Scrimshaw Buttons

I don't use the blanket pin any longer, I use scribing tools, Exacto knives, penknives, dentist tools ~ but NO power tools!  I have a great time scrimming.  The process I use isn't exactly the type which is written about in books about the sailors on whaling ships, but it works for me.  A lot of family members and friends received gifts of scrimmed jewelry during the first couple of years, as I learned the skill.  I even sold a few pieces!!  All the while, I was getting better at the art.

In 1982, when I began collecting buttons, it was only a small step to creating scrimshaw buttons... Martha Breen (a fellow member of the Crescent Button Club who was a Button Dealer) saw some of my buttons and suggested I make more for her to sell on consignment.  Oh, was I thrilled!!  I started making more buttons... and found other materials to use - bone, plastics, piano keys, Tagua nuts, old pearl buttons, woods, man-made "ivory"...  It really doesn't matter what you use as long as the finished product works.

I do not condone killing elephants or whales for ivory - I use old ivory that I've bought from antique sales, and ivory scraps that bought from a Master Scrimshander from Cape Cod.

Scrimshanding buttons has resulted in my making many new friends across the United States and Canada... It is difficult for me to make something (most of my work is special order) without getting to know the person who is ordering the piece!

There are many artists making scrimshaw buttons, with more emerging each year, who are exceptionally skilled artisans!!  I hope to someday own an example of each person's work.  I do not have more than a couple of my own pieces in my button collection.  I marvel at all Studio Button Artists and their fine work!

Being a "Studio Artist" is wonderful, and the friendships made with other collectors makes everything so much more delightful!

About Tagua Nuts

The Tagua nuts that I use are specially ordered from One World Projects, an organization that is trying to save the Rain Forests in Ecuador - I have been buying my Tagua from this group since I discovered how well the Tagua works for scrimming. 

I urge anyone with an interest in Tagua, or Vegetable Ivory, to take a look at all the information contained on One World's website!  You will be entranced, as I was, at the amount of information they share about these nuts!!  And, the photographs are really nifty!  You may also purchase many of the Tagua products made by the Ecuadorians (my word) such as - Buttons, Beads, Jewelry, Carvings, Ornaments, Etched Nuts and much more. They do not sell whole nuts in bulk any longer, but they do sell blanks for scrimshanding. Sure am glad that I was able to buy the bunch of nuts, while they were still available!