Back to Buttons

My painting is on hold for a while as we hit the road today.  I'm still not happy with those very frustrating rocks in the rock pool.  Pete has guided me a little more and I'll take his advice once we stop for a few days.

So, back to the buttons.  I've been wanting to expand my design for some time and finally on one of those dreamy days in Canberra, inspiration came o me.  I tried and I succeeded.  I am very pleased.

Wanting a chunkyer style I made the necklace in two stages using both vintage and contemporary buttons.  For added interest I put in a little assymetery in the drop section.

It is quite stunning worn with a variety of outfits and colours.

I am now trying different colours and was happy with the drop section but not so with the actual neck piece and will be changing this one.

I completed this necklace just proir to my new design and having the large feature button led to my new thoughts of  extending the size of the feature by adding a drop peice.  It was how to do it that was the challenge.

My Creative Space - New Adventure

I"m always looking for something new to try and with my links to Chantal Vincent Art I am embarking on creating a series of stamps.  I gathered my equipment from Eckersleys in Canberra, found some space in my caravan and had fun for at least 2 hours.  Very theraputic and relaxing.  Today I'm back to Eckersleys to find a smaller carving tool fo the detailed work.

A little bit more - my painting

Lessons on line.  I had to do it as I wasn't happy with some specifics;  Kai's hat perspective, detail needed for hand and foot and still those right hand rocks.  I contacted Pete and he is kindly giving me his time to guide me through the final process of my painting.  I'm still, and will always be a student of art and am willing to learn at any point.  And I was right, all those aspects needed work. 

Pete sugessted that I correct the perspective of Kai's cap and sent me a computer sketch.  Very helpful.  Also I needed to ground Ruby's foot and hand by creating more shadow beneath them.  Ruby's finger also needed shortening.  The rocks on the right needed to be softened and more yellow mixed into the foreground colour as the orange was too strong.

This is a close up of the corrections and I am much happier.  The rocks are still troubling me.  I need to once again get the feel of the rockpool before I tackle them again

The ground work for the rocks has improved and now I need to place more light into them and then recede them into the background.  Once this is done , only the highlights need to be completed.
We hit the road again next week  and it will be difficult to continue, so here's hoping I will be able to tackle the rest of the painting before we go.

My Creative Space - in Painting Mode

Well I am now putting myself out there.  My passion is my painting and I have found this difficult on my travels.  However, on every journey I have managed to complete at least one but with the heat and rain in NSW I couldn't even get started.  My Blog was to encourage me to get  the gear out and start.  And I'm pretty happy with it so far.



This is my "caravan painting space" and  is more complex  than my  jewellery space.  As I use acrylic paints the outside environment can have a big impact with wind and sun drying the paint very quickly.  Painting inside has its problems with light and space.  I need to paint near the doorway and this is often cramped.   However during the process of this painting the weather was kind and I was able to venture out to get a better perspective of composition and colour. 



The painting I am attempting is of my great niece (Ruby) and nephew (Kai)  playing in a rock pool.  We were bush camped on the south coast of WA east of a fishing village, Hopetoun. 
I needed to establish the background of the rock pool and incorporate  the base colours.  I'm not happy with the right hand rocks as they need to be sunk back and not be such a feature.
It's amazing how you remember information in your art classes.  Often my co students and I commented on how we would  remember all the stuff Pete passes on to us.  I actually managed this time. 

Pete would remind me that to get full perspective I needed to have all the elements included in my composition.   I was having difficulty with the rockpool and it was time to place in Ruby and Kai.  This terrified me.  I tend not to included figures in my paintings as past attempts have not been successful.  I researched my notes and prepared myself with colours and a sketch.  Once I started  I gained more and more confidence and am quite pleased with the start on Ruby. Actually I'm quite exited.



I needed a break before attempting Kai and went for a lovely walk along the beach where we are currently staying on the south coast of NSW.  Feeling refreshed, I returned to the van and mixed the colours and tones needed for Kai and Ruby's dress.  Often I get confused because my palette is not organised and  I didn't want to paint over mistakes which could result in loosing the affinity I felt  for the subjects.
 In my future sessions I need to complete Ruby and Kai and work the background to compliment not compete with them. 

A friends gift

While visiting friends in the Cudmirrah Van Park on the  southern NSW coast I discoverd Cheryl was going to a special event, puchased a new top and needed a piece of jewellery for her outfit.  Both Cheryl and John have been special friends since we met them on the road at Leichhart Lagoon in Qld.  We catch up when ever we are on the east coast.  So, I couldn't resist, dug out my little stash of beads that I have been carrying in the van.  Found some beautiful stones I purchased in Canberra and used what ever else I had to make her a gift.

I had 2 types of chains and decided on the smaller, chunkyer one to balance the large agate stone.  I tried some larger chain links and my silver fish beads to break the length of chain, but decided on the Colorado Swarovski Crystals with small silver beads.

Swarovski crystals set into the chain.  Very delicate to work with the chain and softness of the top. 

I was so pleased that I had a large crystal magnetic clasp to use as a feature and to balance the use of such a large stone. 

I added a large oval link to the drop point of the chain.
By attaching a parrot clip to a variety of created feature beads the user can interchange the feature to suit the outfit.  I chose these 3 to offer  Cheryl and she could chose whatever she liked.









With her outfits in mind , Cheryl chose the Lava Stone and Agate features











 The black Lava Stone was prefered  by Cheryl as the top has a black underlay.

( Can't work out what I've done with my format.  Things are going a little array - everything centred. But here goes again.)

As I work in my Caravan I thought I would show you my little bit of space.  My art and jewellery gear is stowed beneath the left couch seat.  "My creative space", and I'm getting very clever at minimal storage and gear.  Adds to the sense of creativity.

Guidelines for designing and creating a button necklet

Hasn't been long since my last post and to be honest I had to cut the blog short for 2 reasons.  I stuffed up my photo collection and at the same time my husband wanted to play a game of golf.  Golf won.  Now lets see if I can get this right and have some fun with designing and creating your button necklet
(Don't forget to check my previous post for "what you need" to create your Beatrice inspired button necklet.)

The Design

• Clear some space on a table with a plain cover so that you can focus on colour and design and make sure you have your coffee, tea or wine at hand.
• Select what I call a :"feature button".  One which is large possibly textured or has character about it.  You can also build UP a variety of size and/or colour to create your own feature button.  I have selected a raised dimpled orange button to sit on a slightly larger lime green button to feature my main 2 colours.
• Then like a jigsaw manouvre buttons to create a line decreasing in size and change in colours.  My 3rd colour is usually used as a highlighter and sparingly. I often build UP using different sizes/shapes and sometimes same or different colours.  I also use 4 hole buttons for creating texture with wire.
• I always consider texture, light and dark, graduating to smaller sizes and with each side of the necklet  being roughly symmetrical. However I love throwing in something a little off beat, and the opposite buttons do not have to be exactly the same,  Use what you have and have fun with it.
• Lay out your design and measure.  This necklet is 44cm in length which is good for both a small and larger framed person.
• I have chosen gold 24guage wire and magnetic clasp to work with the orange. 

The Creation

• For the wire length, I measure a finger tip, arm to nose length + extra for good measure depending on the number of UPs and 4 hole buttons.(about 110cm)
• I find the middle and create my feature button. Always work with the natural curve of the wire.  I run the wire between finger and thumb to keep the natural lay.  Never let it krink as it creates a weak point that could later snap.
• Work as you prefer.  I usually work one side first to get an idea of the design - does it work or do I need changes.
• To build UP as done in the second button, I used a large orange, a smaller green and a darker small purple. To build, thread the wire through  the 1st hole of the orange button, then the first of the green, then the first of the purple.  Then thread back through  the 2nd hole of the purple to the green and finally the orange.  On the rethread hold the combination firmly so that they sit well on top of each other.

 Positioning the next button

• This is vital and I found it easier to show you on the third button as it would have been info overload when describing UP on the 2nd.  However the positioning of the large orange on the 2nd before you build UP  is very important.
• After you have placed the button hole on the wire position the new button touching the previous.  I often turn the buttons over to see this. Then to set, pull the wire back in line with the already created  buttons.  Hold firmly while doing so.  

• Continue the Up of the 3rd button.
• Ensure you work with the lay of the wire and keep a clean curve.
• After threading down through the 2nd holes,  I run the wire  underneath to keep the line of the loop as I pull through.  This helps prevent the kinking of the wire when the holes of the UP buttons are not  in line. 

Finishing the Button Necklet

• Lay out the necklet and measure.  You may have to use additional buttons to gain axtra length if needed.
• Trim the wire so that you have about 15 -20cm tails to work the clasps.

• Turn the necklet over to secure the clasps
• Hold the clasp firmly into position as you thread the wire.
• To set the position, pull back the wire to the line of the necklet.
• Creating a small loop, circle the wire around its stem from the last button at least 4 times. This takes practice to ensure the clasp sits flat.  Remenber it is magnetic and will want to flip back on the wire.  Setting it with a short stem is the key and the loops around the wire stem will be under the last button.
• Thread the wire back through the last button hole to secure and cut the wire close the the hole.  this is where you may need your pliers as the space is quite restrictive.
• Repeat on the other side ensuring the wire stem from the last button hole is the same   

The finished  product

And the real test - what does it look like on

Any problems please contact me on my blog or email.

Enjoy and use what you have to create a unique piece of jewellery 

Make your own Beatrice inspired button necklet

I have great pleasure in sitting at my table with a glass of wine and putting together a button necklet for a friend or just for the relaxing creativity of it.  I have tried many ideas and techniques and find the following is the simplest for a basic necklet.  I call them necklets as they are usually short to sit better on the neck.  The length for a slight framed person is usually about 42 - 44cms whereas the larger frame needs a minimum of 45cm for a short style to 50cm to give more length to the neck or to wear over clothing.
The following is a photo supported outline of what you need to start your necklet and there will be a follow up blog on guidelines for designing and creating your button necklet.

What you need

• A selction of buttons - these are from Spotlight which you can buy in colour tone packets for about $9
• A colour wheel to help create your colour mix - I had plenty of orange buttons, so used these as a base and the greens and purples were chosen from the split complimentary,   You also need a range of sizes of buttons. 
• 24 guage craft wire - any thinner tends to krink and snap under pressure, thicker wire can be used to make the wire more of a feature
• Tape measure to check your length
• Tools, being wire cutters and jewellery pliers - pliers are sometimes needed to help bring the wire through limited  or tight spacing.
• Jewellery clasp - I use the easy to manage magnetic clasp as the necklets a very light.  For a necklet to being used over clothing  I would use a parrot clip or hook style clasp.

Once you have all your equipment the fun begins.  In my follow up blog I will give you guidelines on  how to design and create of your button necklet.