A Trip Down Memory Lane!
Button Jewelry by Sara Withers
I remember when I was a pre-teen my mother had a collection of buttons. Some buttons made their way into the stash by virtue of being replaced on a favorite blouse when one or more would come up missing so a new set was sewn on. Others were those "extra" buttons you get attached to a new shirt or sweater, and I think many of them came from my grandma. We would sort out the special ones — those with shiny crystals or what looked like pearls, or even our favorite colors — and string them on ribbon or satin cord. We made simple chokers, but we felt glamorous!
Sara Withers' Button Jewelry takes the concept much further with some truly imaginative pieces that incorporate buttons into the techniques of bead stringing, wirework, and knitting. I found Button Jewelry at Michael's Arts and Crafts store, listed for $22.99 (US), $29.99 (Can).
In the introduction, I read, "Buttons are ideal companions to beads: they come in interesting materials such as wood and shell, a whole spectrum of glass, and a huge selection of clear and colored plastics." Much like our beloved beads!
My favorite project in Button Jewelry is "Floral Garland", which uses stem buttons and top drilled leaves in a 2-strand woven pattern that gives the effect of flowers growing on a stalk. The instructions and materials are listed for a bracelet and earrings, but following that is a variation for a necklace. While the instructions for the necklace are not step-by-step, a beader of any experience should be able to follow the picture and brief instructions to create a complete set. Still other project variations show the design created with different colors or sizes of buttons.
Button Jewelry has 25 projects, plus variations. From necklaces and chokers to pins and barrettes, there are many projects to choose from! There is even a basic techniques section at the back, which is fairly well illustrated; only the crimping instructions seem off to me. The book is well photographed (by the late Lindsey Stock) to show detail of the designs as well as a few steps during the creation of the design.
All in all, Button Jewelry has me wanting to scour the craft stores, garage sales, and thrift stores in search of fabulous buttons!
