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Button Swap Blog Hop!

The sweet Cindy Wimmer of Sweet Bead Studio hosted a Button Swap Blog Hop and today is the reveal!  If you recall, my partner was Rebekah Payne; she makes gorgeous polymer clay goodies and you can find her blog here and her etsy store here!  She sent me two buttons she made, and a button from her grandmother's stash and a ceramic button.  I knew I had to make something from the buttons she made - after all, they were so darn wonderful!  I chose to use the red one first.  I really love it so much; I walked around with it, letting it tell me what to do. 

It came to be that it needs to be a bracelet because it's on the smaller side and I wanted it to be the focal.  After much futzing around, I came up with this design. I used black onyx rounds and some gorgeous red faceted rounds - I don't know what they are, but they are some kind of gemstone and they are fantastic!

I had to figure out how to handle the button to make it the focal of the piece.  I didn't want to take away at all from the focal, so I inserted a piece of silver wire through the button holes, and created wrapped loops on the back of the piece.  Is this what you would have done?  I'd love some comments about this!  I do have some other ideas for the other buttons, particularly the ceramic one and the rainbow one she made, but with my house being a torn apart mess right now, I'll have to wait a bit to make anything else!


Thank you for visiting my Button Swap Blog post today!  There are lots of people to visit, and it's going to take you a while, so get going!  Here's a list to help you out!  Thanks Cindy Wimmer for hosting this!

 Kim Roberts and Partner unable to participate at this time.
Pam Ferarri and Stefanie Teufel (will share their reveal on a later date)
Stefanie Teufel and Pam Ferarri (will share their reveal on a later date)


Comments

Cindy said…
Sue, your bracelet is gorgeous - you really came up with an amazing design to use your button as a focal. And I agree - sometimes buttons can really be a challenge when we're figuring out how to incorporate them - with those holes or shanks! I think your solution is really clever and I can see that the bracelet will lay just right on the wrist. Thanks for participating, Sue!
Mary Harding said…
Stunning bracelet Sue. Love the way you connected your button to the rest of the the beads. Very clever and effective. A gorgeous button you received and you did it proud.
Shirley said…
What a gorgeous bracelet! You totally did that button proud. I had the same issue with some of my pieces. :)
I love the silver wire idea, it lets the button be the focal. Being a seed beader, the only thing I might have done differently was to string some seedies on the wire, but that's cause I'm a bit obsessed. :)
Have a wonderful Mother's Day!
Cece Cormier said…
Beautiful bracelet design.
Cilla said…
Beautiful! I love how you made the button into a focal with the wire wrapped ends. Great photos and great bracelet!
Anonymous said…
That is a beautiful polymer clay button and perfect for a bracelet which is fabulous!
Pretty Things said…
I LOVE that red button! Where can I get one, do you know?
Niky Sayers said…
I love what you have done simple but beautiful!
Bonnie said…
I love how you used the silver wire to make looped connectors for the button. I might use that idea myself in the future. Thanks.
Unknown said…
I love the way you fixed this button to be used as a focal...will most definatly have to try that!
I love red and black together, great job!
Rebekah said…
I love your bracelet Sue! The simplistic design is so perfect and I just love the spot of red beads in with the black. Totally something I would wear!

Dealing with button holes was a hard one for me too, and I ended up doing your glass button in my design the same way—with two wrapped loops on the back—it worked out wonderfully! :-)

I can't wait to see what you make with the other buttons! Thanks for making this swap such a fun one for me!! :-)
Hopemore Studio said…
Very Zen! I love the button and the beads you chose to match up.
~Angie
Anonymous said…
It came out super cute! You should make some bangles and bracelets to stack around it!

~Diana P.
Beadbug said…
This is a great way to turn your button into a wonderful focal bead!
Your bracelet is beautiful! I love the button and you did a great job with your design!
Thoughtfulhands said…
Love this bracelet the black and red are fantastic. Rebekah makes the most awesome buttons/components. And about the button install as long as it's not flipping over that's how I would have done it also.
Charming Peggy said…
I LOVE IT! Great colors! Great button for a focal!
Sharyl said…
So glad you showed us the back side of your work too, Sue! I've long wanted to work with buttons but can never figure out how to do it! I've even collected a few "just in case" I do!
Angel Whisperer said…
A wonderful bracelet with that gorgeous button You got from Rebekah!
It is simple and colorful with an Asian flair Love it !
I really like the way you let the bead speak to you first and that your stringing let the focal shine, without being overwhelmed. Very elegant! Your attachment method was simple and effective-- good job.
BahamaDawn said…
very pretty bracelet! i love the way you did the two wrapped loops in back of the button! thanks for sharing!
CraftyHope said…
Your bracelet is wonderful. As far as your loops on the back of the button, I think it's a great idea. However, my only concern would be if the metal scrapes on your wrist at all. If it doesn't and the button lays flat, then I wouldn't think there's a problem with it at all. Beautiful work!
What pretty colors! so rich, and deep - love the design!
Kim said…
I think the way you wrapped the button was perfect. I would have gone over the top and it would have taken away from the lovely design. I love the bracelet!
Alice said…
What a beautiful button! I love how you used it as a focal on the bracelet. Very clever idea.
Unknown said…
thanks for showing the back of your piece. I am ALWAYS curious about 'how they did that'!
Karen Mitchell said…
Love that red polymer clay button, the bracelet looks lovely. Thanks for showing us how you wired the button
Julia said…
What a lovely bracelet you made!!! I love how you incorporated the button! It looks perfect in this design, and I love how you used color with the rest of the beads :)

Honestly, with a button in the shape that you used, the way you did it was probably best. I had all round buttons, and I attached mine with two pieces of wire, overlapping on the front and back and creating a loop by wrapping both sides/ends, but with such a beautiful design on the front, you don't really want to cover any of it with wire!!!

I'm so glad I was able to stop by your blog. I know it's taking me a few days to poke through all of the entries, but I'm bound and determined to visit everyone! Thanks for sharing your finished product <3

*~* Julia *~* http://beautifullywhimsical.blogspot.com *~*
Jenny said…
Sue! The silver wire 'bail' is a perfect solution! I love the bracelet. Simple design, dynamic colors! And very wearable in real life. You know what I mean? Sorry it took so long to get here! Now I am seriously thinking about one of those orphan strands... See you later!
aneri_masi said…
I LOVE the asymmetry with color, and I love red and black, and..well...I absolutely love this piece :)
TesoriTrovati said…
I just love how you made that button the focal. What a beautiful palette! Enjoy the day.
Erin

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