Saturday 25 August 2012

Button It!


Covered Button Jewellery, originally uploaded by Wychbury.
I've been trying to find a way to make jewellery pieces that have a similar feel to my wearable pincushions for a while. Some of my favourite fabrics have tiny elements that are just the most gorgeous designs all on their own. I always thought it would be great to isolate them and translate them into something wearable.

So far this is the kind of thing that I have been coming up with - covered buttons on things! I am not a jeweller really but my first proper job was as a jewellery solderer and assembler in a West Midlands factory. However I have always prefered fabric to metal as a medium, metal sometimes doesn't behave and once it's knackered that's it!
By setting textiles into jewellery, someone else has usually already done the metal bit for me and the most I will be required to do is open and close jump rings and persuade my fabric elements to stick - these things are within my skill set!

Design-wise, I've chosen covered buttons mainly for mathematical reasons in that I can get settings to fit buttons and also so I can use the tiniest scraps of fabric and not waste a thing! I also love the irresistable neatnes that ensues once you have managed to get the design where you want it and stretched the fabric over the shell.

The other materials in the pieces are on brand with MOP buttons, bronze metal and Morris fabrics. The construction is simple and easy to wear. The backs of every piece are metal to keep skin contact with the fabric to a minimum, reducing wear and tear. (no bracelets as they would pick up dirt!)

Finally, display and point of sale? Wychbury jewellery busts I made (from the backs of two photo frames, stamped and Danish oiled) will hopefully show the mix and match potential of the pieces and rectangular favour boxes to match the pincushion products for sales.

Items available will be mainly made of one large and two small coordinating buttons either as earrings and pendant set or as a 'trio' necklace. There will also be separates available and hair clips of course, can't leave those out.

Covered buttons on things - available soon!

Paula x

3 comments:

SmitoniusAndSonata said...

They're all very pretty and the jeweller stands are brilliant . They'll fly off the stall at Christmas !

Wychbury said...

Thanks so much - I do hope so pxxxx

Raggle Taggle Gypsy Girl said...

These are really quite sweet and delicate......