Did you ever play with a box of buttons when you were little?
What fun it was to sort them by colour, then again by size, and then maybe by shape.
I've been having that sort of fun with the brooches I made for an order for the delightful Lazyhill Gallery in Abbotsbury, Dorset.
I put them in groups according to coloured centres
Yellows
Turquoise and greens.
The delicious tomato red again
Then by shape..these are a bit of a risk...I didn't send these to Abbotsbury.
Or these.
I thought I might give them names on a theme. First I thought the names of historic places, you know, Bloomsbury; Charleston; Petworth; Knole; Powis..etc.
Then I wondered about Shakespeare's heroines: Desdemona; Ophelia; Miranda; Titania..etc.
Or perhaps after my mother and her sisters..she had a lot ..that would be Vera, Phyllis, Gladys, Jean. Renee, Vera, Marie and Freda...not forgetting Colin!
I'm still thinking about it. It must be like naming a litter of puppies.
Here's a bit of gratuitous felt. I love how it turned out. I made it with a horrible orange base but it glows through beautifully.
Now look carefully at this...
Next weekend its Art and Garden again. I've blogged about it every year I think! So check back to June in every year of my blog and you can see pictures.
Its a lovely weekend event even if the weather isn't good.
I have to speak about it on local radio but I'm not telling anyone when because its 'rabbit in the headlights' time.
I mean one thing but it comes out as another. For example when I was asked to give the vote of thanks to a visiting tutor once , I made what was supposed to be a compliment sound like an insult.
There are other things I could tell you but I'm too embarrassed.
Fingers crossed.
I like you're thinking on naming all these little velvet jewels! Fun! And the doggie too :) --- sweet face. EnJOY the show!
ReplyDeleteI played with my my grandma's button box every year when I went to spend a few days at her house, and luckily I have inherited some of her collection. I still can't resist buttons!
ReplyDeleteI inherited my Nana's button collection as a young woman - and still get such pleasure from them. Hetty looks so pretty! And your brooches are shear eye candy - can't get enough! -sus
ReplyDeleteYou'll do fine! Just remember to breathe......lol.....I just love your brooches! And i know i've told you that many times before just once in a while i feel the need to tell you again....lol.....as for names i kinda like the historical places idea.....Hugs! deb
ReplyDeleteBeautiful brooches as usual Jackie. Good luck with that Radio interview. Hettie looks gorgeous as ever.
ReplyDeleteFabulous brooches - I love them all. I love the idea of naming the collections after historical places. I am sure you will be fine on radio - just pretend you are telling a friend about it all. Bon courage!
ReplyDeleteLove the idea of comparing naming the brooches to naming puppies. I like the historic place names idea too. Good luck on the radio - just try to remember it's not TV!
ReplyDeleteYou sound like me when it comes to speaking in public! The Garden event sounds delightful and I hope the weather pulls it's socks up for you - if only we still lived 'up North'.
ReplyDeleteHetty looks as adorable as ever and the brooches are just gorgeous. I inherited my mother's and grandmother's button boxes - not so many pretty coloured ones but quite a few interesting metallic one.
I think you should stick to the natural outdoorsy names as you often seem to be inspired by nature and your work has a lovely fluid, natural quality that evokes Englishness and a slight medieval, Robin Hood feeling. I think adding other references would muddy the associations. X
ReplyDeleteLovely brooches as always and I like the historic names too.Hettie looks so cute.
ReplyDeleteOh how I love your work. Makes me want to get out the sewing machine. But that is Never a good idea. They really are gorgeous and look amazing end mass. Ax
ReplyDeleteThat should read en masse...
ReplyDeleteWe all love sorting and stroking buttons and I would love to do just the same with those brooches too!! As for names - well your choices are brilliant or what about Shakespearean names?
ReplyDeleteOh this post is HEAVEN. It's a huge treat to see so many of your designs together like this. If ONLY I could get to Art and Garden. Have a wonderful time xx
ReplyDeleteI've always loved rummaging through button jars - still do, in charity shops. And I particularly like the idea of a Colin brooch! I wonder what shape it would be? I do so love all your brooches...
ReplyDeleteYou did make me laugh with your tales of public speaking.
ReplyDeleteLove the idea of naming them, but I can see why you'd have trouble deciding; places would be good, actual names, Shakespearean or otherwise have the advantage that people might feel compelled to buy the one that is named "after" them, but then what if my name is Enid, and you have an Enid but I prefer the one called Freda? It may well be that I'm the only one who'd be in a quandary over that one, actually ;-)
Hope the Art and Garden thing goes well for you. I'm sure it will. Your work is just so gorgeous - I dribble on the keyboard every time I see it.
ReplyDeleteYou think I'm joking don't you? :p x
Hope the weekend goes well!
ReplyDeleteYou've got colour themes as well as shape themes, so the naming could get quite exciting!
I LOVED sorting through button boxes when I was little - my mom & nans button tins were treasure chests to me (I still have a button addiction now lol).
ReplyDeleteYour brooches are absolutely exquisite! I like the idea of using your moms and aunties names for them :)
Deborah x
p.s. Hetty is adorable
I inherited my mother's collection to add to the collection I already had of my own - we kids adored sorting through the box under the dining room table!
ReplyDeleteI am only just starting to catch up on blogs again, I love all your brooches, they are sure to sell well. Cheers
love your colour themed brooch arrangements...just gorgeous... a feast for the eyes!! gill
ReplyDeleteI wear my lovely turquoise and green heart brooch all the time and it always gets raves!!! Love these new pieces!! Felt on Dear girl!!!
ReplyDeleteMore gorgeousness in the form of brooches and felt and Little Hetty :-) Good look with the show.
ReplyDeleteAnne x
Hi Jackie I tried to email you (I want two of your brooches) but get an error message, would you contact me so that I can reply and hopefully bag me some goodies, Wendy
ReplyDeleteHi, Jackie. You're right, the amassed brooches could be compared to a button box, but a really lavish button box! Gorgeous work. I find it interesting that you consider some of the designs "risky"--I find those the most interesting. And like other readers, I inherited a button box, too, and now occasionally add to it by buying old buttons...more stuff!
ReplyDeletebest, nadia