I have another addiction (aside from crochet).  Buttons. 
Vintage buttons. 
Glass vintage buttons to be precise. 
I love how each one belonged to a piece of clothing, and each piece of clothing belonged to a person, and that person had a whole life that you can only imagine.  This amazing hoard I found in a local thrift shop came from one ladies collection, and I couldn't stand to see her life split up and sold off in little pieces.  One day that will be my collection.  So I went crazy and bought every little bag and they can all stay together for a while longer.
(These are just a few, and apologies for the rubbish pics, only had phone to hand).
xxx

It is arctic here in the UK, and I just couldn't miss the opportunity to show everyone just how cosy it is in the store that I manage for creative genius Alastair Hendy.  It is an absolute joy to come in to work and get tucked in against the cold in this genuinely inspiring and gorgeous store.  Here are just a couple of pics, more can be found on flickr.

A G Hendy Home Store
36 High Street
Hastings Old Town
TN34 3ER
01424 447171
Open Wed-Sun 10 -5pm

The Bird One.  Again have made the challenge a little harder by only using things I've found in my bag (and the scanner at work), which is why it's not all glued down beautifully.  I love how resourceful it makes you  xxx

My lovely friend Lobster&Swan has set a challenge to dress & decorate a matchbox each day.  Today is the airmail one... xxx

 

My favourite makes are always those little bursts of inspiration born out of necessity.  At the shop recently, in a 30's dress shirt, minus cufflinks I had to think of something to stop the coal dust messing up my shirt cuffs.  To hand I had some vintage buttons and a ball of string.  This is how to make some vintage cufflinks...

You need:
4 buttons (2 of which fit through your button holes
some string

1. cut a length if string about 6" long
2. take a button, thread the string through keeping a good length in hand
3. thread the long end through another button
4. tie in a reef knot so buttons are around 1/2" apart, trim ends
5. make another one

That's it. 

xxx

A further excuse for my extended absence is that I am embarking on my first big crochet make: double bed blanket.  For those that don't know or didn't cut their crochet teeth making granny squares here's the pattern I'm using, but there really are squillions of others, I just wanted something very simple and classic.  Oh, and humour me by imaging all of these stitched together with pillar box red.

p.s. there is something utterly delicious about a big pile of granny squares... xxx

I KNOW I haven't posted anything for an exceptionally long time but I've had the extraordinary good fortune of meeting a very charming man, and have been enlisted to help him get his very very gorgeous shop up and running.  It's a Home Store in the most classic sense, selling beautiful vintage hardware for the home and an amazing array of brushes that you just never knew you needed.  It also answered my Christmas wish and has a fantastic collection of string, old and new, so as soon as we settle I shall be crocheting a few new things for you, undoubtedly inkeeping with the utility theme of the store.

Come and find us at 36 High Street, Old Town, Hastings, TN34 3ER, and yes, there will be a website coming very soon.

x