How to make buttons and shanks

While I’m not new at creating tutorials, creating video tutorials is something new for me. I just published 2 videos on how to create buttons or cabochons. The button tutorial is in 2 parts. Part 1 shows you how to use the flex mold, how to imbed a shank with a seamless back, color and finish your button. Part 2 continues by showing you how I  create and imbed a wire shank. I posted the videos below.

If you are interested in some molds, I’ve begun to list a bunch on both my Etsy and ArtFire.

Here are the Video Tutorials. Hope they work well for you…if they do, like or comment on YouTube…

Making buttons with Tina

and here is Part 2

Making buttons with Tina

Now I need to list more molds  among other things, as well as finish some bigger tutorials. They’ll be pdf file format, but in future I have some interesting things in mind…how about live shows?

Button Button who's got the Button?

Julie Witt does! I was pleasantly surprised when Julie of Sewknitful sent me a photo of her wonderful Flower pin that she knit up. Julie then used one of my buttons for the flowers' center and I think it turned out just perfect. The contrast between the blue of the jacket and red of the flower just pops. Julie has posted a link for the pattern on her blog. I think I'll want one of these! Thanks Julie!

I've done various types of mokume gane and have a tutorial on a variation that I call Dichroic Pendants, but learned this style with the 'River channel' from Julie Picarello when she came to Vancouver in November of 2009. I didn't make very many and am honoured this button found a prominent place.

Felted Wool Grinch Purse with Polymer clay Handles and Buttons

I've been busy knitting and felting wool, making matching Polymer Clay purse handles and buttons for them and am also getting requests from family members, a couple of whom I now know what to give for Christmas.
I had made crochet purses before with polymer clay handles like this. I don't normally do cute, but this one had a mind of its own! lol
Green and red...reminds me of...The Grinch that stole Christmas!! except he wouldn't have a flower on it...lol...unless someone insisted on making him happy!! A little play on the words...but my purse becomes Purrs...Grinch Purrs, I think its official.

The purse handles, I make them hollow, with a tough but slightly stretchy cord with just enough give to remove from the purse for which I sewed buttons on the outside this time. I've previously stitched the buttons to the inside, but what good is it to have decorative buttons that one can't see. Plus I stitched one to the center of the felted flower.

Anyway, the handles are removable so that the purse itself can be washed if necessary. I started making various other handles and matching buttons now that maybe available in kits soon with select chosen yarns...more on that soon, but here is a view of the "Grinch Purrs" for which I used Galway 100% Peruvian Wool as well as a touch of fun yarn.
I crocheted and felted the flower for which I dyed the orange wool with Kool-aid (mmm...and it smells like mandarin oranges!), then made a matching flower cane. The bright red was a toughy, but finally came up with a nice bright blend of cadmium red and fuschia.

 Finished purse...the green looks a little washed out here....it is actually a Granny Smith Apple green...much yummier in person...but am thinking blueberry Seuss for the next, lol.

Felted Purses with Polymer clay Buttons

Here is a smaller felted purse, it's half the size of the one I showed in the last post. I love the hexagon shape for the polymer clay button that I covered with Resin. A friend recommended I should teach felting at the local yarn shop and how to make buttons.
I threw in one of my scrap clay heart pendants on this post. I have a few to list on my ArtFire. So many things to do, so little time...

Polymer Clay Shawl Pins, Buttons and Felted Purses

Finally am getting back into some creating, although not so much jewelry. I've been making a variety of Polymer Clay Buttons, Shawl pins and am knitting and felting purses!
Here are some of my Polymer Clay Shawl pins.

 I also made two purses this week, but this large one took me about 4 long days to complete. It's a Hobo bag. My husband thought I was knitting a sweater because before felting and shrinking it, it was huge! I made coordinating button for it. I'll post photos of the smaller bag tomorrow and hopefully the baby booties I came up with for a friend who is expecting a baby soon.

This pattern is available from "Pipps Purses" on ArtFire. I had no idea what a Hobo Bag was, lol, but now I know!! It was trial and error following the pattern. One must definitely have an understanding of stitches as there are no photographs other than the finished purse. I knitted mine on circular needles in a knit one row, purl one row fashion instead of knitting all rows. I actually like the slightly rougher texture of the purse that resulted from that.