A Peek Into the Creative Process...

I awoke to 3 degrees Fahrenheit below zero this morning, so therefore, I am chained to the fireplace trying to warm the house up.  It was 63 degrees when I got out of bed and I have been running the fireplace since 7am.  Now at 11 am, it is only up to 65 degrees!  No studio work today, so I thought I would bring you a special blog post:  A look into the creative process!

When I begin a design, I don't really go into it with any ideas in mind.  I retreat to the old button storage and pick out a button/buttons that suit my fancy for the day.

This drawer so happens to be mostly metals, but I have everything from mother of pearl to fabric to vegetable ivory in this storage box.  After I choose the buttons I will use for the piece, I set to gently restore them.

As you will see, this is a multiple stage process, and probably more time consuming that the actual creating of the piece.  And, yes, I did knit those fingerless gloves.  I have been a knitting fool every night and weekend since I learned how!

My main goal is to restore the original beauty of the buttons while retaining the aged patina.  One must remember that most of the buttons in my stash are from the mid to late 1800's, so there are many problems that have to be dealt with such as rust and the "green meanies" (the unsightly green oxidation on brass that is more suitable aesthetically to garden fixtures and outdoor decorations).  These issues are dealt with and removed with museum approved techniques and products.

 
For the final stage, a museum wax is applied to protect from further rusting and oxidation as well as water damage and retains a smooth, clean shine.  *Please note that this button looks the same from the first picture to the last as it was not actually restored, it was only used to demonstration purposes*.  While I am restoring the button/buttons, I run through ideas of how the button will be converted into a piece of jewelry, all the while running through techniques that allow me to create a piece of jewelry without harming or altering the button in any way.

By the time I am completed with the cleaning process,   I have a good idea of how to design the piece.  I retreat to my bead boxes (my red vintage bead box is shown above)...

and my brass filigree boxes and choose pieces that would be most suitable for the design I have in mind.

As you can see above, the actual piece begins to take form.  This piece is still a work in progress.  I guess I will not get to it again today...I just hate having to take all the supplies I need out of the studio to bring downstairs simply because I have to cart them all back upstairs when I am done.  These are the days that I catch up on computer work and maybe do a little tatting for chokers and bracelets.

As you can see, creating button jewelry is so much more than just making the piece.