Friday Find - Buttons!

OK now, 'fess up, I know you have them. Somewhere in a box, on a shelf, or tucked away in a cabinet, is your collection of buttons. Perhaps they are buttons inherited from your grandmother, maybe they were saved from discarded clothes or purchased new.

I love old buttons and have a small collection, including some on their original cards 

as well as several antique canning jars full sitting on a shelf in my studio, very much like the ones shown above in the first photo.

I use them for knit sweaters and sewing projects on occasion, but I also simply enjoy their decorative luster, carved designs and lovely colors.

For today's Friday Find I want to share some beautiful button jewelry from Etsy.com artist Quench Metalworks who creates interesting collage jewelry from antique buttons, gemstones and other oddments like broken china bits, set in sterling silver.

I admired many items such as this multiple button collar, 

simple pendant,

and button ring

The Etsy site has a lot to see, but you might also check out this Maine artist's website for many more interesting silver jewelry pieces. 

This gets my creative juices going, I think I might pull out some buttons this weekend and see what happens.

Thanks for stopping by today, have a wonderful weekend!

Button jar photo http://www.countryliving.com/homes/how-to-get-the-look/point-blanc-0205#slide-3

Jewelry photos: http://www.etsy.com/shop/quenchmetalworks?ref=seller_info

Friday Find - Yarn Bowls

Are you one of those stitchers who winds their yarn by hand into a ball? And then while knitting or crocheting, that ball has a tendency to roll around on the floor, on down the hallway or stairs, collecting dust and enticing your cat to attack it? Then perhaps today's Friday Find, yarn bowls, will appeal to you!

I've often been attracted to the handmade beauty and functionality of these special ceramic and wooden yarn bowls at fiber festivals. The bowl is made with an opening in the side that allows the wound ball to sit in the bottom of the bowl and the working strand of yarn to feed up through the opening. The smoothly glazed surface allows the ball to roll and flip as you pull from it, but prevents it from rolling away. 

In addition to selling bowls at fiber and arts festivals, many ceramic artists sell these items on the Etsy.com website. This is the case with all the bowls featured here, including the "love" version shown in the first photo, by Etsy seller Lennymud, cute for Valentine's Day. Just doing a quick search, I found several. All images via etsy sellers

This green bowl is simple and functional. 

Polished wood has a satin finish, perfect for delicate yarn.

There is probably something for every taste and budget. 

A lamb motif, 

delicate tracery, 

or traditional pottery style.

Although many of the examples shown here may have been sold by now, just type the words 'yarn bowl' into the search engine of Etsy or Google, etc. and you will get multiple links.

If you are choosing a yarn bowl, look for a very smooth surface both inside the bowl and along the edges of the opening to be certain there aren't any rough spots for delicate yarn to catch on. 

Since I use a swift and ball winder to make flat cakes of yarn, I don't have a real need for a bowl of this sort. But for anyone who does not, these bowls might make a nice and useful treat. 

If you haven't already done so, please be sure to enter my Valentine's Day free yarn, pattern and bag giveaway here.

Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful weekend everyone!

Friday Finds

While hopping around on the internet I often come across interesting things I'd like to share. Things that might, or might not, have to do with knitting, but that strike my fancy nonetheless. So I thought I'd start a new topic to post on a Friday every now and then, thus the post title "Friday Finds."

To start things off, this coat from Modcloth.com jumped out at me as being stylish, affordable and a great 'frame' for a hand-knit scarf or shawl. The flattering, clean lines have a timeless, elegant appeal, and the light, polyester/ wool blend fabric would be perfect for mild winters as well as autumn and early spring wear. photo Modcloth.com

This coat looks so Grace Kelly to me. A girl can dream right? TGIF!