ABOUT ME
I've been known to make functional pottery, mostly cups, bowls and plates. I vary between high-fired stoneware and porcelain(fired mostly in atmospheric kilns) and low-fire colorful earthenware.

I have also developed this fascination with ceramic buttons. My potter friend was leaving for grad school and his going away present was a set of wood-fired buttons with his chop (his stamp from the bottom of his pots) pressed into each button. And a big bowl of chex mix. It started out as kind of a joke gift and what I thought would be a brief break from my wheel. It has since turned into this on-going process of exploring ideas and experimenting with color, layers, pattern, textures and design.

I find inspiration in all things Scandinavian, especially Swedish textiles and folk art designs. I love touching fabrics.... a nice nubby linen or soft fuzzy wool. I am also slightly addicted to Vera Newmann scarves, esp her sheer ones with the early vintage graphics. And Karl Blossfeldt's stunning photography. Love.

It's exciting to stumble upon fabulous texture or pattern and begin to imagine it in clay as a button. Often times, the translation is very cool when it works. The other times I chalk it up to just another learning experience......some things are better left alone. Perhaps some day I might grow weary of these little shiny buttons, though I doubt I ever will. For now I just keep cracking open each kiln loaded with color and squeal like a little girl opening presents on her 4th birthday. ("Ooohhhh. It's just what I always wanted!" she said. True story.)

ABOUT MY BUTTONS
I typically use either white earthenware clay or red earthenware clay with white slip. I form each button by hand using various found objects, patterns, and stamps via my handmade molds. Most of my buttons have a wire shank fired into them for durability, however I have been known to make the occasional 2-hole button here and there. All buttons are formed, slipped, fired, glazed, stained and fired again by hand.

I bisque fire the buttons to cone 03 and glaze fire to cone 05. I use a base clear glaze and add various stains and colorants to them. I also use some commercial glazes. All buttons (unless otherwise stated) are glazed with lead-free glaze. You might find some stoneware and porcelain buttons that are high-fired in either a soda or wood kiln listed on this site as well. Those are the hold-outs from the early days.

CARE OF BUTTONS
Buttons are ceramic and will break if treated harshly.
Buttons are machine washer and dryer safe.
Please turn garment inside out when laundering.

I am also listed under:
www.etsy.com/shop/olfactoryscents