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 1250 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 easily found on local brochures or through the Pender Island Chamber of Commerce.

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 four 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, what can I say. I feel like the "Pied Piper of Buttons!"

 I am now in my 12th year of making buttons. They have been 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, Patricia's Yarn Cabin, Calico Cupboard, Beehive Wools,& Boutique de Laine.

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.