sl st in last ch, and ch 1. Break yarn and finish off, leaving a few inches of tail of yarn. Sew the ears to the top of head on either side of body Row 1, with each curved side facing forward.

Mane: 
With black yarn, ch 15, break yarn and finish off, leaving a few inches at each end for sewing it on (but not yet!). Cut 6″ pieces of yarn for hair - 8 black and 7 white. Using tapestry or yarn needle, thread each piece onto a chain and knot at the base, holding both ends together. Start at one end with a black piece and alternate black and white with each chain, ending with the last black piece. Sew the mane to the body, with one end coming up between the ears. Stand all the “hairs” up straight from the body and trim them to desired length (about 1 inch).


For buttons go to 
http://uk.ebid.net/perl/main.cgi?words=buttons&category2=687&view_format=gallery&categoryid=687&categoryonly=on&mo=search&type=keyword
for wool go to
http://uk.ebid.net/perl/main.cgi?type1=a&type2=a&words=wool&category2=4120&view_format=gallery&categoryid=4120&categoryonly=on&mo=search&type=keyword