Sunday, June 18, 2006


Artists Need Feedback ~

And writers need to be read... just a fact of being human, I guess. So, thanks for your comments! Like oil for a nice old machine, they keep me running. I could continue with this topic, but I promised you buttons for today. So here you go.

These are buttons 1, 2 and 3 by Karen Cohen (see yesterday's post). She's just learning to do bead embroidery, and working improvisationally is new to her too. Aren't they fun!!

When she sent the pictures, she said: "I haven't figured out yet what to do with them, but I belong to a local arts group and we have a show in July that Iwill put them in. They took me about 3 hours to make. I figured $45 a button ... I'm looking at my bags and jackets and stuff to put them on. I'll see. They would be good for study pieces as they take so much less time than a full embroidery."

Maybe you have some ideas for her?

I am thinking button collectors might be interested (and there are LOTS of button collectors, including me in an informal way). In addition to button dealers in antique malls and button societies, there are many fine books about buttons. This is a good, affordable starter book, if you're interested in identifying buttons (or just a good drool). By the way I searched Amazon for buttons and there are about 1,500 current titles on this subject!

Button collectors all over the world have shows - exhibitions where they show off their collections according to set rules and annual theme choices. I've been to a couple of regional shows, which made my fingers itch (not in a nice way, I tell you). Although I tire quickly of looking at display after display of buttons arranged on a white board, framed in black, and all on the same theme, the buttons themselves are amazing.

Back to books for a sec, I just checked Amazon for book titles on the subject of beads. Anyone want to hazzard a guess (without looking, of course!) as to whether there are more books about beads than buttons? I'll give the answer in my next post.

6 comments:

  1. Those are so beautiful. I just love how you showcase other people's work. From a very early age I can remember my grandma's button box, playing with them, stringing them, etc. I have a few of the old buttons that my mom had and I treasure them.

    I'll take a guess (since you mentioned buttons, and you're mostly a bead person) that it must be more books on buttons!

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  2. These beaded buttons are fabulous! I love the color choices.

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  3. Nope, I'm guessing there are more books on beads!

    The second button, with the hearts, is especially successful to me. It must be so satisfying to see your students fly like this..

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  4. Although I've never met Karen (except through emails), she is a "student" of my books: One Bead at a Time and Beaded Embellishment, (co-authored with Amy Clarke). And, YES, it's gratifying/thrilling to see developing skill and passion for bead embroidery!

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  5. I was a "student" of Beaded Embellishment, too...until I lent it to a friend and haven't seen it since! But I was so glad to see her get enraptured over it....

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  6. Lovely beadwork. I would make them a main attraction on one of my elegant quilted reversible purses. They are great!

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Thanks you for joining the discussion on this post today!