We won the Adelaide Arcade's best Christmas Window display!
I still can't quite believe it. When Viv and I found out that The Button Bar won the Best Christmas Window Display for 2025 in Adelaide Arcade, I honestly got a bit emotional. This little shop means the world to us, and to have our first ever Christmas window win like this... well, it just feels incredible.
When we got the keys to the store in November, we knew the first job was to work out what our Christmas plan is. We were standing in the shop late one evening with Viv, surrounded by boxes of buttons trying to figure out what we wanted to create. We didn't want something that looked like it was outsourced. We wanted something that was us. Something that showed what The Button Bar is really about – the magic that happens when you take simple materials and turn them into something beautiful with your own two hands.
The button Christmas trees were a labour of love, and I roped my mum into spending many nights making these button trees in the lead up to christmas. We made several of them in different sizes, and the whole family joined in! People have been stopping me in the arcade asking how to make them, and I love that our window has inspired so many people to have a go at their own.
The outfits on the mannequins were Viv's brainchild, and they turned out beautifully. We used our premium trims for the detailing and embellishments. She spent many late nights at the sewing machine creating the outfits, re-doing the collar on the dress at least 6 times. She hand-stitched the gold trims and make the applique herself. How clever is she?
Every button, every bit of trim, every embroidery detail was from stock we have in the shop. When people complimented the window, I could say with complete honesty that they could make something just as beautiful with supplies from our shelves.
Being in Adelaide Arcade, we're surrounded by these amazing shops with stunning window displays. Seriously, the competition was fierce. It's recognition not just for Viv and me, but for what The Button Bar represents – keeping traditional crafts alive, supporting makers, and showing that handmade still matters in 2025.
I want to thank everyone who stopped to look at our window (some of you stood there for ages!), and everyone who came in to tell us how much they loved it. You made all those late nights worth it. This award belongs to our amazing customers too, because you're the ones who inspire us every single day with your creativity and passion for making.
If you missed the Christmas window, please don't worry – The Button Bar is always full of inspiration and possibility. We're still here in Adelaide Arcade with thousands of buttons, beautiful yarns, quality haberdashery, and everything you need for your next creative project. Whether you want to make your own button Christmas tree (I can show you how!), start a new knitting project, or finally finish that sewing idea you've been thinking about, come and see us. We're here to help, to chat, and to celebrate handmade with you.
Thank you, Adelaide. Thank you, Adelaide Arcade. And thank you to everyone who believes that places like The Button Bar still matter. We're so proud to be part of this beautiful maker community.
Kelly x
The Button Bar
Adelaide Arcade
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