Handmade Buttons - Ceramic Dragonfly Buttons

Well after a wet snow yesterday it seems as if spring might actually be starting to peak her head out. It is supposed to be a warm weekend and I'm looking forward to a day spent with hubby. We are going to the trendy downtown area where we live and will spend the day wandering around bead stores, art supply stores and the fashion district. What a good husband he is to spend the day doing all these wonderful things with me. In celebration of spring I thought I'd post a picture of my newest ceramic dragonfly buttons. I'm teaching myself the ceramic button process and with some bumps and bruises along the way things are starting to come together. I've got lots to learn and I'm also experimenting with some big ideas of my own. Sometimes I think not having formal training in an art is a good thing. That way you aren't afraid to think outside the box because you don't really know what being "in the box" means as you don't know the formal rules. Now don't get me wrong I've been reading up on the process and I've been working with fused glass for a while so I know my way around a kiln. Some of my earlier glazing processes weren't what I had hoped for so I'm really pleased that the last few sets of buttons have been something I'm very pleased with. I guess I can only improve with time. I hope you enjoy these buttons http://www.etsy.com/listing/71298072/handmade-buttons-dragonfly-buttons-2. I have some custom orders to complete of my resin buttons this weekend but I hope to experiment with my ceramics a bit more as well. Have a great weekend everyone.

Handmade Buttons. Dandelions.

What is it about this lowly weed (the dandelion) that is so appealing? Normally these are yellow weeds that invade our lawns and which we try to eradicate so they don't spread their seeds all over and completely take over the landscape. However when you put them in images such as these (particularly with colour/color) they take on a whole new feeling. I think for me it's something about their ethereal floating qualities that appeals to me. They are airy and light and make you think of freedom. I absolutely love these images and have made a couple of dandelion designs for my Etsy shop http://www.etsy.com/listing/70936780/red-dandelion-handmade-buttons-handmade?ref=pr_shop and am thinking of trying my hand at making them into some ceramic buttons. It's funny to think how even the simplest of images can become art.

When Will Spring Arrive?

I know that spring has arrived (at least the date for spring 2011 has come and gone) but I'm wondering when the warm weather will arrive. It's still very cold here in Ontario, Canada and I can't wait for the spring flowers to poke their heads out. I guess that's why I've been in the mood to make spring flower handmade buttons lately. Does longing for spring make you create bright and cheerful items?

New Handmade Ceramic Owl Buttons

I am having a lot of fun working with my kiln and creating all kinds of new handmade ceramic buttons. These are some turquoise owl buttons I made and listed yesterday http://www.etsy.com/listing/70591846/turquoise-owl-buttons-4-handmade-by-me?ref=pr_shop. I love the look of them and have created the same design in lime green and yellow.

Working with ceramics takes patience though and you never know what you're going to get. You have to take the raw clay and make the buttons and then wait, and wait, and wait some more for it to dry. I usually leave it at least a week to make sure they're bone dry. Then you have to fire in the kiln for several hours. Then when they cool you can glaze them. Each glaze needs to be applied at least three times to get the depth of colour/color required. Sometimes I glaze in steps depending on what I'm doing so I may glaze some of the buttons. Fire in the kiln which takes a full day (including the cooling time) and then glaze and fire again. It's a very labour/labor intensive process but I must admit I do love how they look.

I'm teaching myself the process and have lots of ideas - not all of which work out. Since there is so much time involved from start to finish it's truly disappointing when an experiment doesn't work out. I guess that makes the successes that much sweeter though.

I can't wait to get started on some of the other ideas I have in my head. Now let's hope they translate well to ceramic!

Personalized Handmade Sewing Buttons

Now isn't this a great idea. I was asked to make these personalized buttons to be worn for a birthday party for two little ones. What an adorable way to identify twins to your party guests. Well I'm assuming they're twins as they have their first birthday on the same day. I'm always amazed at what people do with my buttons and this is certainly a unique idea. I know personalized buttons could have many uses but I thought I'd share this idea with you. What would you use personalized buttons for?

Bright Spring Flower Handmade Buttons

Well it's a glorious Friday morning and spring seems like it might actually arrive sometime soon. I know we'll have some colder March days here but I am very optimistic that warm sunny days will be here soon. I don't know about you but I'm tired of drab winter and messy snow and can't wait for the flowers to start peeking their heads out. In celebration of all things bright and springy I've listed a few sets of spring coloured/colored flowers at www.buttonsbyrobin.com. This set is just one of several http://www.etsy.com/listing/70262119/dark-pink-round-flower-buttons-handmade I have listed and I can't wait for the weekend to get here so I can start adding some more. I have Monday off from the day job this week and so have big plans to make buttons buttons and more buttons. I have about three custom orders to make but then it's all me-all buttons. I'm itching to get to them. I just have to get through the Friday work day at my day job and then I can get going. I also have some ceramic buttons that have been bisque fired (quite a while ago) and really want to get these glazed. So many ideas so little time! Have a wonderful weekend everyone. I hope you have time set aside for your creative projects!

Buttons and a Grandmother's Love

These are some tiny custom buttons I made for a Grandma who is going to make some doll clothes for her granddaughter. She thought it would be great to add buttons that were handmade just for the little girl. How special will this little girl feel to know that her grandmother made the doll clothes for her and that everything - even down to the buttons - was made just for her. I so love seeing all the wonderful things that people make and especially all the things they make for the ones they love. It's such a wonderful feeling to know that my buttons help add to these creations and make that just that bit more special.