Re-discovering Arts and Crafts - Knitting

I have spent quite a bit of time this past year re-visiting or re-discovering arts and crafts that I loved when I was much younger! The latest re-visit is to knitting.
As well as learning from my mother and grandmothers I was  taught knitting along with other crafts at school. In those days (I'll not mention when!) even the boys had to learn to knit!
Later on, in my student days, designing my own knitting went hand in hand with designing jewellery, my own clothes and anything else that needed making when I couldn't afford to buy! Nothing complicated...plain and simple designs that could be embellished or made to look different with the use of different yarns and materials.
My latest re-discovery led to knitted pieces being the latest additions to the ShooglyBeads shop. I find I'm once more hooked on knitting!
As part of my research into what sells and how people are currently pricing their items I visited lots of knitting shops on Folksy. There are some wonderfully talented knitters out there so I decided to sing the praises of some in a little treasury. As always I can't include everyone but here's what caught my eye..... Apologies for including my own....!
Click on the pictures to be taken to the original shops where you can explore to your heart's content!

footfetish-socks

A Knit 4 All Seasons

Tickled Pink Sheep

NOfkantsCurios

Erkinwald

ShooglyBeads

Buttons

Buttons, Buttons, Buttons!

As many of you know, polymer clay is an extremely versatile material. Lot's of artists use clay to make beads, jewellery, figures and to decorate all manner of things. Not so many make buttons. Is this perhaps because they're unsure of how they will stand up to washing?? We make buttons principally for decoration but they are also practical and can be put through a 'wool wash'!
Up until now we've made beads to order. Give Mike a piece of wool or a piece of fabric and he'll conjure up a set of buttons for you in no time at all....even better, you can have them the size and shape you want!! Last week we decided to list a few packs on Folksy. These have had lots of 'hits' and have been added to lots of 'favourites' but not sold yet!!  The buttons are being sold in packs of six in limited design/colour editions and are very pretty. They'd look lovely decorating a special jumper, gloves, bag.......

Mike's buttons on wrist warmers

The first picture shows some of Mike's latest makes. I think these have also been made for Folksy but probably won't go up until the others sell.
Second picture shows Mike's buttons on my wrist warmers!  Woops..that means a set of six is missing two buttons! Actually the wool and my favourite picture frame inspired his latest buttons so I sort of felt justified in having them!
On a rather sad note...I have finally decided to close our Misi shop and remove all links. The management fiasco and rundown appearance of the site is not good enough for Shoogly Beads. I wish those who've decided to stay on all the very best. You're all better than Misi deserves.