The Return of The Button

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The glass buttons have returned. I am now feeling inspired to get my kiln fired up soon to make more in the specific sizes I need. Making these buttons in our mini class reminded me of how much I love working with glass - especially fusing glass. I sure hope my kiln is still operative! Anyway, here are the group of buttons that I made. Six in a lovely iridescent black, 6 in an iridescent clear & one crazy extra long piece that will probably end up being something other that a button! I hated to waste to space available to me - so this was a VERY quick one made on the way out the door!

I purchased some button shanks - ordered 6mm which are WAY to small for these - & 10mm which are barely large enough. I need to order some 12 & 14mm I think. Below you can see the shanks on both a dark and a clear. I think they work well. I had thought to order the clear based variety, but someone mentioned that it is harder to get a good bond between glass & acrylic or plastic than than it is to get a good bond between glass & metal. I think they were correct. I used a two part epoxy & these buttons are firmly adhered. I don't think that they will come off easily!

Making Glass Buttons: A Fun Day WAs Had By All

Yesterday a group from Fidalgo Island Quilters went to a place called Johnny Picasso's to have a fun half day making glass buttons. The shop is, perhaps, an odd combination of barrista land (very good expresso) and ceramic and glass shop. There was a fabulous selection of glass, frits (small bits of glass that make a bit of a mottled effect on glass) and glass noodles ( glass strips that look like fettucine) to use for our buttons and the the prices were SO reasonable. Janet, Jan and I went to the mainland for this little foray and we had a great time. I was pleased to find that I can still cut glass easily - it's been awhile since I did fused glass. I may just have to fire up the kiln pretty soon after yesterday! The buttons had to be annealed in the kiln of course - so Janet's husband has graciously volunteered to pick our button up for us when he is on the mainland himself next Monday. I forgot kind of rushed before we left to go have lunch and I forgot to take pictures of the "pre kilned" buttons ! Duh!!! Oh well - I'll post photos of the completed buttons when they get back here. We all enjoyed a very nice lunch at a great all organic restaurant called "Adrift".