Sunday 20 October 2013

Maple White Chocolate Chip Cookies

 
In addition to making buttons this week I made this batch of maple white chocolate chip cookies.  The recipe can be found here http://www.food.com/recipe/maple-white-chocolate-chip-cookies-455047 I followed the recipe as written but added a full package (500 g or 1 cup of white chocolate chips.  This recipe uses real maple syrup.  I think for a more maple flavour that next time I'll take 1 cup of maple syrup and boil it down to the 1/2" cup required in the recipe.  I think this will give it a more real maple flavour.  These cookies are yummy and very sweet.  I like sweet cookies/desserts so the fact that these are super sweet is just fine by me :)
 

Saturday 19 October 2013

Another Button Saturday!

 
I've got the day to myself so can work on my buttons all day.  My husband and son have gone camping on some property we own outside of the city.  It's raining here so I hope they don't get wet and too cold.  I plan to go with them once we get a camper trailer.  I'm not into camping in a tent - especially since there are wild animals around.  I know I sound like a big chicken - and I guess I am.  I'm sure it will be fun once we get the camper trailer.  I love animals but the ones in real life aren't as cute as the images on these buttons https://www.etsy.com/listing/108494051/5-scientist-handmade-buttons-34-or-20-mm?ref=shop_home_active 
 
I've been getting all my custom orders ready this morning and I think everything on my list is done as far I can go.  The buttons are drying and won't be ready for the second stage until tomorrow.  The majority of the work for the custom buttons is done.  Tomorrow I'll have to do the finishing touches and then wait another day for them to cure a second time.  Hopefully I can take the pictures on Monday get them listed so they can be on their way to my customers.  I've been working away since about 6:30 am so I think I'm about ready to take a bit of a break.  Maybe I'll go out for a bit and do a little shopping.  I think it just started to rain though so a walk outside isn't quite as appealing as it seemed before the rain started.
 
Besides my custom orders I've managed to make a few other buttons and jewelry supply pieces.  I won't go into detail here but if they turn out perhaps I'll have some more cute camping "themed" items to share.

Monday 14 October 2013

Happy Thanksgiving Canada.



Happy Thanksgiving to everyone in Canada.  It's nice that we get to celebrate Thanksgiving early in the year.  It's a nice way to get the fall/winter holidays started.  It's actually a beautiful day here in Ontario.  We've been having some great weather for this time of year.  Although I won't be having a huge family celebration this year it's still a very nice time of year to think of family and be thankful for everything that I have.  Most important of course is my family.  I'm thankful for my son and husband.  I'm also very very thankful that I had the wonderful parents that I had.  Sadly I do miss them but I am so thankful that I had them for the years I did.  I'm also very thankful for my extended family of aunts, uncles, cousins and such.  I don't see them very often but with Facebook at least I'm able to keep up with what they're doing. 
 
I'm also taking this opportunity of a day off to start working on turning my bedroom office/studio into a real studio for my buttons. Things are very much out of control with boxes of supplies here, there and everywhere!  I really need to get organized.  It's a bit overwhelming though as I don't really know where to begin.  I think if I just devote a small amount of time each day it will get there.  I'm also going to think about investing in some better storage.  Perhaps some cupboards with door that close and shut the mess away.  Right now I have open shelving (not to mention the overflow on the floor) and into the basement and garage :)  I keep seeing all these lovely studios in magazines and think how great that would be.  I do think it's going to take a fairly large financial investment to get the proper storage but in the end it will be much better and I won't have to be embarrassed should anyone accidentally see my studio :)
 
Well before I get to that I have to get to the day to day work of preparing for the work week.  That means getting food prepared so we can have our work lunches ready and waiting so we don't have to prepare them each day.  Also my husband has asked for peanut butter skorr toffee bit cookies. I'll try and remember to post the recipie later (although you can just use your favourite peanut butter cookie recipie and add a package of skorr toffee bits). So I have a bit of work to do.  I've packaged up the two sales I had from overnight and all the packages are ready for mailing tomorrow.  I've got to send someone some pictures for approval so I can get to work on her order and I also have to finish up the finishing touches on some custom buttons that are almost ready to go.  Busy busy.  Well I guess I'd better stop writing and get to work.
 
Have a great day everyone.

Saturday 12 October 2013

Handmade Orca or Killer Whale Buttons on Adorable Baby Sweater.






I love getting pictures of items made with my handmade buttons.  This morning I received a really nice email from a customer who purchased my orca or killer whale buttons at www.buttonsbyrobin.com.  They look adorable on this little baby sweater.  I've tried my hand at knitting a few times and I just don't have the patience.  In my mind I really want to give it a go but the first time I make a mistake in the pattern (which happens all to often) I put it aside.  I have a number of UFOs (unfinished objects for those of you who haven't heard the term before) and a number of these are knitting or crochet projects.  Seeing this adorable sweater and hat set though really makes me want to pick up the knitting needles again.  I really admire people who have this wonderful talent.  I'm sure the parents of the baby that received this gift will treasure it forever.  I'm very honoured to be a small part of adding to their pleasure with my handmade buttons.

Saturday 5 October 2013

Back to Business and Mary Poppins Buttons.



 
Mary Poppins Buttons

I have been very badly neglecting this blog lately.  I've been quite busy with custom orders and have finally found some time to add some new buttons to my site.  You can find these adorable Mary Poppins buttons here:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/164834011/6-mary-poppins-buttons-childrens?ref=shop_home_active

I've been having fun with images from Cheryl Seslar and you will soon be seeing lots of new button designs in my Etsy shop.  I've also been listing a few items on E-bay and have been lucky enough to be selected by E-bay Canada to be featured in their Canadian Holiday Gift guide.  I'm not sure what that will mean exactly (in the way of exposure) but I'm sure there will be tons of people that will at least see my buttons on e-bay.  I have been neglecting e-bay though as I find with my Etsy shops it's hard to add new items and work at a full time job outside the home.  I'm looking forward to a busy holiday season though.  I hope you enjoy the buttons and that you'll pop in from time to time to see what's new.