Gale's Gallery X : Dorset Crosswheel Heirloom Buttons

Hi,

Since this Winter is going on and on, I have been trying out a few things for you.  When it comes to arts and crafts my criteria is pretty simple... actually pretty, simple, portable, quick and uses mostly stuff I already have.  These buttons fall into that category except for the cabone plastic or wooden rings, which are cheap, but finding the right size has been a challenge.

I filled the center of the wheel with a contrasting yarn.  This is side 1 using a 2" wooden ring.

This is side 2.  

It's much easier to do your first one on a large ring.  I used a 2" one, only when going by the instructions, didn't allow for the extra yarn---that gave me a knot to hide.  Avoid that if possible.  I found a package of 3/4" and 1/2" rings, but what I think I would like best is 1" ones.  I'll run across them sometime, like in Joann's curtain section.  The rest you can find in the crochet section of any craft store.

(Please excuse button layout--I can't seem to place things where I want today!)

Black 2" ring side 1.

Here are some helpful websites:

Craft  Stylish

Threads Magazine


I used worsted weight yarn on the red and gray one and 6-strand embroidery floss on the red and gold.  The metallic floss is a bit tricky to use as it has a mind of it's own.  I haven't decided what to do with them, but there are lots of possibilities...for another day!

Please scroll down for more examples...

3/4" with metallic floss side 1.

Black Side 2 plain

All dressed up--you could use about anything!

Side 2

Happy Crafting!

Gale

If You're As Sick As I Am Of This Weather...

I think I can pretty much speak for everyone that Winter can leave now.  The wind howled all last night and the only reason it wasn't a blizzard was because (thankfully???) we had an inch of ice on top of the snow.

So I thought now might be a good time to do some reading.  I normally read biographies with art how-to books and the occasional "chick lit" sprinkled in.  But over the years I've read some "classics" so a) I can feel sorta "well-read" and b) because I sub-taught in many, many English classes and thought I should read what the kids were reading.  I'm ashamed to say that if the subject matter was particularly dark, I likely didn't read it.  I don't like dark movies either, though I know they often have important messages.  (Author's note:  some of these aren't necessarily "classics" but were enjoyable reads.)

I've comprised a list in no particular order and surely I've missed some.  If titles (well, probably most) have movie versions and if I liked the movie better/didn't read the book, it's not on this list.  Perhaps they will appear on a movie list someday.  I would like to challenge you to even read one of these soon!  I have several more I plan to do as well.

Death of a President- William Manchester

Watership Down- Richard Adams

The Grapes of Wrath- John Steinbeck

The Poisonwood Bible- Barbara Kingsolver

The Good Earth- Pearl S. Buck

The Old Man and the Sea- Ernest Hemingway

Girl With A Pearl Earring- Tracy Chevalier

Little Women- Louisa May Alcott

The Bible (of course, the best book of all, even if you were just reading it as literature)

House of the Scorpion- Nancy Farmer

The Screwtape Letters- C. S. Lewis

The James Herriott Animal Story Collection

Clan of the Cave Bear Series- Jean Auel

Call of the Wild- Jack London

Moby Dick- Herman Melville

Uncle Tom's Cabin- Harriet Beecher Stowe

Twilight Series- Stephenie Meyer

Series of Unfortunate Events Collection- Lemony Snicket

Harry Potter Series- J.K. Rowling

Tuesdays With Morrie- Mitch Albom

Hunger Games Trilogy- Suzanne Collins

The Kite Runner- Khaled Hosseini

The Secret Life of Bees- Sue Monk Kidd

Their Eyes Were Watching God-  Zora Neal Hurston

War and Peace-  Leo Tolstoy  (abridged version only-the regular one will drive you crazy with several names per character!)

To Kill A Mockingbird- Harper Lee

A Tale of Two Cities-  Charles Dickens

A Christmas Carol- Charles Dickens

The Great Gatsby- F. Scott Fitzgerald

Copper Sun- Sharon M. Draper

Well, I hope this inspires you to get reading!  Unfortunately, Winter isn't over yet!

Until next time,
Gale