Ruby's Button Tin

Flickr - I heart you!

I'm such a Flickr fan. I'm constantly coming across such fantastic creativity - whether softies or cushions or needlepoint, knitting, 'the new domesticity', patchwork. You name it, crafters make it and show it on Flickr. Here's a Sunday morning round up of some current favourites: Happy Toast by LollipopKizz Remixing the December bed by Jek in the Box Knitted stripy socks by looseends They're all worth a peek. I've posted some more of my pictures, including this one of some felt bunting that's mid construction. (It's not the best picture, but then I'm generally hopeless at photography.) The little houses will be suspended from ric rac. They're an addition to the bunting I currently make: bunnies and carrots which I reckon would be ideal in a nursery or as a christening gift, and alien bunting - for children and adult sci fi fans alike!

Knitting news ...

This is a tea cosy I knitted which is meant to be shaped like a cake! The white paper case, the chocolate sponge, the pink icing with strawberries on top. It was partly successful, but I might have another go at getting it right. I wish I had a photo to illustrate the following, but this is a snippet from The Sunday Times. It in turn got the info from the Brighton Argus. It's about a knitter called Audrey Horncastle. She '... has knitted more than 100 woolly breasts in the past three years. They are squeezed into shape by daughter Rhona ... and used to teach breast feeding to new mothers. Audrey, who now produces one breast a day, says "I try to keep the basic fleshy tone but sometimes people ask if I can put in a bit of colour just to make things a bit different."' How fantastic is that!!! What a great new use for knitting.

Patchwork ... the bug bites again

I don't know what it is about patchwork, but every so often the bug bites. I put the felt food softies to one side and start patching. I've been trying to master the sewing machine and make some simple, small rectagular based quilts with a view to possibly selling them in future, but they're never going to be as satisfying as hand sewing. These photos are of a quilt I've been making on and off for ages. It'll get finished one day. They all do ...

Creative chaos ...

A messy desk is the sign of a productive mind ... non?

2009 New Year, new quilt

Over Christmas I started a new quilt based on blues and green. Part of a vain effort to make some inroads on my ridiculously large fabric stash. It's not finished yet, but this is it so far ... The quilt's a simple design based on rectangles, and I managed to get the sewing machine working for long enough to sew them together. The actual quilting was done by hand, and I've still got the edges to bind. I'm very pleased with the colours, and after this one I'm going for a red & green design. It's funny how the patchwork bug grabs you every now and again. What it is about cutting up perfectly good pieces of fabrics then sewing them back together that's so addictive??!!

Is Christmas really just around the corner?

I really think I ought to get some Christmas shopping done. The problem is I loathe the heaving shops full of stressed out, carrier bag laden shoppers who'd happily trample over you to get to the checkout. I'm trying to make a lot of gifts, but as with everyone there's only a limited amount of time to spare for crafting. Oh, enough already with the grumblings ... when you watch the News it's very difficult to moan about the trivial things in life. Some people have real problems to contend with, so I'm a great believer in counting your blessings. I have my health, my friends, and - unlike many in these frugal, recession hit times - I've got a job. On to happier crafty matters ... If you're looking for a present for someone who makes felt softies, or maybe a treat for yourself, can I recommend this book 'My Favorite Felt Sweets'. I got mine off Amazon, and it's a Japanese publication. No, don't panic! The text is in English, and the instructions rely a lot on illustrations so it's very easy to follow. Originating in Japan as it does, the book features a lot of sushi but also a great array of cakes and sweets. The photographs are clear and patterns are life size. For a crafty person, this book along with some squares of felt and embroidery silk or beads would, I'm sure, be a very welcome gift.

Veggie burger anyone?

Who knows why you get the urge to make what you make? Well, I decided it was time to make a burger - a veggie one of course! A sesame seed bun, burger, square of highly processed cheese and a big splat of tomato sauce.

The joy of Flickr

Years & years after the world and his wife have discovered it, I've finally found the joy of Flickr. I've been posting some of my photos on there under the name rubykittyruby. So please feel free to drop by. That's all for today's short 'n' snappy post!

Are you feeling modish?

Well, if you are - why not visit www.modishblog.com as they've got a fab November giveaway. You can be the lucky recipient of a brilliant collection of handmade goodies that would surely brighten anyone's recession-hit dark days. Click on the link to the right of this post, and have a browse around their great site. Ladies and gentlemen, that's the end of my public service announcement. :-)

Keep Calm and Carry On

The Totterdown art trail happened last weekend, and went well. I was based in the hall of the local baptist church along with lots of photographers, print makers, a mosaic artist, sculptor and others. This is us setting us: Lots of people made nice comments about the cakes I'd made, and they went down particularly well with children as they're so tactile. I sold about £60 worth on the Saturday, but puzzlingly only took £20 on Sunday. Odd that there should be such a difference, but maybe Sunday's rainier weather took it's toll? Who knows. Either way, it was good fun. It was a good experience to sell directly to 'the public' in that way, and I hope I got the pricing right as it's so difficult to judge how much to charge. Too much and people won't buy, too little and you're de-valuing your work. Anyway, on another subject I cut this copy of a second world war poster out of a magazine and stuck it in a clip frame. I love the Keep Calm and Carry On message (which I've twice started to type as Keep Clam and Carry On!). It's such a staunchly English kind of message, and just a bit eccentric. Also it's totally on-message for these weird recession hit times of doom, despair and enforced frugality.