SWAP 2010 The Candy Shop SWAP

It's that time of year again.  I started & fell pretty much at the first fence last year.  This time the rules are different & I really think this time I can make it work.  I've chosen Option 1:
6 tops - t-shirts, shirts, blouses, or camisoles
4 bottoms - jeans, pants, shorts, skirts or kilts.
1 your choice (not an accesory)
2 garments may be purchased or previously sewn.

1 may be knitted or crocheted.
1 will be a matched print or stripe.
1 will feature embroidery, beads or sashiko.
1 will have buttons as the star feature OR use unusual or alternative closure(s).
 
Now as a rule I dress  fairly conservatively, BUT I just made a jacket that goes a little way outside my usual comfort zone & I like it & I like that everyone who has commented has done so favourably.  Put simply I wanted about 5 buttons but couldn't find enough that matched in the vintage button stash at work - I won't buy any if I can help it when there are so many in this stash!  Then I spotted some pink ones & remembered I had some pink top stitching thread, except there weren't enough pink so I looked again & found some identical purple ones.  Thus the Smartie jacket came into being!
 

This now fits in with the buttons as a star feature, own choice garment & one previously sewn.  It's a black stretch denim twill with a lighter thread so I could get away with grey pants as well as black & I wear it with blue jeans too.  Quite versatile.  I will need to think a bit more about what pants I make as they will need to be able to be worn with the jacket.  Tops will likely be a mix of tees & shirts.  I have visions of maybe three or four shirts each named after a sweet or two!!!  I will start to go through my big stash of Burda WoF later for inspiration.  In the meantime how does Blackpool Rock, Humbug or Peppermint Cream sound for a blouse?  Stripe?  Hmm.  I think I can do this if I cut creatively eg. on the bias, maybe side panels on a princess seamed top or a  chevron effect on a yoke.
I have to remember too that I dress for comfort & practicality.  I walk to work in all weathers, but have a uniform when I get there.  I walk the dog nearly every day so need pants for that - I generally put walking boots on for comfort.  I go into town maybe once a week, often on foot, usually in what ever I happen to be wearing but I need to make more of an effort.  Finding comfortable, practical but good looking & reasonably priced shoes is always a hassle for me & does affect what I end up wearing.  The designer in me is having a field day, especially as I need to really start thinking outside the box a little & get more adventurous.  Trouble is I can envisage another swap along side this one called Chocolate Heaven to go with a jacket my daughter bought me two years ago that doesn't get worn very often.  All this food thinking must be due to being on a weight loss plan.  VBG.