TODAY is the big Button Swap Blog Hop!! I’ve been eagerly awaiting this day, after all, I’m crazy about buttons and love collecting them. Way back at the end of March, a respectable number of bloggers signed up to take on this button challenge. The participants were paired up, and buttons were mailed out from all over: Germany, England, Canada, Australia, Sweden, New Zealand and of course the U.S. Everyone set to work creating something wonderful with their new buttons. And it did not have to be jewelry! ….I can’t wait to see if we had any non-jewelry takers out there! Another interesting factor about the swap is that any kind of button could be shared – from antique to hand made.
Thank you to every one who participated! If you didn’t get to join in this time, I do plan to host the Button Swap again next year and hope to see you join the next time!
My Button Swap partner is Mimi Gardner of Baubles, Beads, & other Curiosities (love her blog name!).
Mimi sure surprised me and sent me an amazing assortment of vintage buttons. The vintage part wasn’t a surprise – I think she got a good hint at what I like to work with by visiting my blog. But she was so kind as to send me a variety, not knowing if I preferred working with silver or gold… See the beautiful buttons she sent? Which set do you think I picked??
I like classics – so I chose the timeless gold and black combination! I used 5 out of the 6 buttons in this set. Let’s start around the back ….here you’ll see one of the vintage black buttons used as a dangle hanging from the extender chain of the necklace I created.
I went a little over the top & ended up with something on the ornate side. There’s nothing understated about mixing vintage earrings – yes I added one, can you find it? – and old brass stampings (Metalliferous & Beadin’ Path), after all. The base of my focal is a brass filigree bow tie folded in half. It was a clever way to hide the wirework used to attach the buttons through the flower stampings. I incorporated a few floral components to complement the nature motif in some of the buttons. My finished necklace is a compilation of handmade onyx and brass chain, knotted gemstones, bronze and brass components, and the vintage black buttons.
I recently purchased some beautiful beaded beads from the talented Sandra Sculli of Preserve Jewelry Studio, and couldn’t wait for an opportunity to use one. Sandra really does amazing beadwork!
I definitely had fun taking the “after” photos. To me, this is just as much fun as making the jewelry. I headed out to the front porch, armed with old pieces of lace, a needlepoint runner, a 100 year-old book, and a couple antique Victorian albums.
And one more – just to show you how the necklace looks when worn, I tried it on with a new sundress.
All the while I was making my button jewelry, I had my faithful studio companion with me. We had fun making a ring together – yes, a button ring! While I was taking pictures of the ring, the two of us goofed around with taking pictures of ourselves in a mirror.
I have to show you that new, old mirror. I love this one – haven’t hung it up yet – but I have just the spot. I was so lucky that it happens to fit perfectly between the two windows where I intended to put it because I didn’t know the precise measurement (and there is no room to spare). This mirror has some great memories associated with it – all 6 of us went antiquing in early April and that’s when we found it. And on that day my husband and I seemed to fall in love all over again. It’s hard to explain how or why, but I knew that it happened. When we were purchasing the mirror, we happened to notice an Easter egg in the counter showcase. There it was – 1995, the year we were married. It’s not everyday that you find something from 1995 when it’s 2012. We brought home that egg too. 🙂
Oh! And here’s the ring that I made using the glass floral button that Mimi sent. It is so sparkly & I love wearing it. Keri Lee Sereika has a great tutorial on how to make this ring. I’ve seen many ring tutorials out there, but loved this one for the concise, step by step directions. If you happen to have any shank-style buttons left from the Button Swap, why not try making one too!
My little guy showing off his ring (he chose the button). He’s already shared it on the playground – took it right off and let others wear it too. 🙂
I was all set to work with the 2nd group of buttons but ran out of time. I’ll keep you posted and share this piece on my blog hopefully in the near future.
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Before you head off to visit more button swap blogs, I have an announcement! Remember this giveaway? These vintage mother of pearl buttons are going to one lucky Button Swap participant. And the Winner is:
KIM BALLOR!
Thank you to everyone who participated in the Button Swap Blog Hop. It is plain to see that many of us love buttons. Now let’s see what everyone has created with their buttons! Please visit the the Swap participants below – take your time & keep on hopping, even if it takes a week or two, or three….
Angie Blasingame and Billi R.S. Rothove
Billi R.S. Rothove and Angie Blasingame
Birgitta Lejonklou and Pam Farren
Bonnie Coursolle and Tania Hagen
Brenda Salzano and Hope Smitherman
Cece Cornier and Jeannie Dukic
Celeste Thurston and Christine Damm
Christine Damm and Celeste Thurston
Christine Stonefield and Dana James
Cilla Watkins and Lori Bowring Michaud
Cindy Wimmer and Mimi Gardner *You are here!
Cynthia Machata and Julia Johnson
Dana James and Christine Stonefield
Diana Ptaszynski and Erin Prais-Hintz
Emma Thomas and Rebecca Anderson
Erin Prais-Hintz and Diana Ptaszynski
Erin Siegel and Sharon Borsavage
Holly Westfall and Sally Russick
Hope Smitherman and Brenda Salzano
Jeannie Dukic and Cece Cornier
Jenna Meyers and Kristi Harrison
Jenna Tomalka and Karen McKillip
Jenny Davies Reazor and Sandi Volpe
Julia Johnson and Cynthia Machata
Kalaya Steede and Kylie Dickman
Karen McKillip and Jenna Tomalka
Karen Mitchell and Renetha Stanziano
Kay Thomerson and Shannon Chomanczuk
Kim Roberts and Partner unable to participate at this time.
Kristi Harrison and Jenna Meyers
Kylie Dickman and Kalaya Steede
Linda Djokic and Patty Gasparino
Line Labrecque and Teri Baskett
Lori Bowring Michaud and Cilla Watkins
Marianna Boylan and Tracy Statler
Mary Harding and Stacie Florer
Maureen Baranov and Tracy Bell
Melissa Martin and Theresa Fosdick
Michelle Hardy and Peggy Johnson
Nicole Valentine Rimmer and Niki Meiners
Niki Meiners and Nicole Valentine Rimmer
Pam Farren and Birgitta Lejonklou
* Pam Ferarri and Stefanie Teufel (will share their reveal on a later date)
Patty Gasparino and Linda Djokic
Peggy Johnson and Michelle Hardy
Rebecca Anderson and Emma Thomas
Renetha Stanziano and Karen Mitchell
Rose Binoya and Shanti Johnson
Sally Russick and Holly Westfall
Sandi Volpe and Jenny Davies Reazor
Shannon Chomanczuk and Kay Thomerson
Shanti Johnson and Rose Binoya
Sharon Borsavage and Erin Siegel
Shirley Moore and Veralynne Malone
Stacie Florer and Mary Harding
* Stefanie Teufel and Pam Ferarri (will share their reveal on a later date)
Tania Hagen and Bonnie Coursolle
Teri Baskett and Line Labrecque
Theresa Fosdick and Melissa Martin
Tracy Bell and Maureen Baranov
Tracy Statler and Marianna Boylan
Veralynne Malone and Shirley Moore
Thank you ever so much for stopping by today!
– Cindy xoxo
