Great Excitement!!

All button-covering addicts will be happy to hear that the BULK quantities of our self-cover buttons have now come in!!

12mm bulk packs are available HERE

19mm packs are HERE

and 23mm packs are HERE.

The tools are sold separately. Remember to add one to your order if you don't already have one from a previous kit.

And do you remember those fabulous zipper pulls that we used to love and sell....?

They really add that certain-something to a bag or garment, and they make zips a lot easier to grip, open and close.

I'm VERY excited, because we now have the full range BACK IN STOCK! Still $1.45 each. Check them out HERE!

We still have the tutorial here in case you need to see how (easy it is) to attach them.


And of course, there is still great excitement about the TULIP DRESS being nearly finished, and about my GIVEAWAY.

Buttoned up

This Hobo bag has been one of those projects that has been made in fits and starts over the last month or two (it has a sister - cut at the same time but still in construction). The fabric is a Martha Negley and the o-rings are 52mm Square Edge rings (a personal favourite of mine).

Mostly I was waiting for more self-cover button kits to arrive so I could finish the Kanzashi flowers on the front.

The crafty kid is still a bit obsessed with making buttons, but we've had to limit her access to them because we're now selling them in the shop.

There's no sewing involved with these kits - the two-part setting tool wraps the fabric around and the back of the button snaps into place. There are 8 buttons per pack and we have them in 12mm and 23mm - both at the same price ($5.05).

Now I'm going to be very busy sewing all the wee girl's buttons onto hair-ties for her. She now has a hair tie to match every outfit I've ever made for her, and we're fast moving on to having a hair-tie to match every bag I've ever made......

Button it.

Like a woman possessed....

The wee girl has worked out how to cover buttons (with a little help) and won't rest until all available kits are used up.

When little fingers can't manage, the toy hammer does the job. These new-fangled kits require no stitching. Love 'em.

I also love that I have no fear in handing over pointy fabric scissors to a nearly-four-year-old. Her dexterity amazes me (...and as you can see, I've given her all my best manicure tips...!).

If I can keep any kits out of sight long enough, we'll be selling them in the shop soon. And If I can save any finished buttons from the destined-to-be-hair-ties pile I'll be putting them in the centre of Kanzashi or yo-yo flowers.

Mine, mine... ALL MINE!

The trademark finally came through!

An off-the-cuff encouragement (to a customer under serious pressure to make purses) spawned a slogan and a blog name. Now that it's trademarked I can use it as I please.... I can even add my website address to it!

And best of all - in an act of blatant self-promotion - I'm going to let YOU use it, too!!! If you'd like to add the button to your sidebar you can use this code...

<a href=" http://nicolemdesign.blogspot.com/"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3464/3378336507_3956110136.jpg?v=0"/></a>

Perhaps if you've gained something from my tutorials and want to share the love...? I'll certainly love you for it!!

EDITED TO ADD: The giveaway is finished... but I still appreciate you adding my button to your blog!

By way of appreciation - and at the risk of sounding like a mega-pushy marketing type - I'm thinking giveaways here.... Leave a comment if you add the button to your blog and I'll draw a name out of the proverbial hat in a month's time. The winner will recieve one of these purses (made with my very own hands!).

PS. Sorry for the lack of new and interesting crafty projects lately. I've been a bit under the weather and spent more time in bed than at the sewing machine (or anywhere else) over the weekend. I'll be back on track soon.