Wayne Hemingway's Festival of Thrift!

Tomorrow morning me and my friend and fellow maker Sam from Hoolala are taking a road trip up North! We're off to showcase are wares at the marvellous Wayne Hemingway's Festival of Thrift in Darlington, UK. 

I am super excited as I have never done an 'over night' fair before. This event promises to be amazing, with celebrity thrifters and workshops going on all weekend from the art of screen printing to Bee keeping. 

It should take us about 2 hours to get there and so its going to be a VERY early start!

I am taking along some lovely new stock too, of which you will hear more about next week! Now if I can remember to pack my camera I shall do a little photo gallery of the event in my next blog post. 

So if you up North or fancy a thrifty weekend filled with fun, pop on over and say hello! http://festivalofthrift.co.uk/

Oooh I have been rather busy

Well its been 6 or so weeks since my last post. i have been super duper busy with the house, Realicoul and family weddings. So here is a few photos of what been happening in the last few weeks...

 Lots of new items are ready for the Christmas rush and the amazing events I have lined up.

 I have been doing a lot more work with Vintage buttons as I am currently doing lots of vintage and retro fairs. 

 I have been busy designing logos for the wonderful gift shop Strawberry Blue in Rawtenstall.

I have been adding more button themed home accessories and decorations to my stock.

I have been spending a lot of time in our local playground with my little boy and our new friends. 

We have been to my sister in laws Military wedding. ( I know this is a super cute photo right?)

We have also been flying kites!

Sooo that was the last 6 weeks, here's what's coming up before Christmas, mark your diary's folks its going to be a Realicoul button crazy few months! 

The prints are ready for sale

So here we are a month later and my 'Great Tit and Button' print is finally ready for purchase! I am really happy with how it has turned out. As you may have read in the previous post this is a hand drawn piece, coloured digitally. I am rather proud of my detailed shading on the little bird. I enjoyed every step of the working process and I hope you all love it as much as I do. And of course there will be more button themed prints coming soon!

A4 giclée print £14. Photographed in an Ikea Ribba frame.

Giclée print on 280g satin matt premium archival quality paper. Printed using exceptional pure ink with a fade resistant guarantee for up to 110 years

 Available in green, blue and purple. 

It's even available as a note/greeting card. Cute eh?

And if that isn't enough cute buttony goodness for you, then here is a sneaky peek at this years Realicoul Christmas card range...

Drawing was always my first love

Drawing was always my first love, ever since I was a small child. I would wish for wet play as it meant I could stay inside the classroom and draw. All the way through my education Art was my main subject. 

Now I love making things as you all know, but recently I have had a yearning to get out my pencils and start sketching again. I decided I wanted to incorporate my drawings into the Realicoul brand. So I am increasing my range of button jewellery & accessories to also include homewear and design. There will however ALWAYS be a button involved :)

The illustrations I am working on currently all consist of British garden birds and buttons. Since moving to our new house last July I have become a keen bird watcher. My garden is full of them! We have so many Blue Tits and Great Tits, its a joy watching them from my breakfast table. So I hope you love them as much as I do as these illustrations will soon be available as prints on my online shops. 

Here is my first finished piece of the Great Tit and Button.

 First it was hand drawn in pen.

Then I coloured it digitally. (Obviously the watermark wont be on the print you buy ;) )

Lots more birdies and buttons to come, and of course I will let you all know once they are available.

Back and fully charged

 So I am now back from my holidays in Portugal. We only went for a week and it was just the relaxing break I needed ( well as relaxing as it can get with a toddler in tow). I have come home with my batteries fully charged and I'm ready to crack on with some work, some new Pinterest projects and possibly some further decorating!

 Reuben in his vintage sailor play suit x

 A wonderful sand artist at Fishermans beach.

 So this was this weeks 1st Pinterest project. Hand painted nature bunting for Reuben's outside space. I am really pleased with it and best of all I totally enjoyed getting my paints out!

We have now started our 2nd Pinterest project of the week. The Teepee! Who needs a Wendy house when you have a teepee?! I am planning on weaving coloured ribbons and string through it. Both Reuben and the dog love it already!

I have vowed to myself to organise my time better and get on with all those projects I want to do for our home and our son. 

See you next week x

New Gold Button Jewellery

I have been planning this new 14k Gold range for a while. I have finally gotten round to making it. I am really pleased of how they have turned out. This range has been made with the weddings in mind. I wanted to make a range that is extra special, feminine but still quirky. These necklaces are currently only available on my folksy shop. Once I make more I will list them over on Etsy too. I'd love to know what you all think.

Lets Get Crafty!

I will be in Whalley village hall this Sunday selling my button jewellery and home textile decorations. This is my first event in Whalley, Lancashire and I am really looking forward to it. So fingers crossed for a busy day and please pop along and say hi if over for a visit. 

A little bit about Whalley

Whalley is sheltered by the wooded hillside of Whalley Nab on the banks of the beautiful River Calder. At the heart of the Ribble Valley, it is one of Britain’s most attractive and fascinating areas, easily accessible by road, rail and bus. 

Immersed in history, Whalley village emerged as early as the 600’s. Highlights include Whalley Abbey, a Medieval church and an array of architectural styles to be found in its buildings. 

Fabulous, award winning shops offer a vast range of goods, all served with that little something extra. There are cycle routes and fantastic walks to suit all ages and abilities along with many other outdoor activities to enjoy.

-Visit Whalley web page

Silver Button Necklaces

Today's post is all about my new stock. These are my new silver plated button necklaces, what do you think? I love them, I have already made one for myself. They catch the light perfectly and look so pretty on. Best of all they are only £8! These necklaces are now on my Folksy and Etsy shops, ready to purchase.

  

 I even have matching earrings to go with them. Pretty sweet right? These ones above are sterling silver 925 hook earrings. I also have them available as button stud/posts, as you can see below they look just fabulous in. Thank you Kayleigh Pearson for being my model :)

See you in a couple of days! I can feel a tutorial coming on :)

New Silver Button Pendants

I am so in love with these new necklaces, I may just have to make myself one in every colour!

 Set on an 18" silver chain they lie perfectly on your chest

  

We all know 'Nautical' is a big look this year, this blue button is the perfect finish to the look

Bring me sunshine! Summer may not be here yet but there is nothing to stop you brightening up your outfit whilst we wait!

Here is the vintage version of this pendant! I know its totally gorgeous isn't it?! Made with cream, teal and red floral vintage buttons. Loves!

I will be listing this new range throughout today over on my folksy and etsy shops. I will post the link to my facebook page once there up and ready for sale!

The Realicoul stall was at the Nelson Craft and Vintage event all last weekend. It was my first three day event and I loved it. So many lovely people and talented makers. I look forward to the next event in the summer. I will be filling up my diary this week with craft fairs, summer fetes & carnival bookings. So Realicoul may very well be coming to a town near you this year! Ooo its exciting!

Can you spot me? Deep in photography concentration!

A lovely lady named Ann happened to have Mollie Makes mags for sale on her stall. We found the one I featured in last Spring and she insisted I display it on my stall, complete with the featured button brooch! It actually conjured up a lot of interest with customers, so I decided it will become a regular part of my future displays at craft events :)

Vintage Love

Here are some of my favourite pieces from my new collection of vintage button jewellery. The floral sets are by far my favourite to work with, they make take the longest to put together to get them 'just' right but I believe the overall finished look is totally worth it! 

This vintage Springtime necklace and bracelet are available right now on my Realicoul folksy shop.

Super funky and chunky vintage button bracelet, featuring a very special antique button dating back to the late 1800's!

If your going to wear a button ring, you best make it a fat one!

SHOP NEWS

After weighing up all the pros and cons, I have decided to combine Realicoul & SewRealicoul together. So over the next couple of weeks SewRealicoul stock will be moved over to the Realicoul shops. So you guys will be able to do all your shopping in one place. I am also waiting for some supplies to arrive so I can crack on with my new 14k gold range....Oooo I hear you say! I know. I know I'm going up in the world :)

I will shortly (tonight, once I have my monkey in bed) be placing some SewRealicoul items on SALE! These items will sadly not be joining the Realicoul shops and therefore it will be your very last chance to get your mitts on them. So keep and eye out over at SewRealicoul Folksy for the special reductions. I will announce the sale opening on my facebook later tonight.

Magpie Market & Easter Snow

So despite the Arctic weather conditions at the weekend the wonderful Magpie Market still went on. We were provided with complimentary tea and cake all day which I know think should come complimentary with every event! The chocolate brownies were delish! So here are a few photos of my stall, complete with my new packaging and new vintage/reclaimed layout. 

The frames at the back of my table were a horrible bare pine until the makeover. I saw a Pin on Pinterest about instantly ageing wood with a vinegar solution, needless to say it worked a treat! 

I bought this wonderful khaki retro vanity case at the Vintage Home Show in Manchester two weeks ago. What a bargain at only £8. It made a fantastic display base for my vintage button collection.

The brooches were most certainly the most popular item on the day, but then again who can resist a retro fox brooch with a rabbit button?

Reuben and I thought making a snow bunny would be much more appropriate given the time of year!

So it looks like it might just be the coldest Easter on record. But hey ho, I'm looking forward to wrapping up in front of the fire, with a big mug of hot coco and tucking in to my chocolate eggs! 

Have a wonderful Easter folks x

Uppermill Magpie Market This Weekend!

I have been lucky enough to be selected to exhibit my button jewellery at this wonderful upcoming event this Sunday at Saddleworth Museum, Uppermill. If you live in the area please pop along and say hi! Uppermill is a lovely little village and well worth a visit. As well as popping by to the Magpie Market be sure to check out  'The vintage Cupcake kitchen' on the high street they really do make cakes to die for! And if the sun is shining why not take a stroll down beside the beautiful canal. Unique jewellery shopping, delicious tea and cake and a lovely Sunday walk, what more could you possibly want?!

Modern Button Jewellery

I really do love these colours together, they 'go' with most your wardrobe, and really make a statement. These items are listed on my Etsy shop, Click the images and it will take you the listing.

 Large Button Ring

 Chunky Button Bracelet

 Chunky Longer Button Necklace

Funky Button Necklace

New white photographs

So this week I took on the task of re-photographing ALL my items on Etsy and Folksy. I finally made the decision to go for the 'all white background', and I am so glad I did! Not only because I'd of wasted days of work but I honestly think they look much better. So now I just have do all my SewRealicoul photographs, but that's for next week :)

Here are some new pieces on the NEW white background

 Vintage button brooch

 Tiny Sweet heart button earrings

 Valentines Day button brooch

Button heart bracelet