Look what we made!

Look what we made!  Thanks Sharon, Karen, Vanessa and Johanna for your help knitting for the wee bubs in Wellington NICU this Christmas.

Seasons Greetings

Seasons Greetings,

Wishing you a season filled with fun festivities, fancy fare and hopefully a spot of crafting to nurture and calm you during this busy time.  I have stirred the dye pot and have my festive season projects all ready to go.

I am taking a break now until early January, when Buttons by Benji will reopen with new designs and plenty of the old favourites.

Joyeuses fêtes,

Nicci 

Last days...

Last days to order Buttons by Benji in 2013.  Orders taken until end of day 4th December.

For current offerings please see the Ready Right Now page.

Wishing for bags of creativity (and perhaps bags of soft, scrumptious yarn) to rain down on you over the festive season.


Nicci 

One week left to Nab 'em in November

Just one week left to nab Buttons by Benji at bargain prices.  May the sun shine on your strawberries!

 Check out current offerings on the Ready Right Now page.

Nab 'em in November!

Nab 'em in November!  

Sale on at Buttons by Benji.  

Christmas is coming and so is my summer break, so now is your chance to stock up for your summer crafting and nab a bargain at the same time.  Last orders for 2013 taken on 4th December and I'll open up shop again on 4th January. 

Buy one set and save 10%*

Buy two sets and save 15%*

Buy three or more sets and save 20%*


*Discount applies to total order.  For example, if sets are marked up as $8, then one will cost $7.20, two will cost $13.60 and three will cost $19.20.  Standard postage applies.  Sale ends 30th November 2013.

Pōhutukawa blooms

Time out!  Blast from the Past screeches to a halt to allow me to introduce this special project.  

Pōhutukawa blooms have been designed for the Wellington Neonatal Intensive Care Unit's knitting drive for Christmas.  Every Christmas there are dozens of families with wee babies in NICU and volunteers knit piles of tiny Christmas themed garments to add a little brightness at an extremely challenging time. 


Each set of Pōhutukawa buttons sold will sponsor buttons for Wellington NICU to add a special New Zealand touch.  New Zealand's iconic native Christmas tree will brighten up your knitting, either for Christmas or all year round.

This little cardigan took less than 50g of pure wool 4 ply yarn, and very little time to knit.  If you would like to knit a garment for Wellington NICU please email me for details. 

 And in the meantime, Blast from the Past continues in the Ready Right Now section where you can check out all the current button offerings.

Blast from the past!

October is Blast from the Past month at Buttons by Benji!

Every day I'll be bringing back an old favourite, sometimes as per the original design, other times 'with a twist'.  

Check out Blast from the past and other current offerings on the Ready Right Now page. 

 

 

Design your own buttons competition winner number two!

And the second winner of the 'design your own buttons' competition is...

...  Emma with her design Caterpillars Love Partys.  Congratulations Emma.

Thank you so much to everyone who entered.  It was very difficult to choose as there were so many fabulous entries.

Here is a picture of last week's winner.  Kate's Vintage Haze design, featuring rich plum silvery grey and dusky pink.  Check out Vintage Haze, and all current offerings, on my Ready Right Now page.  Caterpillars Love Partys will be available soon.

What a spectacle!

What a spectacle!  

The America's Cup has been a most amazing regatta.  I pondered about the early days of sailing for the Oracle and Team New Zealand yachtsmen, and I figure it was in a little boat, far removed from the technological marvels we have watched over the past couple of weeks.  
 
So here's a little boat to celebrate some wonderful things from the America's Cup.  Sportsmanship, tenacity, innovation, technology and dreams.  The dedication of both teams to an incredibly physically and mentally taxing regatta has been amazing to witness.  

Well done Team New Zealand - you rock!

Congratulations Oracle on a fantastic come-from-behind win!

If you are here for buttons, check out the Ready Right Now section.
 

And the winner is...

And the winner is...

... Vintage Haze by Kate.

Congratulations Kate.  Thank you so much to everyone who entered already.  I thoroughly enjoyed envisaging your creations.  Kate's design 'Vintage Haze' will be available on Buttons by Benji within a few days.  In the meantime, we have a yacht race to win...

To purchase buttons please check out Ready Right Now designs.

Coming soon, exciting new designs and something fun is planned for October, so watch this space.  

STOP PRESS - In true 'distracted by America's Cup' style, I have just realized that my original competition closing date is 29th, not 23rd (as intended).  That's easily fixed, we'll have a winner for each week.  Kate's entry 'Vintage Haze' is the week one winner, and the same prize for week two (finishing 29th September) is still up for grabs.  Current entries will be eligible for week 2 prize, as well as all entries received in the next week.  So get your thinking caps on, it's not too late to see your design on a garment. 

When life gives you lemons...

When life gives you lemons... ... make lemonade.

Here is a picture of some 'lemonade' I made earlier.

Before I tell you about my lemonade making, just a quick reminder that there is 3.5 hours left until the 'design your own buttons' competition deadline, so get your entries in quick if you haven't already!

If you're here to look for buttons, check out the Ready Right Now page.   

Now, back to making lemonade.

Take: 1 gorgeous, clever and slightly mischievous dog

Add: 1 small brushy tailed Sylvanian squirrel wearing Mrs Pig's dress

Mix: Thoroughly under the table where no-one notices because they are all to busy chatting

Result:  One unrecognizable squirrel and a tattered and torn dress with a side order of wailing and crying.

This morning, we brought our ideas and boundless enthusiasm (and a well stocked stash) to the table and we've comprehensively solved the tatty dress problem (online shopping will replace Mrs Squirrel, whom we have decided is 'on a business trip abroad').  Given how much fun we had I foresee further wardrobe additions in the future.

Now, back to those competition entries... 

Your turn to create at Buttons by Benji

It's competition time and you get to be the creator.  Choose the colours and a name for a new Buttons by Benji design.

Using any of the following designs (or a combination - say butterflies and flowers) nominate three colours that will look awesome together and name your creation.

The winning combination will be sold on Buttons by Benji website and the winner will receive a set of 10 buttons in the winning design as well as a $20 voucher to choose any other buttons from current stockings.

Competition entries must be in by 9pm (NZ time) on Sunday 29th September and the winner will be announced soon after.  See below for details.

Check out the Ready Right Now section for current stockings and remember free post on some orders until the end of September (see post below for details). 

So have fun, I can't wait to hear your ideas. 

  

 How to enter:

Email me on fuzzimama@hotmail.com with the following details:

Email reference - Create your own buttons competition entry

Name your design - give your buttons a name that goes with the design. 

Colours - List three colours for your set.  Please be as clear as possible and unless it is a really specific colour (like navy blue or white) send me a picture of your colour/s or a sketch of your buttons.  Make it easy for me to envisage your buttons.

Design - Choose from butterflies, flowers, spots or stripes, or a combination.  

The final design may not be identical in style to those shown above.  Competition is open to all.  One entry per person please.  My decision is final, and only the winning entry is guaranteed to be made, however I may use your colour suggestions at any time.  By entering you agree to these rules.

Boing Boing Spring

Boing into spring at Buttons by Benji.  I've just finished knitting this zesty wee number and I'm feeling springy!

 

To celebrate I'm offering free postage when you purchase 2 or 3 sets (or more of course).

New Zealand customers - purchase 2+ sets and I'll post for free
Overseas customers - purchase 3+ sets and I'll post for free

Free postage offer runs from now until the end of September.

I've just loaded some dinky wee 12mm baby buttons (as shown above) on the Ready Right Now page, so pop over for a look.

 

Flying ninjas...

Flying Ninjas, blossoms and rich and sumptuous butterflies are Ready Right Now.

I'm coming to Wellington!

The Pinehaven Art and Craft Exhibition is on 6 - 8th September at Pinehaven School, Forest Road, Upper Hutt and Buttons by Benji will be there. 

This fabulous event has been running for 43 years - that makes the exhibition older than I am!

Here's what the organizers have to say about the event:

Pinehaven Art and Craft Exhibition have been running annually since 1971, as a community fundraiser for Pinehaven School. The exhibition features high quality art and craft items from all over New Zealand, including paintings, sculpture, furnishings, clothing and jewellery. Over 100 artists take part each year, including a guest exhibitor. The school hall is transformed into a stunning gallery space, and a small cafe is run during the exhibition. The exhibition opens on the Friday night with live music, wine and nibbles, and continues until Sunday afternoon. It's well worth the trip out to beautiful Pinehaven!

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pinehaven-Art-and-Craft-Exhibition/260530300719639

Exhibition details:
Friday 6th September     7pm to 10pm ($5 per adult)
Saturday 7th September   9am to 6pm (Gold coin entry)
Sunday 8th September  9am to 3pm (Gold coin entry)

So come along and see Buttons by Benji up close.  In the meantime, check out my Ready Right Now page for buttons.

Roll Up Roll Up - The Greatest Show on Earth

Roll Up Roll Up - The Greatest Show on Earth

 The fabulously talented Hannah of Red Riding Hood yarns is running The Greatest Show on Earth - a charity raffle raising money for the Kia Ora Childrens' Learning Centre in Nairobi.  

I had great fun designing some buttons for prizes. Head on over to Hannah's facebook page, to find out all about the raffle and how to buy tickets.  Be quick, as winners will be drawn on Monday night (New Zealand time).

Click here to find out more...

 

In the meantime, if it's Buttons by Benji you're looking for, check out the Ready Right Now selection.

Splash!

Splash!

Dolphins have been percolating around in the old grey matter for a long time now.  I'm thrilled to finally meet them.


Check out the Ready Right Now page for dolphins, owls, elephants and more...

Whoo Whoo

Whoo Whoo, who loves owls?  We all do!  And now there's an owl for all the owl-lovers in your life (not just the pink and purple ones).


Check out the Ready Right Now section to purchase these, or any other Buttons by Benji. 

 

Tweet Razzberry

Inspired by my friend, Razz - 
I'm pleased to introduce 'Tweet Razzberry'.

 




 Hop on over to the Ready Right Now section to order.

North Canterbury Crafters - Buttons by Benji now at Quilters Quarters in Rangiora (9 High Street).  

Pop on in for a quick button fix or check out my Ready Right Now section to order direct online.

http://www.quiltersquarters.co.nz/

For a limited time...

Back for a limited time...

Choo choo trains and rockets.

Head over to the Ready Right Now page for more information.

Testers needed

Please check the Ready Right Now section.
for my current selection of buttons.

 

 I am testing some new buttons. 

What fun!

And the winners are...

And the winners are...      ... drum roll please...


... random number generator cranked.

If it's buttons you're after, head over to the Ready Right Now section.  
 
Winner of the closest guess is jhcsmum with a guess of 8,273 buttons.  The actual number of buttons was 9360.

Winner of the random draw is white-rose, as the random number generator came up with number 7, and white-rose's entry was corresponded to number 7.

For an extra entry based on three correct countries, you needed to guess three of either Australia, United States/America, Norway, Singapore or Canada.  

Congratulations jhcsmum and white-rose.  I will email you details of how to claim your prize.

Thanks so much to everyone else who entered.  It was HEAPS of fun receiving all your entries and comments.  Happy crafting and New Year.