What a time, but we survived!

It is the time for resolutions, change, renewal and reaffirming. How about survival? My resolution is just to survive the next year with my three kids, three dogs, husband and mother in law. Survival of my Etsy shop. Survival of my creative spirit. Currently my creativity is being strangled by the heaps of laundry that are waiting for my attention. The survival of my youth... perhaps some exercise and diet changes are necessary for that one. The survival of my children. Right now they are cruisin' for a bruisin', (as the saying goes) and my two year old will be lucky to make to three. (I am speaking purely out of frustration and of course, would never actually hurt them, but I can now see how some parents snap.) So my resolution this year is simply to survive 2008."
(-my resolution for last year)

I survived! (so did my children..) Who knew? I have found a quiet pace to life this year which is nice. Something that is really helping, I have started planning out the meals for the week on Sunday. I check the flyers, coupons, recipe box, and get thoughts from the family, then grocery shop once, for the entire week. It is working nicely and it is so nice not to fuss over what to make each night. I know that I'll have everything on hand. With six in the house, it makes a big difference in my time management.

I am so happy that the holidays are over. It is a heavy weight off my shoulders for some reason. The halls have been un-decked and I spent way too much money at HomeGoods today buying lovely things to freshen up the house. Feeling very tired of red right now. Anyone else? Not sure how to handle the upcoming day of love, but I'll have to find some other color to show off my passion. Going with bright, sunny yellows and limes. I want to say a quick Thank you!! for all of you who visit my other blogs. (The Vintage Moth and Button Floozies) Between the two blogs we managed to raise $100 for The American Cancer Society!!! Whhoooohhoooo!! I am so excited! It is nice to see that the time I put into them can help someone other than me. That was in about 6 months so hopefully 2009 will be an even better year.

The only creative endeavours that I have tackled lately have been holiday related. A quick tip for those of you who have started following my blog since last Christmas, is to use your holiday greeting card pile as gift tags. I have mine all set to go for next year. In fact, there were so many tags, I didn't need to buy anymore this year. Recycling at its best! (see above image)

Happy New Year, things are brewing in the pot and I have lots of new changes around the home to share!

xoxo~

Abbie

Two Sides to Every Button...

The next time you work on an art piece, scrapbook or greeting try looking at the other side of things.

Take a look at the back side of your buttons.

I love the forgotten bits of fabric and thread that sometimes get left behind.

Each worn hook and hole has so many stories to tell.

The back of my button with the clovers is stamped 1883.

I didn't notice that until this photo shoot.

Don't forget broken buttons, they have a story too. You can tell what a button is made from once they are broken. Vegetable ivory or glass.

The back of shell buttons have so much more texture than the front.

My favorite button in my collection is the broken jet glass button shown above. It is so tiny and the broken side sparkles fiercely in the light.

Above is a close up of a vegetable ivory button, split open by time. You'd never know that under that dark exterior is a pale center! There are after all, at least two sides to every button.

I dreamt of buttons..

Over at the Button Floozies we are having our first annual International Button Week! Here is some eye candy of button lovelies I have posted in the past years. I don't have the time to photograph new buttons today, but hopefully by tomorrow or Thursday I'll have a photo journey through buttonland! Check back! As the 'first floozy' I am so happy to have found so many other like minded, fabulous, fun ladies!! Thank you all for joining in the fun and helping to raise $$ for the American Cancer Society!!

xoxo~

Abbie

International Button Week!

I am hosting International Button Week over at The Button Floozies! Come and join in the fun, meet some fabulous people and see some button crafts! You'll be absolutely amazed at what we do with those little things!

The first day..

Well, this morning I shipped my three year old off to preschool for the entire day! My 15 month old is sleeping and the house is completely still. Not something that happens very often.. even the dogs sense the peace and quiet and dare not disturb it. (they love to bark at the passing vehicles on the road) So, for now, Mondays and Wednesdays are my 'quiet, regroup, find my sanity' days. Something I found that was missing from my day was music. I LOVE music. I'll listen to anything but prefer bands like Depeche Mode, the Killers, etc.. We have a rediculous number of music channels with our cable so I have been putting it on my favorite (turning the TV off it plays through our stereo system) and letting it run all day. It helps. I have been happier and the girls have been playing, eating, and interacting better without the TV in the background. It is the small changes that seem to be helping my days. It will be nice when my wee one starts walking. 15 months and still nothing. She can stand by herself so it's coming, but it is quite exhausting hauling her all over the place. I am working on a giveaway over at Button Floozies and still posting images daily (or trying) to The Vintage Moth. I'd love to reopen my Etsy shop someday but not exactly sure what I'd offer. The antique papers, etc are all over Etsy and I'd like to do something a little different. Not sure what yet. Something handmade perhaps.. We'll see.

Off to enjoy more quiet time..
xoxo~
Abbie

Eye Candy...

Above are a few of my bits and bobbles. The button card is for the Vintage Button Card Swap I am hosting over at Buton Floozies. Come and join the fun! Below that are some of my vintage brooches and necklaces. The center one is sterling, but I just can't bare to polish it yet. Someday... the last image is of my new storage. I have take a room full of crap and reduced it to these few, pretty boxes. I have 5 LARGE mailing boxes, full, that I will be either listing in my Etsy shop or giving away here. (Haven't decided yet..)

The antique bee image is just for you! Use them in your art! Enjoy! Don't forget to click on the clipart link below and follow your nose to more fabulous images!

xoxo~

Abbie

Swap Over at Button Floozies!

Button Card Image from InspireCompany.Com
Pop on over to Button Floozies to join the fun!! I am in the process of figuring out a Vintage Button Card Swap! Doesn't it sound fun??

Oooohhh... aren't these just dee-lish?? Minski was found on Etsy. Otherwise known as Minna, she creates fabulous button necklaces and brooches.

Below is a 'cute as a button necklace in Definitely Pink'. Oh, I just adore the pink!! Such a bright wonderful splash for the upcoming summer.. can't you see this on a model wearing a fabulous pink polka dot bikini?


Not liking pink so much? (or the thought of bikinis..)

Try this little number on.. 'Water Baby' is a little more 'down to earth'.

How about a little Italian Summer Time Brooch? Minna says

"The colors remind me of the beautiful buildings and oh-so-blue sea and sky in Cinque Terre, Italy, and how hot it was when I was there."

Some wonderful colors and a brilliant use of buttons to get your summer juices flowing!

Please check out Minna's Etsy shop and peek around, she also has some cute handbags and lovely pin sets..

Have a fabulous weekend!!

xoxo~

(I also posted this at my alter ego blog Button Floozies, come on by for great button love, meet the other floozies and just plain crafty goodness!)

Still stuck in snow.. but the sun is shining!

I am keeping house at a new blog.. Button Floozies! The floozies are starting to come out of closet, so beware, you never know when you might run into one! ;) So, that is were my energy is right now.. tomorrow I will be posting about one the most amazing paper crafts I have seen! (and I LOVE paper!) Alright, I'm not saying anymore.. you'll have to come back and see.

The above image is of a collage pack I sold awhile ago. The images are actually high res scans of old family pictures. The charming sailor second from the left is my grandfather. The young lady with the spectacles is a great aunt, I think.. If you peek at the bottom of the pic, there is an 1897 advertisement for 'Exhausted Vitality'! Ha!! Who knew! Viagra could sold like hot cakes 100 years ago!

I hope everyone is having a fabulous Spring.. keep the pictures coming please, we are still buried in snow here! Every bit of spring inspiration on your blogs is very appreciated!