Clay and Dorset Buttons

 Diana (brave lady) came along again to show the Monday ladies how to make Dorset Buttons, Felted Buttons and clay buttons (using Fimo)
 We started off with the clay buttons, as these need baking in the oven when they have been moulded.

all listening attentively

 You use several strings of clay and wrap them together (a bit like making a stick of rock!)

wrap and roll then slice the separate pieces

 Depending what size buttons you want - or you can make these into beads too - you just press them flat with your finger .

 Push a cocktail stick in to make the holes

some tiny ones!

And bake in the oven for 30 mins to harden

Et Voilà

 The ladies assured me that we will see projects with these buttons as embellishments soon! (*Grin)

 Someone in the room (and we all know who) started playing with the clay and produced a decorated pin!

better at these than the simple round things!!

 We then went on to the felted beads

 Which were quite simple to make and look very effective. They will make a great closure for a project that we are testing out at the moment for a future date. Don't loose your instructions girls!

 And then more Dorset Buttons, simply made by wrapping Perle thread around a brass ring

 and a bit of weaving through the spokes.

 Really quite effective - and a photo of a bracelet will be shown soon. (*Big Grin!)

  Diana had a lovely display of goodies that we could use

We still have some Fimo left so if you want to make more, then just ask.

 **********

Meanwhile there was some patchwork going on around the room,

Appliqué cushion being quilted

 Ellen, Ena Maureen  and the gang have been making pillowcase dresses for a charity to send to little girls in Africa, and they have also been making shorts for boys 

( you can download the pattern here )

 We have been using the over-locker to join sample pieces together to make scrappy shorts. Cute or what?

The next shipment goes off in August so if you want to make a pair or two, Ellen would be delighted. Don't forget that we have a group over-locker in the store cupboard.

Don't forget that we have another Bank Holiday next Monday

 

 ******************

As a side note

My very good friend who works for Save The Children is desperate for donations of clothes for six (From Northampton to Stafford) Save The Children Shops that she helps with. 

Can you all have a quick look in the cupboard, and you now the rule, 

If you haven't worn in in 18 months you probably won't

 so if you would like to bring a bag up to group I will pass them along.

(If you have lots - I can arrange collection)

 

They will not be distributed locally so you will not see someone walking around in your clothes!!

Even if they are not saleable, they recycle the cloth for cash.

Thank you.xx