Create your own buttons, shawl pins

When the perfect finishing touch for that new sweater or shawl is nowhere to be found, make your own. Betsy Waterson will give us some tips on making custom buttons and shawl pins from Fimo Clay.

Make your own Polymer Clay buttons, jewelry focal pendant or shawl pin! 
This will  be a fun and easy introduction to creating custom accessories for your handmade garments.  No need to try to "match" colours, sizes, for buttons.  We will be working with Sculpty or Premo clay in a variety of colours and textures.  Learn how to use a clay-dedicated pasta machine to condition clay and blend colours. 
 
After your button or accessory is shaped, you can experiment with rubber stamps, texture plates, and cutters to add a design or embellishment to your finished product.  (A variety of items will be available to experiment with.) You can learn to make a swirl effect using different colours of clay.  

We'll be baking the pieces in toaster ovens, or you can bake at home in your regular oven if time becomes an issue. 
 
There will be some hand-outs with ideas you can try out at home, including:  adding inclusions such as embossing powders, metal foils and spices to your clay to get different effects, Using molds, polishing and treating your finished pieces.
 
What to Bring: 
- metal or plastic ruler, 
- smaller size sharp x-acto or craft knife, (you can use a small paring knife too, but then you can't use it again for preparing food), Dollarama has a good selection.
- an awl if you have one or a small drill bit or knitting needle
 -a favourite rubber stamp or something to create a pattern in the clay
- small charms or beads you may want to embellish with 
 
Instructor: Betsy Waterson:
I feel my creative journey started long before I was born. My maternal ancestors were talented in oil painting, rug hooking, wood carving, and china painting. Florence Carlyle was an ancestor down the line and her impressionistic oil paintings were and still remain a special inspiration.

I loved art classes at school, messing about with papier mache, watercolours, clay, and oil pastels. I was impressed with different textiles and textures; sewing doll clothes, and knitting coats for my dogs.

In 1989 I took a big leap in my creative journey with a decorative painting course. This provided the basics and in 1992 a founded my business, Little Rock Images. "Little Rock" is the name of our family cottage on Little Lake in Port Severn, Ontario. The vistas, colours, nature, and "feeling" at this favourite spot were always a boon to my creativity. I offer my work at local craft shows and Studio Tours.

In 2002, I was pleased when my original designs, "Snow Angel Groupies" were published in "Canadian Studio Tour Christmas Ornaments". Little Rock Images also publishes pattern packets featuring painted Christmas ornament designs. Beadwork jewelry pattern packets are coming soon.

Beadwork courses in spiral rope, netting, and bead embroidery sparked interest in my creative soul and get me hooked. Freeform Peyote is my favorite stitch as to allows the beads to walk pathways to one-of-a-kind pieces.

I like to learn different things and experiment so I enjoy working with mixed media including polymer clay, altered art, soft pastel, and needlefelting. Most recently I have enjoyed taking a course in traditional rug hooking. My Grandmother would be pleased!

Most of my inspiration comes from my love of colour, nature, the animal world and all things eclectic.