Buttons. I love them! I collected them as a child. My Mother used them in her dressmaking. They are little jewels to be treasured. They come in such a wide range of colour, size, shape, pattern and texture. They can be flat, 3D, matte, shiny, mass produced, bespoke, modern and vintage. I use them to build colour, create depth, add light and contouring to flat surfaces. I express emotion through carefully considered buttons. Explore with me the diversity of a simple and functional object.
CAPTURING THE ESSENCE OF A SUBJECT IN BUTTONS
Shining eyes capture a spirit of children at play in ‘Old Ted’. And a plush velvet nose, soft and fragile, nods to a deep maternal instinct to nurture and protect.
![Capturing The Essence Of A Subject In Buttons | Textile Art Capturing the essence of children at play](https://mrxstitch.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/DSCN1785-600x450.jpg)
An elaborate jewel celebrates a life lived in ‘Reducing Us To Simply A Heartbeat’.
![Capturing The Essence Of A Subject In Buttons | Textile Art Expressing womanhood through an elaborate jewel](https://mrxstitch.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/DSCN3281-600x450.jpg)
ESTABLISHING A TIMELINE WITH VINTAGE BUTTONS
Collecting over a period of time and from a range of sources (car boot sales and charity shops are great for vintage treasures) is essential in establishing a timeline within your collection. The natural ageing process softens leather and suede, a maturity capturing the essence of an older generation.
![Capturing The Essence Of A Subject In Buttons | Textile Art Establishing a timeline using vintage buttons](https://mrxstitch.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/DSCN1781-600x450.jpg)
Natural wear and tear produces a rich narrative using vintage buttons.
![Capturing The Essence Of A Subject In Buttons | Textile Art Old buttons provide a rich narrative](https://mrxstitch.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/DSCN1733-600x450.jpg)
BUILDING A COLOUR PALETTE
The more diverse your collection of buttons the greater your ability to achieve depth within a colour palette. Subtle variations in colour, tone, age and pattern creates a natural density.
![Capturing The Essence Of A Subject In Buttons | Textile Art Diversity within the colour palette](https://mrxstitch.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/DSCN1689-600x450.jpg)
3D Textiles – CREATING TEXTURAL DEPTH
Depth is achieved by overlapping edges and layering flat buttons to produce a textural contouring, creating an upper level to the flat background.
![Capturing The Essence Of A Subject In Buttons | Textile Art Creating textural depth in layering buttons](https://mrxstitch.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/DSCN2037-600x450.jpg)
Variation within scale adds a dramatic quality to a design, creating a rich textural depth.
![Capturing The Essence Of A Subject In Buttons | Textile Art Varying scale creates dramatic impact and textural depth](https://mrxstitch.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/DSCN1455-600x450.jpg)
I adore buttons and will continue to collect and use them in my work. For more examples, visit The Natural Collection and The Womanhood Collection by CHRISTINE CUNNINGHAM