eNewsletter April 2014

In praise of the humble Singleton - a Dorset Challenge for 2014

At the start of this Project abroad. The deadline for Dorset Archival I set out to bring the your buttons is Friday information on Dorset Dorset Singleton Button to 25th July after which they Buttons and is even the notice of Dorset will be mounted and looking at the possibility buttoners. I didn’t framed ready to display at of an audio project to expect to generate capture such interest with memories of enquiries from all Dorset over the world. Buttoners. I know from From the emails I talking to some have received, of you that you and in discussions were taught by with buttoners, These two Singletion Buttons were sent to me from Australia. On grandmothers this challenge has the left is Barbara Schey’s contribution and the lovely silk blue who learnt the achieved what I skill from set out to do and brought the Dorset Record Office original buttoners. An the Singleton Button to and subsequently audio project could be a the notice of buttoners. In auctioned off to raise way to capture your a note I received from one funds for much needed memories about this contributor, a very skilled archival material. heritage craft and save buttoner, she has decided them for future to offer a range of Like many traditional generations to learn and Singleton buttons for sale crafts little or nothing was enjoy. at her regular stalls. I put in writing. Dorset I look forward to receiving have also received Archivist, Sam Johnston, your contributions by the 25th contributions from is very keen to expand the July. Fiona Vann - An Embroidery Project

Earlier in the month I gave a Inside this issue: talk about Dorset Buttons to the members of the Stow on Dorset Arts & Crafts 2 the Wold Countryside Branch Embroiderer’s Guild. A decorated Birdseye 2 I was greeted by their Book by Jen Best 2 Chairman, Fiona Vann, who I discover was a Dorset The fate of a Buttoner 3 Buttoner and who has Henry’s Buttons designed this complicated Durability of a Dorset Button 3 mix of line art and buttons, How to make a Singleton 3 01747 829010 which she had worked [email protected] herself, as a memory. Thank you Fiona for sharing www.henrysbuttons.co.uk this with me. 2014 Events 4 Page 2

The Dorset Arts & Crafts Annual Exhibition celebrates 100 years

Help make this centenary includes Dorset Buttons. discover how these buttons were anniversary a memerable one This 100th Anniversary ties in made and sought to revive the by submitting your Dorset industry at . She set up a small Buttons. business. In 1908, buttons In 1906, a small exhibition were in full production. was held at Hinton St Mary, Unfortunately, this revival Dorset, and its success led was brought to an end by to the formation of the the outbreak of the First Dorset Arts & Crafts World War. Association in 1907. The Dorset Arts & Crafts Exhibitions have been held Exhibition is open to annually, apart from the anyone, not just to those Second World War years. living in Dorset. All you This year the Annual have to do is to become a Exhibition (Friday August Button made by women from the mission at Lytchett Minster. Member or Associate Museum of English Rural Life, University of 1st. to Tuesday August 5th. Reading. Member. Once you have 2014) will be the 100th. joined the Association, you nicely with the early revival of Many counties had arts and can submit an entry to the Dorset Buttons. In the early crafts associations but Dorset's Exhibition. is the survivor and is still 1900s, Florence, the Dowager Full details on how to join the flourishing and attracting Lady Lees, was responsible for Association and submit your thousands of visitors. One of the saving the art of making Dorset entry can be found at sections of this exhibition is for Buttons. She visited farms and www.dorsetartsandcrafts.org. Traditional Dorset Crafts and cottages all over Dorset to A decorated Birdseye button no-one seems to have seen before

Last year I received a Howitt to help me with this challenge of recreating one. commission asking for a design leaving me free to Using her embroidery skills number of buttons taken from make two sizes of the and the linen thread I had the collection I have on my Blandford Crosswheels with sourced, she developed a very website of original buttons. Judy Adam’s help, and High close copy of the original. I

Original Birdseye button One of the buttons I was Tops. hope Marion will add this decorated on the side. asked for was the Birdseye Marion had never seen this button to her Dorset Button with decorated sides. As time type of Birdeye button before Fact File, the definitive book was short I asked Marion and immediately rose to the on how to make Dorset Buttons. The Dorset Button Accessories Book by Jen Best

My Gran taught me to make instructions and colour photos. Dorset Buttons when I was a There are fourteen button child. I love making buttons designs to make, and twenty and so this book came into individual projects.

being. I’ve designed a variety You can even create your own of projects using Dorset designs with your new found Buttons, ranging from jewellery skills! to belts! Each project has a You can order my book from list of materials, written my website Beaker Buttons VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1 Page 3

The fate of a Dorset Buttoner. Excerpt from the Morning Chronicle 1849

I found this article in the Two of them Morning Chronicle for 28th slept in a bed November 1849. The article which rested is about Dorset villages. In on a kind of this excerpt the writer reports elevated on this visit to a family in stage, near the angle of the Stourpane. It is particularly roof, which poignant as it describes the was gained by living conditions of a Dorset a ladder. The buttoner. eldest Inside of a Dorset Cottage. Illustration from the Illustrated

daughter, a London News 1846. Reproduces by kind permission of the “I visited several other houses, tidy and Dorset History Centre. Document reference D.1/NL/14 but they were all of the same interesting- class, and all equally bad. looking girl, was seated at the her earnings to 8½d. a week. One occupied by a family of window making buttons. These She had been at work all that the name of Upwood, was buttons are made with cotton day since nine o’clock, from particularly so. Its clay floor thread sewn upon a small which hour till four o’clock was full of holes, which steel ring. She was getting when she gave up work formed receptacles for 10d. a gross, but it would take because it got dark, she had moisture during wet weather. her a week to earn it. She had earned about a penny! No The family numbered seven, to find the cotton too out of wonder she was anxious to go and they all slept in the roof. the 10d., which would reduce out to service.”

A report from Peter Jameson on the durability of a Dorset Button

I have two out of four foot diameter charcoal kiln using sail makers thread and

buttons on my chainsaw onto a farm trailer, during the will keep up the research. trouser braces which are worst part of the lift, one of Peter Jameson is a charcoal Dorset Buttons made by the Dorset Buttons was torn burner in The New Forest. He myself. These replaced off. Picking the button out of has also learnt to make Dorset the plastic buttons the mud, the button had not Buttons and is a regular which snapped in cold failed, it was the thread used member of Button & Banter weather. Last Sunday whilst to stitch on to the garment, I group. two of us were handballing a 8 have reattached the button

How to make a Singleton Button

Singleton buttons were the only collection, I discovered a dress Dorset Buttons made out of made of Swiss muslin fastened Original Singleton Button from my fabric to cover a ring. I have with Singleton buttons. What collection. The underside of the button seen these charming made these button particularly on the right. understated buttons on original interesting was the embroidery items of clothing in museum on the button which reflected You can download instructions collections. They seem to have the pattern on the fabric, thus on how to make these buttons been a very popular button in making the button a very from my website Henry’s the early 1800s. Whilst going discrete button and almost Button and click on Singleton through a museum’s invisible. Button Challenge instructions. Events - for 2014

Saturday 21st June 2014 Sunday 20th July 214 Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th St Peters Vintage and Larmer Tree Festival September 2014 Collectable's Fair Adult Workshop Sturminister Newton Cheese Venue: St Peter's Church Hall, Try your hand at Festival Top of Gold Hill, making these Craft Marquee , Dorset. traditional Dorset Buttons and Designer Time: 10.00am - thread buttons Women Clothing. 4.00pm which originated Anna McDowell of Henry’s Entry: Donation to the in Shaftesbury, Buttons has joined with fashion church hall funds Dorset. We will designer Vivienne Dines to offer look at how to a selection of women’s clothing Sunday 22nd June make a Dorset and accessories. Vivien has 2014 Cartwheel move to the area from London Horningsham Village Button and if and now has her own label Fayre, Horningsham, time permits you 'Viva'. Her collection includes a Lonleat, Wiltshire can turn your range of tops featuring Dorset A traditional village button into a Buttons. fair with bunting, Festival brooch Venue: Sturminister Newton, cream teas, a dog show, an using oddments of ribbon, lace, Dorset amazing plant sale, the best thread and fabric. Time:10.00am - 5.00pm locally baked cakes for miles Venue: Larmer Tree, Wiltshire Entry:£5.00 per adult Under 15's and a fun, family friendly Time, entry, details: Go to the free Includes programme & atmosphere. Venue: Larmer Tree Festival website parking Time:12 noon - 6.00pm. Grand Contact: Details from opening by Viscount Weymouth Friday 25th July 2014 [email protected] Entry: Details on Facebook In praise of the humble Singleton Or visit Sturminster Newton page - a button challenge and Cheese Festival fundraising event for 2014 Wednesday 16th July 2014 Closing date for entries. Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th Iwerne Minster Women's Institute Thursday 18th September 2014 September 2014 Talk on the history of the Dorset “Dorset Buttons: The rise and Holnest Country Fayre Button Industry by Anna fall of a local craft” Talk by Anna Family event with farm tours, McDowell McDowell displays of farm machinery, Contributions to the Challenge classic cars, local crafts and Saturday 19th July 2014 will be mounted and displayed craft workshops and lots more! St Peters Vintage and at this fundraising event at the Venue: Rylands Farm in the Collectable's Fair Dorset History Centre, village of Holnest, 4 miles south Venue: St Peter's Church Hall, Dorchester. The mounted of Sherborne. Top of Gold Hill, Shaftesbury, contributions will be ‘auctioned Time: 10.00am - 5.00pm Dorset. off’ to help raise funds. Entry: Details from Future Roots Time: 10.00am - 4.00pm Venue: Dorset History Centre, Entry: Donation to the church Bridport Road, Dorchester hall funds Dorset DT1 1RP Time and entry: TBC

News, views and projects

I’m always interested to hear your news, views and projects with Dorset Buttons and from the emails I have received I know that some of you are involved in exciting projects, If you would be willing to share your Dorset Button news with other like-minded people, I would welcome contributions to this eNewletter. Please email your information preferable with an image to Anna McDowell at [email protected].