Well, today is the day of the long awaited Button Swap Blog Hop. Back in March I signed up and within a few weeks I was in possession of the beautiful handmade metal beads you see below. These were made especially for me, I am told, by the very talented Stacie Florerr. I have since learned that she is a metal expert and is sharing her skills with students at ArtBliss in September, 2012.
These are the 4 buttons I received. Aren't they to die for!!
In the course of thinking about what I would make with these buttons, I thought that I would like to use one of them as a button but have it also function as a design element in the jewelry piece. With this in mind I made a flat peyote stitch double wrap bracelet. I used size 8 Japanese seed beads in shades of green and for contrast I used a dark bronze Czech seed bead, also a size 8. The pattern for the darker beads was made up as I went along. Nothing planned. For the edging and the button hole loop I used size 11 Czech beads, also in a dark bronze. And here is how it came out.
The button is the clasp but it is also a decorative design element.
Here you can see the whole bracelet and see how the button sets if off. I think the colors of the seed beads go so well with Stacie's button.
The second idea I had was to use the button only as a bead and not as a button at all. For this idea I made a wire wrapped bracelet and turned the button into a bead with two wrapped loops. I learned how to do this from the Wirework emag that came out some months ago.
In this bracelet I used my handmade ceramic beads. I wire wrapped them and included some golden mustard colored chain from Miss Ficklemedia and some commercial copper chain from Ornamentea.. The toggle clasp is made from a copper washer that I hammered and drilled holes in. The toggle bar owes its inspiration to Deryn Mentock's online ecourse The Art lof Closure. I wire wrapped the bar with 2 of my beads and in the center I strung on a size 8 glass seed bead. Stacie's button is part of the bead crowd here and is looking quite at home I think.
My Third idea was to use one of the button as a button and only that. I have not quite completed the bracelet I began as of this writing. But here is a pic of part of
the bracelet and you can see how beautifully the button is with this color combo and texture.
And for the 4th Button, I decided that I would like to keep it just as it is. It is so pretty and I am sure in time I will find just the right use for it.
Thank you Stacie for the wonderful buttons. Thank you Cindy for hosting this fun swap and exchange. I have begun making more buttons since all this started. I thank you for that too.
The GIVEAWAY
Everyone who leaves a comment will be entered in the giveaway to receive 2 of my handmade buttons. One will be ceramic, kind of like the ones I gave Stacie and the other will be made by me from copper. Stamped and already wire wrapped and ready to use.
I am giving away these two buttons to a lucky winner. To enter just leave a comment. Giveaway closes on May 19 at Midnight. I will announce the winner on Sunday May 20. Thanks so much for stopping by.
These are my andmade ceramic buttons that I gave to Stacie. I hope you will hop over there and see what she made and then visit all the other wonderful, creative participants. The list is below.
Mary Harding and Stacie Florer you are here
* Pam Ferarri and Stefanie Teufel (will share their reveal on a later date)
* Stefanie Teufel and Pam Ferarri (will share their reveal on a later date)
Ornamentea
