The arty and crafty bit of the blog: Part 2

I was getting very frustrated with the crafty magazines on the shelves of WH Smiths.  All the projects that they suggested, well, they didn't look very handmade. 

      Everything seemed to be cut out by these machines you buy, do you know the ones I mean? Supposed handmade cards, well, they all looked too perfect.  I like things to look handmade, a little crooked, a touch imperfect.  

     And then, there are the plastic envelopes they come in; enclosing all those supposed tempting freebies (what can we give away that won't cost more than tuppence per customer?).  I never find those tempting, not at all.

     Optimistically, a few months back, I stood again in front of the shelves of magazines in Tescos.  Something caught my eye.  Down on the bottom shelf.  It was a pretty looking cover; not a plastic envelope to be seen.  But it did have something attached to the front.  I peered down at the title ... .Mollie Makes .... mmm, interesting.  I picked it up.  

     The little attachment was a paper envelope; intriguing.  It had this lovely picture of three felt rings shaped like roses.

Inside the envelope was just enough felt to make these rings; the instructions were included in the magazine ... sooo tempting.  I started to flick through the pages .... oh yes, now this is more like it!  So many lovely, lovely things to make.  AND, articles about all these talented people who are crafting beautiful things with style and skill (not cutting out bits of card!).  

     I missed the first edition but have bought every one since.  Mollie Makes is my favourite magazine; I love it!  I look forward to the next edition appearing on the shelves.  You will see so many of the things appearing on my blog are credited to this magazine.

The latest edition's little paper envelope had three colours of embroidery thread, a small piece of linen and three self-covering buttons.   There was a double page of little pictures that could be embroidered.  I chose three of them and decorated my buttons.  

I'm so proud of them!

I have a favourite cardigan, all wooly and clever knitting, a present from Chris.  It is the same colour as the linen.  I wanted to replace the rather boring horn buttons but the buttonholes are too small to fit these.  So, instead, I have sewn them in between the buttonholes so that the cardigan now looks like it has two types of button.  

I can't believe how well the linen goes with my cardi.  Each button only took me about an hour each to make, very satisfying and quite lovely!