About Button Alchemy

The story behind Button Alchemy

Curious art made from little things.

Button Alchemy began with a love of buttons — and a rather large collection of them.

Over the years, I’ve collected buttons simply because I couldn’t resist them. Some were saved because of their beautiful colours, some because of their unusual shapes and textures, and some because they were just too lovely to leave behind.

And then there are my mum’s buttons. Some of the buttons I use belonged to my mum, so when I work with them I'm not just making something new — I'm giving little pieces of the past a new life.

Buttons have a wonderful way of carrying memories. A little box of them can hold pieces of the past — buttons from old clothes, forgotten sewing projects and things that might otherwise have been thrown away. Bringing some of my mum’s buttons into my artwork makes Button Alchemy feel even more personal.

But buttons are only the beginning.

I love gathering together beads, gems, cabochons and other little treasures and wondering what they might become.

From little things to curious art

The process usually starts with the materials themselves.

I spread out my buttons and treasures, play with colours, shapes and textures, and start arranging them until an idea begins to emerge.

A button might become a flower petal. A collection of beads might turn into feathers, scales or leaves. A beautiful vintage button might suddenly be exactly what is needed to bring an entire piece to life.

There isn't always a plan at the beginning — sometimes the materials tell me what they want to become.

Each piece is made by hand, one little treasure at a time, creating original artwork that is colourful, tactile and completely unique.

That's the alchemy.

Taking ordinary little things, giving them a new purpose and turning them into something unexpected.

From original artwork to something you can keep

Once an original piece of Button Alchemy artwork is finished, I photograph it carefully.

The original artwork remains a one-of-a-kind piece, but the photograph allows me to take that design beyond the original artwork and create products from it.

So a single piece might become a print, greeting card, homeware item or another little treasure available through the Button Alchemy shop.

I love this part of the process because it means the original artwork doesn't have to exist in just one place.

You can choose to own the original handmade artwork, with all its buttons, beads and tiny details, or enjoy the design in another form.

Little things with a story

There is something special about using materials that already have a history.

A button that once belonged to someone's favourite coat.

A bead that's been sitting in a box waiting for the right idea.

A treasure collected years ago simply because it was beautiful.

I don't think little things have to be perfect to be worth keeping.

Sometimes their quirks, age, colour and imperfections are exactly what make them interesting.

And that's what I hope comes through in Button Alchemy — a sense of curiosity, joy and possibility.

Because you never quite know what a handful of buttons might become.

Made by hand. Inspired by little things.

Welcome to Button Alchemy.

Curious art made from little things.