Thursday, November 19, 2009

All Buttoned Up and Braided Round


I've been playing with some new ideas in the pewter.

I thought it might be fun to make some pewter buttons, with a very vintage worn look, and a dark copper-bronze patina.

These are headed off to a special friend, hopefully to inspire some jewelry designs. I hope they strike the right note!



I also made this large braided rope circular emblem. I can see it being used as a clasp, or maybe with wire wrap attaching some fun dangles and vintage items.

It's large but still lightweight.

The more I work with the metal, the more I learn about how to get the designs I want out of it.

Now I need to place an order for more metal, to make more pewter. I'm thinking of having a sale in the shops, to help gather the funds for the order. Metal is heavy, and a bit more costly than polymer clay! And expensive to ship...


I think these would make cute earrings, or maybe a clasp for a bracelet. I thought the buttons would be fun, but I know you can just go to the sewing store and buy buttons right off a rack, huge numbers of them.

So I don't know if there's any interest in these hand cast buttons.

Any thoughts? Would you make use of hand cast pewter buttons, if they were in the shop?

10 comments:

stregata said...

I think the buttons are very charming!!

Lorelei Eurto said...

i think you are going to see a huge response on those buttons. They are funky and unique and no, you cannot buy anything like THIS in the stores! no way, no how!
make them. lots of them. they will sell!!

Katie said...

I agree with Lorelei! I would use the buttons - I love to use unique items that you can't just run down to the store and buy...It makes the piece SO much more special!

SummersStudio said...

Lynn, I sell porcelain buttons at the market all of the time. Most of the people who buy them are looking for something special to finish off their own handmade project (quilts,kniited items,weaving, etc). They specifically turn to hand made buttons because they do not want mass produced buttons on something they have poured so much time and love into. So I think the pewter buttons have great potential!

Marie Cramp said...

I agree, your buttons are super fun!! They will sell. Love them.

Marie

Riki Schumacher said...

I like the buttons, they are very unique. I don't think you can find hand made buttons like that anywhere, and I was just at the "button palace"! Maybe do some with a little patter on them too? Love them Lynn.

SueBeads said...

I agree too! You can buy mass produced buttons in the stores, but not anything as special as these!

Riki Schumacher said...

Hey Lynn, congratulations on being in Belle Armoire Jewelry! The article is lovely, and your pieces look great. I love what Deryn did with the components. Way to go!

mairedodd said...

there is definitely interest in the buttons! they are great ~ have you made polymer buttons with your great aged touches to them?

LLYYNN - Lynn Davis said...

Thanks, friends, for the encouragement to go ahead with the idea. This weekend I'll make up some more and we'll see if they find a home.

I haven't used the polymer clay for buttons because I want to thoroughly test them, in case they are used on clothing that will be laundered, to make sure they will go through the process okay. And I haven't put any through the washer yet to see what happens.

If I knew they would only be used for jewelry (hopefully no one washes their earrings, LOL!) I wouldn't mind so much, but it would feel odd making them if I didn't know they could be used for anything any other button might be used for.

I really appreciate the feedback, it felt like I might be a little silly making BUTTONS when they can be had by the handful at a lot of stores...