Button Jewellery (Twenty to Make) [Paperback]

I was at quite a loss as to how to be inventive with buttons, but then the lovely people at Search Press sent me a book which offers some wonderfully creative solutions to a surfeit of buttons. Button Jewellery by Marrianne Mercer, in the Twenty to Make series, has some lovely ideas for simple to make button jewellery. I particularly like these bracelets which make use of the sort of metallic buttons which were originally spares from men's blazers and vintage suits, or mixed brightly coloured singles ... And these bag charms, which also make the most of those single metallic buttons. So try out some of the button jewellery ideas in this lovely little book.-littlecottagecomforts.blogspot.com This is the latest in the Twenty-to-Make series and is packed with brilliant ideas for a collection of colourful, cute and quirky button jewellery. Using vintage, recycled or new buttons, with the addition of wires, cords and beads, detailed instructions inspire a range of trendy, wearable items, suitable for all ages and different skill levels. As always, this series offers excellent value for money and many hours of creative fun.-East Kent Embroiderers Guild This little book is full of brilliant ideas for button jewellery - from a chunky toggle bracelet to delicate seashell earrings, there are more ideas than there are buttons in your button box, as there are many variations on a single design. If you hoard buttons this is definitely the book for you, and handmade button jewellery is bang on trend.-Handmade Living It only took one jewelry-making course, and designer Marrianne Mercer was (jump?) hooked. As with others in the 20 To Make series, we like that each project is contained on one page, faced with a full-page photograph of the model or models on the next page - because who wants to be turning pages with pliers in one hand and findings in the other? This is an ideal title for sharing with a pair of smaller hands, and kids love the immediate gratification of finishing a project in one sitting. Adults, too, come to think of it. There is a range of offerings from simple to more complex, and as Marrianne suggests, raiding a relative's button box saves on the cost and brings up memory-discussions. How sweet is that?-Spool A lovely, colourful, beautifully produced booklet showing 20 projects to make with buttons. The most striking feature is the quality of the large, clear photographs of all the pieces. There are examples of necklaces, bracelets, rings and earrings, fashionable handbag charms and cuff links. Many of the designs are shown in different colourways, whilst using the same techniques of stringing, and thus achieving a completely altered look. Materials and tools, as well as diagrams for methods of jewellery making, are clearly described. The ideas are quite basic and for the more experienced beader the projects in this booklet will be quick to make, while a novice may need to practice a bit of wire-wrapping nice loops first. Using buttons instead of beads is really the easy and fun part.-Bead Society of Great Britain

Marrianne (Maz) Mercer studied at Buckinghamshire Chilterns University to gain a degree in Graphic Design and Advertising in 2005. From there she moved back to Kent to start her career as a graphic designer. She now works as a designer for a book publisher and enjoys making handmade beaded jewellery at weekends.