I was given a leather coat about a year or so ago. I was delighted, as I have always wanted one.
But…..
I ended up leaving it in the closet…. it just felt frumpy.
I thought that perhaps I might turn it into a leather skirt, as I have always wanted one of those, too.
But then, my daughter showed up wearing a great leather jacket that she had just bought at the second hand store. She looks fabulous in it, and it made me think….. hmmmmm…..
maybe I should look again at the leather coat.
I realized that it was the buttons! Boring, boring boring….
So, I decided to get adventurous.
I consulted Tottie Tomato, who suggested:
that I use some of my stash of treasured arbutus wood (aka madrona) twigs.
I LOVE arbutus, and when we make our yearly visit to the west coast, I always bring home twigs that my sister in law saves for me when she prunes their arbutus tree. (Arbutus don’t grow where we live, sigh.)
So, I cut up one of the arbutus twigs, drilled holes and sanded the ends.
Voila!
a box of fine buttons!
Next step: Spool knit 4 or 5 inch long cords for the buttons:
and sew the ends together to make a loop
and choose flat buttons to be the anchors on the inside of the coat.
Then, sew the buttons on:
and now the coat is REALLY fun to wear!
I am just loving it.
The arbutus twig buttons remind me of one of my most favorite places on earth, and an old coat that was languishing in the back of the closet has a whole new life.
By the way, the wire pin doll on the lapel is one that I made with wire from a yard sale.
I’ve been making wire dollies since I was a little kid. My dad used to bring home scrap wire from work for me. I was a dollmaker even then, and designed the little wire people and gave them to all my friends and relations. And, here I am , a million years later, still making little wire people from left over wire…..
I was born to be an eco crafter.
Image Source: Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright
Tags: doll making, dolls, eco crafting, eco crafts, how to make wooden buttons, reclaiming leather coat, recycling, recycling crafts, spool knitting, tute, tutorial, tutorials, twig buttons, upcycling, wire doll
November 11, 2008 at 2:34 am |
Those are fabulous! It’s funny how changing little things like buttons can make such a big difference
November 13, 2008 at 10:57 pm |
Noreen, the buttons are absolutely smashing!
Now I’m off to Google “arbutus tree” and find out if they grow near me!
November 14, 2008 at 3:59 am |
Hi Eileen
)
I am sure that you can make twig buttons from any close grained wood…. so even if you don’t have arbutus or madrona trees, you can still have twiggie buttons!
November 14, 2008 at 1:31 pm |
[...] Green crafts – Twig buttons Noreen was given an old leather coat that had really boring buttons. She made wonderful new buttons for it from arbutus twigs and her spool knitter. Voila! a fun and funky new upcycled look! [...]
November 14, 2008 at 5:15 pm |
The perfect touch, Noreen!
November 14, 2008 at 5:58 pm |
those buttons are great whole new look!!!
November 14, 2008 at 9:28 pm |
Thanks so much, Cyndi! I am really pleased with them
)
November 14, 2008 at 9:35 pm |
Hi Carolee
Thanks so much! I really like them… and they were so much fun to make. It’s so lovely to be able to wear little pieces of my favorite tree!
November 15, 2008 at 7:23 am |
[...] Green crafts – Twig buttons from Tottie Talks Crafts. [...]
November 15, 2008 at 6:09 pm |
[...] Green crafts – Twig buttons Noreen was given an old leather coat that had really boring buttons. She made wonderful new buttons for it from arbutus twigs and her spool knitter. Voila! a fun and funky new upcycled look! [...]
November 16, 2008 at 3:58 am |
[...] Green crafts – Twig buttons I was given an old leather coat that had really boring buttons. I made wonderful new buttons for it from arbutus twigs and my spool knitter. Voila! a fun and funky new upcycled look! [...]
November 19, 2008 at 3:13 am |
Nice project. Like the kitty face too.
November 19, 2008 at 5:00 am |
Oh, now I see the big ears. Sorry – bunny, not kitty. ha.
November 19, 2008 at 5:19 am |
Hi Peggy
Bunny forgives you! LOL!!!!!
November 19, 2008 at 5:05 pm |
[...] Tottie Talks Crafts • Twig Buttons [...]
June 3, 2009 at 5:04 am |
[...] Here’s the tutorial on how to make one of a kind handmade buttons from twigs and spool knitting: Twig buttons [...]