The PAEM fiber festival is next weekend, and I have been busy working on buttons that I will be offering for sale. I will be working with Fred and Grace Hatton in their booth (27) with the Antique Spinning Wheels that Fred has beautifully restored to fully functioning wheels. Pictured below is one of my favorite wheels...
.... a signed Shaker wheel that was made in Alfred, ME. It is signed SR AL. If it looks familiar to you it is because it looks exactly like the one in Pennington & Taylor's book! You should go over to Grace's blog and take a look at some of the other wheels that will be at the festival....I'll wait...
Making buttons and working with wood is a lot like making yarn and working with wool. You take a raw material and keep refining it until it is something functional...it is the process that is enjoyable...and time consuming. The end result is something unique that cannot compare to machine made products. Hand made products have so much more character.
I also made a few shawl pins and diz (what is the plural for diz anyway?). I am looking forward to the festival. If you find yourself in the Endless Mountain Region of Pennsylvania next weekend...stop by and say hello. I'd love to meet you!
oh, and before I forget...this last photo is for Cathy. She sent me a piece of Osage Orange wood...a bit of a branch. I think these buttons would go perfectly with the Morning Surf Vest she just made. The sequence shows the steps the wood goes through before it can be turned into a finished button.
16 comments:
Wow, your buttons look so good. You have inspired me to make buttons for our handspun and knitted items,
Have fun at the festival, unfortunately I wont be able to drop in, being in Australia!
Even though that's where I got to meet you last year, I'm not sure if I'll make it this year. Work is excessively insane right now, and I've been working weekends. Bleah.
wow, the buttons are gorgeous!!!
esp. the one with the triangular holes :-)
Love the buttons, diz and shawl pins. I will see you there probably Sunday. Hope Grace and you, both have a great time.
Love the buttons, diz and shawl pins. I will see you there probably Sunday. Hope Grace and you, both have a great time.
Will you have some of these available for sale thru your blog? (Hint hint!).
And do the osage orange wood ones smell like the blossoms?
Will you have some of these available for sale thru your blog? (Hint hint!).
And do the osage orange wood ones smell like the blossoms?
Oh!! I always love peeping over your shoulder - and you know my addiction to your buttons!!
Everything you made for the FF is wonderful but of course, I can't wait to see the osage orange/hedge apple/bois d arc buttons!!
Thank you for showing the sequence!!
Wow, those buttons are stunning. When will you make them available for sale to the rest of us? (hint hint hint!) I was touched by your note on my blog...it's more that I seem to have an affinity for dogs. They like me--hence, I often catch them before something worse happens. (at least, I hope so.) One other thing...I've got a new great wheel on order! Do you have any good suggestions for types of wool that you'd recommend as specially nice for spinning on a great wheel?
I'll have to see what the energy level is like next weekend after my first week back teaching, but, my oh my, those buttons make a drive over to PA seem very, very worthwhile! absolutely beautiful work, cyndy. :)
These buttons are great Cyndy. I love the Larger looking rectangle buttons. It sure takes a lot of work to make these. You must have the patience of a saint. Good luck with the show.
Beautiful work. It is easy to feel your love for the wood. Next year the Endless Mtn. and VT S&W will be on different weekends. Maybe I'll finally get to your festival.
Beautiful buttons Cyndy! I can't wait to choose/purchase some for my first hand-spun cardi! See you on Sunday!
All those buttons are just beautiful! You make me want to grab a branch and start making some for myself - although I'm sure the process is more involved than a saw and some sandpaper. Thanks for sharing.
You MADE those lovely buttons?!... Truly, I am in awe of all your many talents. The spinning, weaving, and knitting were impressive enough, but woodworking too?...
I wish I could be there--I'd love to admire all these handiworks in person!
I do love your blog - everytime I read it I'm facinated with everything - your nature notes, your garden and your spinning. Your post re the Flax was wonderful - what a spinning wheel too! Could not imagine trying that!
And the snake?! Wow! Keep it up!!
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