Nature Buttons began in June of 2008 almost by accident. Regina Hebert (founder of Nature Buttons) was doing a wool spinning demonstration at an annual quilting and textile show in Ticonderoga, New York, when she was approached by Patti Estabrook (owner of Patti's Quilting and Fabrics in Glens Falls, NY) with questions about her hand spun and hand knitted sweater. “I thought she was interested in my hand spun yarn, but it was the buttons that caught her eye!”

Patti, handling the button on the shoulder of the tank-style sweater, asked Regina where she bought the buttons. After Regina explained that she made them herself with recycled clay, Patti asked if she would be interested in making some buttons for some of her specific quilting appliqués. She suggested that the primitive style buttons were what she and many of her customers had been looking for, but unable to find.

Regina spoke with Patti and met with her, and together they came up with some button ideas that would work in Patti's quilt shop.

At the request of the Heritage Museum in Ticonderoga, Regina is converting some of the buttons into pins, necklaces and ornaments. Friends of hers at the Ticonderoga Arts Gallery have suggested bracelets and other ideas for her clay creations!

Regina mentioned her ideas and new venture to several friends and colleagues and within a week two other store owners have come on board and are interested in carrying Nature Buttons in their stores!

Nature Buttons are made from recycled clay, so the first step is to gather the old, tired and dried out clay, sort it then soak it in a bleach bath (to kill any mold growing inside the clay...eeeww!) for about 2 weeks. The clay buckets are left open to air dry somewhat and to prevent the bleach fumes from getting trapped in the bucket and house.

The clay is stirred and mushed around until it becomes a smooth, even consistency. Then is it sorted into manageable “bricks” for storage until it is used. The clay will continue to dry very very slowly once in the plastic bag it is stored in.

Once the clay is ready, it can be rolled out into various thicknesses, then home-made cutters can be used to produce the various shapes. Some cutters have been made out of a pieces of copper pipe that was found in the basement – it was mashed on one side, making it an interesting oval shape.

Once the buttons are cut, they set on the shelf overnight to dry. The clay at this point is called “green ware” and is very fragile. Once air dried, any imperfections can be sanded off with a sanding brick.

Next it goes into the kiln to be “fired” at just below 2000 degrees!

When the buttons come out they are bright white, hard and called “bisque”. They are now ready to be glazed with one of the many colors Regina has in her collection!

When they come out of the kiln the second time they are ceramic coated buttons ready to be packaged and sent off to the stores and creative crafters of all kinds!

Nature Buttons divided into two brands: Pennsylvania Dutch Nature Buttons - available in more bright colors, like the Pennsylvania Dutch Hex signs and Adirondack Nature Buttons - more earth tones and colors found in nature.

Nature Buttons also offers individual custom buttons at www.naturebuttons.etsy.com and on ebay. If you have something special in mind for a favorite sweater, send us an email at info@naturebuttons.com.