Happy Button Day!

It's Button Day!

As promised, my Deaths' Head button kits are finished and can be found in my shop, so my Campaign for Leek Buttons is now a little further along. I am also currently experimenting with washable thread buttons. Haven't quite got it right, but am working on it!

Don't want to make thread buttons? Why not dig out your old button box/tin/jar, and see if you have anything interesting that you can add to a coat to brighten it up (I saw a coat last week that was being sold with every button different, shame they were cheap tinny horrid things, sewn on very badly!).

Suffering for my art...

For the first time in many months I've been doing quite alot of fingerloop braids. All with fine silk and three of them nearly 2 meters long (thanks to my hubby for helping!). I enjoy doing it; I can get a good rythm going, but as I haven't done them in such a long time I am now suffering!
(horrid picture follows)


Now, I have to wait until these blisters heal a bit before I touch any fine silk threads, or everything just ends up a mess. I think I will have to discipline myself to do a few braids every month whether I need them or not, just to ensure the callouses stay intact!

The up side is that fingerloop braiding is excellent exercise for the upper arms though - honestly! And at my age, that wouldn't be a bad thing ;) ... and so much more enjoyable than a regular exercise regime methinks!

The Leek button kits are nearly ready, so roll on Button Day!

Writing, writing

I've just finished my latest article for Your Wardrobe Unlock'd: the Costume Maker's Companion, "Embellinshing with Ribbons: Bows, Rosettes and Cockades". This should be published in the December issue. It has step-by-step photos so that you can produce some of these yourself, and I'm hoping that all of my instructions are easy to understand!

Added to that, The Braid Society's Journal 'Strands' has been published this month, with my article about the Luton Braid recreation that I did last year.

Did anyone see Garrow's Law on the BBC? Very interesting, but not enough Leek Buttons, again! I really can't figure it out - the best selling button type of the 18th century, yet never (or very rarely) used in costume drama.... so, I shall shortly be increasing my campaign by making up kits with full instructions, button molds, thread and wax. The more people who can make them, the more chance we'll eventually see them on TV! I hope to have everything finalised in time for 'Button Day' on Nov. 16th. Yes, there is a Button Day. No-one can seem to tell me the origins, and I'm fairly certain its an American thing (probably some advertising campaign originally), but I reckon I'll have to celebrate it!