Many of you have heard me talk of the huge button collection I have so it comes as no surprise that I'm always looking for ideas to use them. So....I made a Christmas tree which serves the dual purpose of using lots of buttons but also lots of pearl beads too (win/win!!). We won't mention the two trips I made to the dollar store in order to obtain enough straight pins to finish the project.
AND...in the ongoing effort at downsizing my stash, I've been slowly working my way through my vast collection of beads (more than any sane woman would use in twenty lifetimes) and cutting them down by at least half. Don't worry, I still have enough for ten lifetimes and then some!! This shows just SOME of what I'm donating to the thrift store....
- THIS is an interesting type of bind off for your knitting projects.
- There are tons of great DIY gift ideas HERE - many I haven't seen before
- If you have an avid sewer on your gift list, I'm sure they would appreciate one of THESE filled with an assortment of needles.
- HERE are a number of ideas for giving.
I like your quotation. And somebody's going to be a happy thrift store shopper when they come across those beads. The more I see of people's stashes of all kinds the more I realize I don't have one! One box and drawer of fabric, one little organizer of beads and flosses, one bucket of art materials, one under counter shelf for fiber cord and dyeing. Oh, one box of yarn. That's it. But it always seems like plenty.
ReplyDeleteYou have the right philosophy on stash. I was given almost all of the beads I have so I don't have much financial investment in them so I'm able to bless someone else with them and not feel one iota of guilt!
DeleteThat tree is cute! I'm trying to downsize my stash of everything also -- seems to be an impossible task.
ReplyDeleteThe tree was fun to make but I did hope it would make a bigger dent in my button and bead stash!
DeleteWow! Gorgeous tree!
ReplyDeleteLike the blog title, "Focus in Finishing ." The beads are a major oh my maker.
The tree was fun to make albeit somewhat time consuming. And yes, even I am ashamed at the sheer volume of beads I have (and STILL have even after downsizing them by at least half!).
DeleteOh my maker in a good way. :)
DeleteI made a tree like that-only I used hot glue for the buttons, which may have been a mistake-of course it melted the tree form a bit! But I was nice in the end. How nice to donate all those beads. Someone will be very happy!
ReplyDeleteHot glue and I don't get along (as my currently burned fingers will attest!). And yes, hopefully someone will be happy with the beads.
DeleteIm sure the Thrift Store is happy to see you coming. Thanks for the Christmas Giving Brainstorming. Joy's Jots
ReplyDeleteThe thrift store is usually happy to see us, that's for sure! Glad you enjoyed the Christmas 'givings'.
DeleteButtons are hard to resist. I have never purposefully collected them, but over the years they have, none the less, grown into quite a collection. Hilltop Post
ReplyDeleteI managed to inherit the button collections from my mother and my grandmother, plus have added to them over the years. I swear they multiply in the night.
DeleteI could have sent you some pins. I have all my sisters sewing paraphernalia and can't believe how many boxes of pins she had. I love the tree and the pearl beads make it ever so much prettier. What a stash of beads you do have!!!
ReplyDeleteYes I am totally ashamed of the sheer amount of beads I have - enough to stock a small store I'm sure. I know I won't miss what I'm donating and could probably donate a whole lot more.
DeleteWOW!!! Totally love your button tree. Gives me a couple of good ideas!!!!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome! Just be prepared - you'll need a LOT of pins!
DeleteNow that is one heck of a lot of beads!!! Love the button Christmas tree.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Dare I say that there is another bag just like this one that's on the way to the thrift store too.
DeleteThank you. Seeing you downsizing your beads just stopped me from ordering $100 of yarn just because it was on sale! I already have enough for 3 years at my current pace! I love the button tree. I have enough buttons to make a whole forest of those trees!
ReplyDeleteUmmm - you're welcome, I think?
DeleteAs for buttons I could make a whole forest too and probably still not make much of a dent in my stash. And that's after downsizing a ton of them a couple of years ago.
What a pretty little tree decoration and great use of your buttons! I am sure someone will get a lot of pleasure from the donated beads! Have a lovely week! Christine xx
ReplyDeleteI was hopeful the tree project would use up a lot more buttons but alas the dent it made in my stash seems minimal. Once I make a trip to the thrift store my bead collection will have dwindled by about half and I suspect I won't even miss any of it.
DeleteYour button tree is gorgeous! I must say I did the same thing with all my beads...donated a bunch and still have plenty left! xx
ReplyDeleteI'd swear beads multiply in the night - they must, because how else did I get so many?!!!!
DeleteWow- wee anyone going into your local thrift store is in for a treat! Your bead collection must have been epic, and still is I'm sure!
ReplyDeleteWren x
Yes, epic is a good word for it. Even I was astounded at the sheer volume when I started removing them from the containers and putting the excess into baggies.
DeleteOoh, love your button tree! I thought about making a beer bottle top tree for my husband, but I think buttons are easier!
ReplyDeleteSo many beads, someone's going to be thrilled to find those.
Thank you! It was fun to do but more time consuming than I thought. Had hoped it would make more of a dent in my button stash though!
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