This week I found myself happily strolling the beaches of Cape May, NJ. gleaning for treasures washed up by the sea. There seemed to be an abundance of solid pieces of broken shells, whose edges were worn nice and smooth.
At first, I collected them as I loved the soft faded color variations found on each one. After I was back home however, I got the idea to cover some in batting and fabric, using them as a base for some small decorative objects, such as these rock buttons...
They feature reverse applique, raw edges and fun embroidered elements!
The shanks on the backsides are macraméd...
I decided that each button would be better off with two shanks, as I really prefer my buttons not to flop around, but if desired only one shank could be used as they are very sturdy.
Here's another example of embroidered fabric buttons made with inner cores of sea shell ...
This pair sort of look like exotic pea pods from another planet! The inner shell core makes the buttons lightweight yet solid, so they won't lose their shape. The various shapes of each shell fragment makes each button unique.
Once again, these buttons feature two shanks each...
Now, if you are a purist, and prefer your buttons round and with one shank, never fear, as we have that, too!
Instead of using a shell fragment as it's core I simply used, (what else) a button!
But back to the shells... as I said they were all collected this week along the beaches of Cape May, NJ., (a place very near and dear to my heart) where there is now a mandatory evacuation in place as it braces, along with much of the East Coast, for Hurricane Irene.
This embroidered talisman was formed over a heart shaped shell fragment, reminding me of what is important, as I want to lift my heads to the heavens and say, "Please, enough". I can only hope and pray for everyone in its path, that Irene continues to change course, moving farther east, back out to sea, and that people and property will be spared.
27 comments:
Your very cool rocks
remind of long ago when our grandmother brought us
candy that looked like little rocks/pebbles.
I guess my big brother and I thought she had rocks in her head to bring us a sack of rocks - especially when she offered us one to eat.
I love your rocks.
hugs
Gerry, that is so funny, as I believe I remember those rocks... they were yellow, and came in a muslin pouch. They were gum, and I believe they were suppose to be gold nuggets! Happy memories!
I love the green buttons!! They would also be very cool as pins. Have family on the east coast as well... hoping and praying for all.
Kat
I love this post -- I always collect things from the beach, and this is a great way to make them functional. (I especially love your planetary peapods!) I hope you weather the storm in safety....
I love them!! I thought the green ones might be hair barrettes, lol. I love to see what you come up with.
oh i love these.
you have been incredibly busy and they are all lovely, really our best wishes for the coming weekend, fingers crossed!
Love those! So fun, and they really do look like pieces of nature.
SO CREATIVE!!!!!
These are amazing Victoria! I so want to make some now, but there simply isn't enough time in the day!
Brilliant! I discovered your blog as I was looking for a pojaji tutorial, of which I thank you.
I love your creative blog and I will be back soon.
These are really wonderful! Thank you for posting!
Spotted these on flickr and had to come for a closer look. I like them a lot.
Just found you while browsing the blogosphere... will be back. Kelly
Very cool !!! Love them.
Your buttons are fantastic!
I hope your beach is spared the worst of the storm. I hope my grandfather's house in NY is far enough inland tobe safe - he passed away this week and he loved that house so much. And I also hope that people will understand that increasingly extreme and erratic weather is a part of climate change and that we have to stop damaging our delicate planet as a matter of urgency.
Nina, Amen.
These are so clever and fun and unique and intriguing and gorgeous! What a great idea.
Best wishes to everyone on the east coast...
those look like they would make great pattern weights too!
Hi Vic! Funnily, we did "rock art" this summer as well :) . I am so glad that you are not so near the coast!
LOVE the pea pods! They would look great on a jacket -- then you really could call it a "pea coat" (groan). Your creativity knows no bounds, Victoria!
Diane
These are fabulous!
I love the creativity here, and I especially love the energy that you radiate in the world. You are fabulous.
These are fabulous Victoria.
Those are so neat!
These are so wonderful! I embroidered a map of NJ just after Irene hit which you can see w/ a google search. These are clever, beautiful and serve a purpose -- what a great idea!
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