buttons buttons and white elephants

Button Buttons Button Mania !

Hi All,

I bought more buttons!  For fancy earrings.  I got them at the Oakland Museum White Elephant Sale.  Which makes me think that I have been doing this blog - thingy for a year now.  I like it and hope you do to.

Yours,

Mary

PS I bought a new helmet at Alameda Bicycle.  Now lets hope that I don't have to use it. :)

m

Daruma San The red one for me. The blue one for ... you? I just love this guy.

Daruma- San.

A new week! Okay, In the morning I am on my way to my workshop, after a few hours helping ladies at NiaH. I really enjoy opening the shop for special appointments. It is fun getting to meet new folks and see what everyone is working on. The group tomorrow is from a quilt shop in Fremont. Monday is the only day they can come in because it is the day they are closed. I also quilt and so I am extra excited to see what projects they bring to work on.

After closing shop I am going to make a tote bag for myself and one to sell on Etsy. One bag with a red Daruma and one with a blue Daruma.

Here is a pic of the fabric I got at the Oakland Museum White Elephant sale with the Darumas printed on it. It is one of those banners you have to duck under when going into a good Japanese Restaurant. When everyone bows, everyone is equal.

I love Daruma! He is the best. Here is a link to an article about him and his image:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daruma

I am also going to make a belt. I got the 29-4 "shoepatch" singer sewing machine all queued up and ready to go. A few weeks ago I found this way cool horseshoe shaped belt buckle that is aproximatly 2 inches in height. Tomorrow I'll take a picture to show you. Hopefully the picture will be of compleated projects! We will see. I also have buttons to sort, and beads to manage. And, lots of information to enter in to Quickbooks. However, I really need a belt and a bag ...

Wish me luck!

Mary

Post Script: About the delay in posts. For that I am sorry. I was house sitting and they don't have internet access. Can you believe it? I felt like I was in 1900's house on PBS! Which is kinda funny because their house is an old (beautiful) Victorian. Really, I felt very lucky to have such good friends who would trust me to care for it, and like I got to stay at a B & B for a week. It was very nice. However, no late night posting for me.

m.e.

Oakland White Elephant Sale

Happy Weekend Everyone,

True to my word we (Ruth, me in the middle, and Dolores) all went to the Oakland White Elephant Sale. It is this great indoor flea market that benefits the Oakland Museum and its many programs. Here is a picture of all three of us in the sewing section. Yep, we really were having that much fun.

I went to the sale with a specific need in mind. I wanted to get a head. Really, I need a good hat form for my cap business. Not only to take photos for my etsy website but also for blocking wool caps and the like. My chances were pretty slim that I would find my elusive quarry. Then I saw it -- With a big N. F. S. (Not For Sale) written on the bottom of it. My heart sank. I asked the nice lady if they ever make exceptions. She kindly said no. She even asked her coworker about it. Even she said no, and that she had been volunteering for years and everyone asks and the answer is no. Heart in hand I asked to talk to the manager.

I came back when the manager was in. That is when I met Pam. I told her about my caps and how I need to have a model to photograph caps for my web site. She was nice enough to offer a mannequin head. Then I told her of my plans to use this hat form to block wool hats and caps. Pam told me about her Mom who used to be the manager of the accessories section at the Elephant Sale. And how her Mom wrote N. F. S. on the bottom of this head. I asked once more if I could give it a good home. And Pam said Yes! I just could not believe it. Her Mom is named Lucile and therefor the cap form is now called Lu. It is the perfect mascot for my shop.

Pam was just so kind to listen to my story. I will never forget her, her kindness, nor her nice Mom named Lucile.

Now take a good look at this photo of the three of us. The sign behind Pam's shoulder says "if it is not priced than it is not for sale." She made an exception for me, and I really appreciate it. Thank you PAM!

More to come,

Mary