Buttons by WW Creations

Buttons are the feature for Spring 2004! Not just any buttons, but handcrafted creations by Wendy. Wendy who you might ask. Wendy Dunnett from Pender Island, that's who. Originally from Nova Scotia, she has lived on Pender with her family and pets since 1995. She is a self taught artist working in many different mediums including clay, wood, cement and rock. Wendy considers herself as a "shaper" since she makes everything from garden stones to her ceramic buttons.

Wendy has been making her ceramic buttons for several year, starting in a downtown Victoria studio. It began with little pins for children painted in florescent colours which she called "Hot Heads." Later she saw some ceramic buttons in a craft supply house and was inspired to develop her own creative line. She now has nearly 1,000 designs with new inspirations coming to her almost daily!

Wendy's wonderful ceramic buttons are individually created. Each one is hand cut or pressed and dried slowly. Then the edges are sponged clean before the detail is applied. The buttons are bisque fired, then glazed and fired again. Some buttons feature mother of pearl and gold which require a third firing to complete. Each button is handled 12 to 20 times before they are finished and ready for sale. Each one is a miniature work of art!

This creative line of buttons include teddy bears, geckos, lady bugs, butterflies, dogs and cats, birds, christmas items, hearts, crests, fish and nautical items, flowers, houses, leaves, Noah's Arc animals, stars, as well as round and square buttons of all sizes! Wow, it is quite a selection. Wendy's newest creations are the "Bubble Gum" buttons in wild colours and the "Delft Bubble Gum" buttons which will remind you of the famous pottery.

Worried about washing them? Just turn the garment inside out so the buttons don't bang against the walls of the washer or dryer and they will be fine if washed on a regular cycle. However some buttons with embellishments such as the gecko and candy cane cannot be machine washed and dried.

Sound interesting for your next project? Visit the Pincushion and see the selection they have available. If you need a special design, the catalogue is available and your selections can be special ordered for you.

Honey Bee Stitchin' Patterns

Our featured Patterns at the Pincushion are Honey Bee Stitchin' patterns created by Carolyn Bond and Diana McCorkall from Cobble Hill, BC. More information about these wonderful patterns can be found on their web sitewww.honeybeestitchin.com or come to the store to see our selection.