My Button Project

This summer I will be joining hundreds of other artists turning their talents towards unique button-making. 
A stunning exhibition of contemporary handmade buttons will go on show alongside the silk costume collection at Macclesfield’s Heritage Centre this June.  Running from 14th June – 8th August, The Button Project exhibition will be launched at Barnaby, the town’s summer festival of art and fun, and will showcase work by artists and makers from across the UK, and even beyond.

I've always wanted to have a go at making some glass buttons but never seem to find the time to play around with designs. So when the call for applicants came out, I thought it sounded like the perfect opportunity to give it a try. 
Using lampworking techniques was probably the obvious way to go, so I decided to go with blown and coldworked glass instead. Just to keep you on your toes!
Something contemporary. Minimalist with precise detail. A design that connected to my blown pieces that wasn't necessarily a typical rounded shape but still keeping within the 3cm size restriction. 

This is what I came up with:

What do you think?

I'm so intrigued to see all the other beads displayed together!

Supporting British

Well, as January draws to a close, I can't believe how quickly 2012 went by! A huge 'thank you' to everyone who supported me in various ways during the year. It's given me such a boost, especially in times of doubt. This self-employment malarkey isn't easy, you know!

Union Jack Paperweights

So the obvious highlights for most people for 2012 were the Royal Jubilee, Olympics and Paralympics, and rightly so. These events sparked the 'Support British' mentality, both in craft and other aspects of day-to-day consumerism. It is through this thinking that artists like myself and other small businesses are able to keep going. By supporting local businesses you know exactly where things are coming from and the stories and processes in getting them to you. Through craft businesses, you know you are getting something unique to treasure for many years. So another thank you to any of you who have opted for British products over mass-produced foreign imports. May it continue!