Tuesday 11 March 2014

I just couldn't wait..

To start playing with the branches I collected recently.  Sunday was a beautiful spring day, so warm it felt like summer.  I spent the afternoon working away in the garden with my husband.. making buttons :)  Gary cut them and drilled them and I sanded them.

Beech and Hawthorn
cut and drilled, ready to sand
After carefully sanding them by hand ..
I love the irregularly shaped ones :)
Hawthorn with bark still on.
The front 2 have a coating of beeswax the others are bare
Beech.. the bark came off these but they still have nice markings round the edges..
these were oiled then waxed
 I really enjoyed our afternoon, quietly working away together in the sunshine :)  The blackthorn stick was rotting inside when we cut it.. but the hawthorn was so lovely we went out and gathered more of those.. and the beech was good too.   I still have masses of buttons to sand..

I realised that I had lost my lovely lavender beeswax furniture polish which I'd planned to use on some of them.. so I made my own :)  By melting beeswax in a double burner, adding olive oil (1 part beeswax to 6 parts olive oil) then tea-tree and lavender essential oils, mixing well and leaving to cool.  It made a firm polish.. for a softer one use more olive oil.

I became slightly obsessed with attacking wooden things with beeswax on Monday.. It led to me sanding down our coffee table top and waxing it.. much to Gary's surprise when he got home from work.  Must say it hasn't looked this good in years :)

I've already used 2 of my hawthorn buttons.. more on that project soon xx

13 comments:

Josie said...

They look absolutely stunning and so much more special because they were a labour of love from you both! Gorgeous, I can't wait to see them in situ on one of your projects.

Heather Woollove said...

Love the buttons!!
...and what a lovely way to spend the day with your beloved! Hxx

FeltersJourney said...

Thank you Josie & Heather :) It was nice working away together.. and I'm rather excited about using them too xx

Kerry O'Gorman said...

I love the textures in the beech buttons...like they're bursting forth with excitement at their new purpose!

Terriea Kwong said...

Wooden buttons are always my fav. They go well to wool bags or coats. How wonderful you made them. Love the natural textures. Such a nice time with your loved one. Saw the beautiful spring buds and view. Mother Nature has waken.

FeltersJourney said...

Kerry the Hawthorn are my favourite too :) x

Thanks Terrie :) Spring has definitely sprung - we saw the first lambs in the fields behind our house yesterday.. they were adorable as always x

Lyn said...

Those wooden buttons are wonderful (and unique) and will go with felt beautifully.

Zed said...

I want to go out hunting for sticks now! They look great :)

FeltersJourney said...

Thank Lyn x

Zed, we brought another one home this afternoon.. a nice thick beech branch so bigger buttons hopefully on the horizon :) x

Kelly said...

Love those buttons! I bet you have all kinds of plans for them.

FeltersJourney said...

Thanks Kelly :) I sure do xx

Ali said...

OOOh love your gathered and handmade buttons - fabulous colours shapes and textures!
Ali x

FeltersJourney said...

Thanks Ali :) I've got soooo much sanding left to do
x