Wendy Dunnett ~ 21st Century Artist & Buttonmaker

I am originally from Liverpool, Nova Scotia. Shortly after finishing high school in 1976, I headed from the east coast, to the west coast of Canada. It took a few years and a profession as a Journeyman Chef,  before I landed in beautiful Victoria ,on Vancouver Island, British Columbia .

1988, I rented a studio in downtown Victoria next door to a potter. I was just looking for a place to be creative. I didn't know what I was going to do. I bought a bag of clay from the potter, Dave Gobin, and the fever began. I started making little pins for kids that I painted with florescent colors and called them, "Hot Heads!" Soon I progressed to a much larger scale. I now grew a passion for life sized masks. Somewhere in the middle of this frenzy, I rolled out about 1000 or so little Terra Cotta buttons. They were just moved around and around the shop but never really found a home. Several years passed and I saw some ceramic buttons in a major craft supply house. I now remembered my little Terra Cotta buttons that were looking for a home. I pulled them out and developed the idea a bit.

I had inherited a set of 9 antique aspic cutters from my Grandmother, Annie Kelly. I used them for my original buttons which I now call my Heritage Collection. The first time I took my buttons out to a fabric store, I had them in a little basket. The shop owner said, if you can do hearts and stars , I'll buy them. I now have over 1400 different catalogued buttons with new ones being inspired daily.

In 1995 I moved to Pender Island. It's one of the Gulf Islands off the Coast of B.C., a short ferry ride from Victoria. It's a very unique community. I refer to it as step back in time ~ it's the real world here. I have a little shop called, The Buttonladys Gallery....drop by sometime for a visit!

My button inventory includes everything from life sized lady bugs to skulls and flames. The Christmas buttons are popular year round for stockings and advent calendars. I have a wonderful collection of sweater buttons in a wide spectrum of colours called , "Bubble Gum Buttons." They come in five sizes and range in colour from snow white, to fun chartreuse, real orange & turquoise, to luster gold and chocolate.  

I have a philosophy about my buttons. If you can dream it up, I will do my best to make it for you. I do a lot of custom work and that's why I now have so many different buttons. I have a long list of ideas that I'm sure will never run out. If you have an idea for something, just email me a picture with required size and colour and we'll go from there. If you need to colour match, I find it best that you mail me a colour swatch of fiber or fabric.

My love for buttons has grown to a whole new dimension. It's exciting to check the kiln each morning to see rows of little pieces of wearable art.  A plain outfit gets a face lift with the addition of a few special buttons. A single button can give a hat or scarf a touch of pizzazz. Not to mention a rhinestone button as an embellishment at the center of a favourite cushion.

"Wherever you put that special button........
it needed to be there."

 I bought my Harley Davidson with buttons. I often put a big bag of buttons on the back of my bike, and go on a road trip. It's a dream come true. I feel like the "Pied Piper of Buttons!"

 I am now in my 13th year of making buttons. They are shipped all over the world. Please enquire about a retail location near you. In the Victoria area, my buttons are available at, The Button & Needlework Boutique, Beacon Yarn Studio and Calico Cupboard.

A 45 page colour catalogue is available for $20.00 plus shipping and applicable taxes. It comes with a selection of button samples.

Please submit any questions to buttonlady@shaw.ca

Wholesale inquiries welcome.