The Button Tin

Last Saturday I was taken away to another era, when I was lucky enough to go to a crafting workshop at The Button Tin, a gem of a place I’ve found out about via Facebook.

For those of you who may not have heard about it, The Button Tin is the work of local crafter, artist and all round lovely person Gemma Nemer, an inspired person with a passion for all things vintage and whose workshops and workplace can only be described as inspirational.

The day began with a quick 15 minute drive over to Rotherham, where The Button Tin is based, for the 11am start. Gemma introduced herself, her background and what the day would entail. I had booked onto an ‘embroidered hoops’ session which was also attended by seven other lovely ladies, one of whom had travelled from London especially for the session (that’s how good this place is!).

I’m getting married in a few months, so with Gemma’s help I quickly decided on a project for the day which can be used for the wedding (sorry, no pictures of the result…it’s secret!). I spent a considerable amount of time perusing the vast amount of vintage fabrics from the treasure chest and settled on a lovely piece to work with. As the saying goes, you learn something new every day…and on this day I learnt a new stitch (chain stitch) and spent the main part of the session stitching away.  All the fabric, threads, hoops, lace, hanging cords, tea, cake were all in and at £30 for five hours, it's great value.

Over the course of the next few hours I was transported into a 40's/50’s style wonderland – Vera Lynne records were playing on a gramophone, proper china crockery were used to serve the tea and cake, doilies were aplenty and the kiosk which houses The Button Tin could not have been any more pleasurable.

I’ve read a number blog posts which say things along the lines of ‘a visit to The Button Tin is like being transported back in time’. I want to say something different, something new…but I can’t. It's really (I’d guess) like being back in the 1940/50’s – Gemma, her style, the venue, the kiosk, the workshops, the fabrics, the accessories, they’re all a present day version of the past. And I, for one, could not have been happier.

It was another amazing day, and I signed up there and then for the next workshop, a ‘Jubilee Special’ being held on 2 June 2012 - hope to see you there.

Happy crafting,

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