Thursday, October 2, 2008

Handmade Glass Buttons

Yesterday I had fun with a friend of mine making making some borosilicate glass buttons. We have another friend from the Market that wants to adorn his tie-dye dresses with handmade buttons (the dresses he tie-dyes come with simple manufactured buttons, he wants to replace these). Isn't that a great idea. I think his customers will like that extra touch. These are just some first samples to see how easy/hard they might be to make.

Basically I took a gather of borosicate glass color and smashed it, took if off the colored rod and attached it to a puntil, smashed again and fire polished... then I used a combination of two tools to make the holes - the "Handy Andy" and a tungsten pick. Fun stuff. They could be any colors at all, any sizes, and they weren't too hard to make.

I was doing some research on Etsy, there aren't a lot of handmade glass buttons that I could find on there... a couple of soft-glass bead artists with really exquisite soft glass buttons made on button mandrels. I own one of those, but I've never used it... I like popping the holes with the tungsten. Anyhow, there is not a lot of competition, and I am wondering if it would make for a popular Etsy product?

Do you think there are clothing makers or purse makers out there who would like to buy handmade buttons? I was thinking about pricing small ones like this at $2/ea or a set of 7 for $10? What do you think?

8 comments:

Krista said...

I totally love these! There must be a market for them on Etsy.

Leah said...

thanx Krista

Anonymous said...

These are wonderful! I think your price is great, too...but you only say "small," you don't say how small....

Will this be the next class you teach? (hint.. hint..)

Anonymous said...

Now that I know you'll be making more I can finally use the beautiful blue ones you made me... I've been looking at them and thinking "what project is worthy?"

Leah said...

hehe - when I look at these buttons I think the same thing :)

anytime you need more button Erin I will happily make you more!!!

and Jan - thanx! I will have to make a class... and for details, these particular buttons are approx. the size of a nickel.

Danielle said...

I think knitters would love them!

Lisa said...

These are gorgeous! I'd love to buy some. I don't sew, so they'd probably just sit in a jar for inspiration, but that's okay!

Leah said...

Oh I think I will have to take a picture of them in jar :)