Buttons have been keeping me busy the past few months. . .

You know what they say about potato chips, right?  You can't stop at one.  Well, the same could be said about buttons. Between November and now, I have been developing several different kinds of buttons, working with various sizes, clays and glaze combinations.  It's really fascinating.  I find my pots have inspired some of my button glaze choices; while, some of the glaze experiments I've tried on the buttons have motivated me to try them on pots.  (see the "Gallery" section of my website for some of the finished buttons.)

I have made agate buttons out of both black and white clay and two shades of green mixed with white.  I have played around with carving and texture stamps.  When I am too tired to throw, I make buttons, and sometimes, just like when you have popcorn for supper instead of a real meal, the buttons have taken over as my artistic "sustenance."  It's all good.  Making is good for my soul, whatever form it takes.

A cool collaboration with Custom Woolen Mills

Back in July at Market Collective when we were there with Vitri5 Craft Collective, Anders Bayly and I had the pleasure to meet Maddy Purves-Smith from Custom Woolen Mills.  She was looking to collaborate with a ceramic artist to produce hand-crafted buttons to go with their beautiful line of natural wool  We found this idea super intriguing, so we took it on.

Anders designed the buttons and I contributed by glazing, firing and finishing them.  The most popular of the buttons were the "Sock Monkey Buttons."  The red and white colouring really popped on the natural wool.  Custom Woolen Mills have produced a new kit inspired by these buttons.  Maddy just showed me the sweater and it is super cute.

Anders is now living in Montreal, so she has given me her blessing to continue making the buttons she designed.  In the coming week, I will be producing more and I will post pictures of the buttons in progress. I am also going to make some new Christmas ornaments!