Day 7 : Like, Totally...

Day 7 : Like, Totally...

What can I say? This button just makes me think of the 80s, hence the name.  I've been humming Duran Duran all day too...

Technique-wise, something a little different. The button mould is a No 65 trimmed square, and I've covered it with cotton fabric. This is not how it was intended to look - I was struggling with what I wanted and so instead got out my pot of Paverpol and decided to use that to both attach the pieces and thread in the shapes I wanted (the centre is rolled), and to harden the whole thing. The Paverpol is white when applied, so it was quite nice to wake up this morning and see the finished result!

Shame the weather didn't agree. I have had such a hard time photographing this that I decided to wait until I was at work and could get out the photo lights (I have been sorting out my button post first thing in the morning). Which, I have to say, have not yet been properly set up. And lo and behold, a bit of fluff appeared, so I had to start again. And you know, my photo software struggled too, so my note to self is do not use this blue again :)

The finish is really nice though. The Paverpol is a hardener, so the rolled feature won't get squashed. I see more buttons using fabric hardener in my future!

Day 6 : Polyphemus

Day 6 : Polyphemus

Today's button is named for Homer's Cyclops. A bit unusual I know!

I've had some eye shaped jewellery findings for quite some time, purchased solely with the idea of making eye buttons. I've still got at least another three ideas of how to use these in different ways, but this time I decided on using the zwirnknopfe techniques of wrapping.

The iris is an even smaller ring, again wrapped using the zwirnknopfe method. It is the attached to the centre of the eye shaped ring, which in turn is added to the centre of an acrylic ring. I used perle cotton no 12 for this, with the exception of the black, which is a 20/3 lace thread.

The button is 40mm / 1 1½" / 60L

Day 5 : Beginnings

Day 5 : Beginnings

This button has been inspired by a completely different challenge. For those of you who has kept up with my new 'regular' blog, I spent a bit of time over the holidays working on mini books for the Tando Creative 366 challenge. While I don't expect to complete that challenge, I am enjoying dipping in and out. Anyway, the word prompt for that challenge on the 1st was "Beginnings" so I drew a seedling. And as I drew I thought, this could make a button...

The ground is a some wonderful thick wool that's been in my stash for years - left over from a commission to cover buttons for a 17th century coat. The wool is so thick, there's no need for a button mould. Yes, I really do keep the smallest pieces of nice stuff!

To this I've sewn a small "seed" made of cotton and stuffed with cotton, decorated with a cotton wrapped stem, and a wired, embroidered leaf. The green cotton for both stem and leaf is perle no 12. This was worked separately, as in stumpwork, and then attached, which means I could give the little extra curl on the leaf.

The button (measured along longest side) is 25mm /   1" /  40L

It is also quite a thick button - best suited for a coat I think. Or maybe a bag....