Mad About Buttons - A Craft Cafe for the Button Crazed

{Pretty Buttons}

 Last night's Craft Cafe was awesome! It was on a Thursday evening, which turns out didn't work very well for our regulars, but we had some new ladies and some repeat crafters, for a total of five. Turns out, for this first go with the button necklace, it was the perfect amount of people for Sheena and I to help, and to also get some of our own crafting done. We demonstrated how to do a simple stitched necklace and a more complicated two needle style which ends up looking like the buttons were run through a sewing machine, then we turned everyone loose to let the fun ensue. Amid sips of tea and coffee, everyone chatted and created, in the cozy Wild Flour. This was the first time in a long while that the sun went down while we were there, which means winter is coming. My favourite parts of the evening, are when Chloe struck out on her own, as a renegade crafter, creating her own style (with the engineering help of Kristy) of elastic bracalet, and when a girl named Maggie, who happened to be passing by outside, looked in, saw what we were doing, came in, exclaimed, "I love making button necklaces" and pulled one out of her purse!

 Maggie, a girl after out own heart. Not only does she make buttons necklaces, she had one in her bag when she randomly walked by Craft Cafe, so she came in to show us!

 The Ladies

Chloe's renegade bracalet

{More Pretty Buttons}

 Stephanie's necklace is coming together...

 Have you met Sheena, she loves to ham it up...

 I always photograph Sheena at least once, while she is photographing something, as a general rule...

 {Your Lovely Craftinistas}

Miho got the double stitch down in no time flat!

 Kristy wins points for the best technique thank to the safety pin she had in her bag

Kat watched once and took it from there.

Do you like to make things with buttons? Leave a comment about what you make... If you are interested in attending a Craft Cafe or bring put on the email lost please leave a comment below....

The Next Craft Cafe - Wild About Buttons - Thursday, September 29th, 2011

Button Necklace by Tiffany Teske Button lovers... come on out to the Wild Flour Bakery (211 Bear Street, Banff) from 7 - 9 PM on Thursday, September 29th, to make unique handmade button necklaces. Participants will have the option to make additional projects like earrings or bracelets. Whatever time permits! The Wild Flour will be open for delicious snacks, and drinks. Cost: 20$ Please sign up and PAY at the Wild Flour or request a Paypal invoice by leaving a comment below. Space is limited. FACEBOOK is not registration. Spread the word and collect some buttons! Any vintage and wood buttons make beautiful necklaces. This is a great way to recycle We will also have some funky buttons for you to choose from. See you there! Bring a button loving friend, they will thank you...

Button Bracelet/Necklace by Tiffany Teske This is a button choker I made that was featured in the book, 1,000 Ideas for Creative ReUse by Garth Johnson. I will also show participants how to make this style, which is much different than the long necklace style in the photo above.

Button Choker by Tiffany Teske Do you make things with buttons? I would love to see... leave me a comment with a link!

Mail Art Fun at Craft Cafe

Claire Wilkinson of the Banff Snail Mail Society

On Friday night, we were lucky enough to have Claire Wilkinson, of the Banff Snail Mail Society, at Craft Cafe. The first time I heard of Claire was at the Banff Public Library, a place I am quite fond of. When I walked in and read a poster saying that on Thursday nights I could make mail art, using vintage typewriters, I was sold. But, at the time, I had a wee one, and evenings were difficult for activities. Fast forward to this summer, when I started to talk with Claire at the Banff Community Greenhouse, where we both have a plot. By the end of the conversation, I had figured out who she was. I asked her about an upcoming workshop she was holding, and about some supplies I was looking for, and she sweetly wrote back to me via Etsy, where I have a shop. Ever since then, I have been wanting to invite her to Craft Cafe. I finally did and was thrilled when she said, "YES!"

Mail Art by Sheena Miller

Mail art started in the 1960s, and is simply visual art that goes through the postal system. Here is a brief history.

I plan to write a blog post for Highline Magazine about Claire's evening at Craft Cafe, so I won't spill the beans here. Just wanted to share a couple of photos. And to say how pleased I am that Claire generously provided a little maintenance for my little gem of a typewriter. She gave me a new ribbon for it, is reinking my old one, and taught me that I have a highly sought after machine. It is from 1949 and they sell for up to a $1,000 completely refurbished!! I won't part with mine. I am thrilled! I won't even say how little I paid for it... ok, $25!! Amazing...

My lovely little Royal...

My favourite key... thank goodness, I have shift freedom ;)

Ok, I will be sure to keep you "posted" about my Highline blog post from Craft Cafe. In the meantime, please leave me a comment if you like to create and send mail art. Would you please share some links to your work or to any info you would like to share about this movement...

The Next Craft Cafe - Mail Art Using Vintage Typewriters - Friday, September 9th, 2011

Come one, come all, mail lovers, art lovers, craft lovers... Join as at Craft Cafe, This Friday (Sept 9th) for a special 'Banff Snail Mail Society' Mail Art workshop from 7pm to 9pm at our local Wildflower Bakery at 211 Bear Street. For $15.00 you will get tips and mail art ideas from the SMS President, Claire Wilkinson, plus access to, stationary, vintage postcards and old typewriters.

Be inspired to create personalized correspondence, letters, confessions, top ten lists, poems, scripts etc.

Space is limited so sign up in person at the Wildflower, call 403 760.5074 for a place on the guest list, or leave a comment for me below...