Each year I set myself small challenges to improve my Dorset Buttony skills. In August I was lucky to have won the Dorset Shield at the Dorset Arts and Crafts Annual exhibition which was a great boost to my morale. The Shield was for six buttons worked in the Dorset Cartwheel design on 19mm hollow brass rings using Turkish Polyester thread. I also included the daisy stitch. But what to do next, and in which area should I now concentrate on practicing my skills?
In the August edition of this eNewsletter, I opened with an article on the buttons thought to be the first in the Dorset Button range, High Tops. I have since developed worksheets and taken workshops for these lovely buttons. But I became fascinated on where and how Abraham Case first thought of developing a cone shaped button? It was whilst searching for an image of an early man’s doublet that I discovered this image from the Metropolitan Museum in New York. This doublet is dated 1580 and the country of origin is European and made from silk, metallic thread and brass. What struck me at once were the buttons. On closer inspection, it appears that the buttons are made from a wood cone shape covered in fabric and then embroidered around. The potential of these exquisite buttons worked in gold thread may well have been seen by Abraham and hence the similarity between the High Tops and these early examples.
In the August edition of the eNewsletter I asked if anyone was interested in developing a High Top button using contemporary threads. The offer is still open.
I wish you every success in 2016 and look forward to hearing about your own Dorset Button Projects.
In the August edition of this eNewsletter, I opened with an article on the buttons thought to be the first in the Dorset Button range, High Tops. I have since developed worksheets and taken workshops for these lovely buttons. But I became fascinated on where and how Abraham Case first thought of developing a cone shaped button? It was whilst searching for an image of an early man’s doublet that I discovered this image from the Metropolitan Museum in New York. This doublet is dated 1580 and the country of origin is European and made from silk, metallic thread and brass. What struck me at once were the buttons. On closer inspection, it appears that the buttons are made from a wood cone shape covered in fabric and then embroidered around. The potential of these exquisite buttons worked in gold thread may well have been seen by Abraham and hence the similarity between the High Tops and these early examples.
In the August edition of the eNewsletter I asked if anyone was interested in developing a High Top button using contemporary threads. The offer is still open.
I wish you every success in 2016 and look forward to hearing about your own Dorset Button Projects.
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