Thursday, August 18, 2011

Bird Buttons (Button Love)

I have this problem.

Image courtesy of buttonsbyrobin
 It's kinda embarrassing. But, well... we're all friends here.

Image courtesy of claycityart
I have a button habit. I once spent $40 on buttons (okay, in my defense they were on SALE and I just inappropriately rounded down).

Image courtesy of hodgepodgearts
Seriously, every time we go into Joann's my 2 year old asks if "this is the yarn and button store?" I buy him buttons too, and even ask his advice- "The big ones or the little ones?" and like the good little boy he is, he responds "The big ones AND the wittle ones."

Image courtesy of karoart
 My button love started when my crochet habit kicked into high gear. I realized that embellishments (generally buttons, though brooches, beads and ribbon have their place as well) were 95% of the vibe of the piece. The wrong button would result in a flop. The right button, conversely, would make something POP!

Image courtesy of salzanos
 (Whoo needs a button? *I* need a button. 'Kay, that was weird)

Image courtesy of veronicabuttons
I love this guy. Doesn't he look so liberated?


Image courtesy of beadfreaky
So now the button love is coming to an end... How bout those owls!? Crazy adorable. And I love the sparrows/songbirds, they're darling! And the bluebird at the top just makes me happy. Ooh, ooh, and the little purple button is the same color as my PurpleChair. Mhmm, Button LOVE!

Which is your favorite?

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Seeking Inspiration

If you're a crafter, an artist, a designer, a maker... what inspires you?
Image courtesy of CShermanpepe

 Personally, nothing screams "Potential!" and "Get to work!" to me like seeing skeins of unworked yarn.

Image courtesy of Montagyoo

 (Anyone else feeling the desire to go schmooze at your local yarn shop?? Yeah, me too)

Image courtesy of Montagyoo
 Sometimes I see a thing- an article of clothing, an accessory, a toy and I think, "Oh, I could make something like that" and the proceed to create my own version. But there's very little creativity involved. Skill, yes. Hard work, yep. Problem solving, without a doubt. But true creativity? Nah.

Image courtesy of dehoffman

 But picking up a skein of yarn... well, that's different. I ask myself, "What should this be?" and suddenly anything is possible. My imagination takes over and the potential that oozes from that one skein is, well, exciting!

The above photographs, for sale on Etsy, capture the beauty, joy and possibilities of the creative process.

Due to severe and debilitating condition known as Brokeness (or Self Imposed Extreme Budgeting Disorder) I've tried to recreate the feeling in my own office... It's no where near as gorgeous and appealing as the professional photographs, but it'll do until some spare change hits my bank account. And then I'll be shopping for frames. ;)






Hope you've been inspired!

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

I'm a Hippie (Vintage Crochet)

A little about me. Hi, I'm Jess.
I'm a love obsessed, natural birthing, organic eating, chicken raising, outdoors loving, sun-worshipping, barefoot-with-a-flower-in-my-hair Beatle-maniac. Basically, I'm my family's hippie.
I've featured some lovely vintage before (seen here), but today I'm showing off some vintage hippie-love crochet! Hang on to your daisy crown...
Photo courtesy of minnefemme

Photo courtesy of BreatheCouture

Photo courtesy of halenalo

Photo courtesy of marathon1981


Photo courtesy of swaneegrace

Photo courtesy of shmooozin
I'm definitely in love with fringe now. And I have a sudden urge to plant daisies barefooted, but I don't think mid-August is the right time of year.
Another great thing about crochet- it stands up to time so well! Or, to steal my friend's word, "indestructible". And, as proven above, that's groovy.

We Got Some Chickens (Treasury)

We Got Some Chickens and I Made a Treasury!

Follow this link...


(Happy Tuesday!)

Monday, August 15, 2011

Revelling in Ravelry!

Image courtesy of Ravelry
 Oh, Ravelry, how *did* I live without you?


Image courtesy of Ravelry
If you aren't in the know (I wasn't until a year or so ago), Ravelry is sort of a facebook meets Etsy for knitters and crocheters. Oh, what a glorious thing, indeed!

Initially I just perused the patterns, looking for inspiration and ogling other peoples amazing talents. But today, I did something awfully bold and started listing my *own* patterns. Ya know, the ones in my Etsy shop.

It took me about 20 minutes to figure out, but I'm glad I did because next time will go much faster. Only one is up right now, this one...




Pattern available at PurpleChairCrochet
The "Elegant Clutch".

I used the same pattern to write an every day version using cotton and a ceramic button (Button LOVE! I'll be sure to go into my button love in great detail, some other day. Maybe for a Fantastic Friday Find?? Etsy has some great ones, yes indeedy).
But back to the point.

Ravelry.

Membership is required, but guess what, it's FREE and PAINLESS (I promise!). So go check out Ravelry and enjoy!
Psst- You can find me there, I'm "PurpleChair". 

Friday, August 12, 2011

Vintage Yarn Baskets (Fantastic Friday Finds)

Today's Fantastic Friday Find: Vintage Yarn Baskets! 
Photo courtesy AMradio

Photo courtesy of  AMradio

Photo courtesy of gallivants

Photo courtesy of rhan

One of my earlier memories is sitting on the couch watching my grandmother, legs curled up under her, crocheting a baby blanket for some cousin-to-be. She sat in her blue cozy chair with her yarn basket just next to her on the pink carpet (it was 1990-something and the carpet was brand new and the epitome of style). I can't remember the print of it (the basket, not the carpet), but it must have been vintage even then because I remember not liking that it didn't match her living room. I was a tad fussy as a child. I think I've outgrown that... I think.

It's not a very strong memory, more a blip than anything else. I may even be merging memories together. Maybe that's why I love looking at the above baskets- strengthens my memories and aids in some nostalgia. I love the print on rhan's, the colors of gallivants' and the details on AMradio's basket. How to choose? 

Fantastic Friday Find!

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Sign Out, Sign Off (Tuesday Tip)

Today's Tuesday Tip is simple.

Get off the internet!

Get the scoop on this great yarn HERE
 Over a year ago (more like 18 months now) my husband and I got rid of our internet account and suddenly my crochet production exploded! I realized that I spent a disproportionate amount of time *looking* at crochet and patterns rather than actually crocheting. Since then we've got the internet again (as you probably guessed), but I (try) to limit the amount of time I'm on here, especially when it comes to looking at patterns, gorgeous as they are.
 So, today's tip is more a request. I request that everyone get off the internet and make something! There are patterns-a-plenty to choose from. So pick something, print something, sign out and sign off and get to work!
Pattern available at: PurpleChairCrochet
Pattern available at PurpleChairCrochet
What will you make today?