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2012 NBS Convention Programs / Lectures
The Oregon State Button Society is proud to serve as host for the 2012 National Button Society Convention, August 4 – 11, 2012. Be sure to see the full schedule of events to plan your attendance. The Showroom (with dealer sales and button displays) is open only on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, 8/9 – 8/11. (Schedule subject to change without notice.)
The following are programs/lectures and workshops for entertainment and education. ALL levels of collectors and crafters are invited to attend. Pre-registration is required. Space is limited. Registration forms will be available online at www.nationalbuttonsociety.org in May 2012.
PROGRAMS / LECTURES:
Monday Night Early Bird Program & Dessert Social.
Featuring Native American storyteller, Ed Edmo. Native American Oral Tradition: Legends of the Northwest.
Ed Edmo is a Shoshone-Bannock poet, playwright, performer, traditional storyteller, tour guide and lecturer on
northwest tribal culture. He conducts guided tours to the “She Who Watches” petroglyphs on the Columbia Gorge,
as well as to the Warm Springs Indian Reservation in Central Oregon's high desert country. Ed conducts workshops,
traditional storytelling performances, dramatic monologues and lectures on such issues as cultural understanding
and awareness, drug and alcohol abuse, and mental health. Ed is a published short story writer, poet and playwright
and serves as a consultant to the Smithsonian Museum of the American Indian.
Description of program: Native American storyteller Ed Edmo, who carries on the Oral Tradition of storytelling
learned from his father Edward M. Edmo, Sr., will share his stories of legends from the Mid-Columbia River.
Tom Skovronsky: Myths and Legends Explored through Livery Buttons
Tom Skovronsky is a highly recognized expert, collector and vendor of livery buttons. He is the author of
Livery Buttons, Identification: Classification and Heraldry Volumes 1 and 2 and has authored & coauthored
articles for the NBS Bulletin. Tom is a member of the Washington State Button Society, Oregon State Button
Society, Western Regional Button Association, and the National Button Society.
Description of program: Tom will provide a brief explanation of the usage of livery buttons, NBS classifications,
and examples of fabulous creatures depicted on livery buttons.
Tom Maringer: Making Bilbo’s Lost Buttons – A Metallurgical Button Making Journey
Tom Maringer has been involved with metalworking semi-professionally since 1975. Most of that time was spent
working in iron and steel, making knives and tools. Tom was introduced to metallurgy through his a dad, a
professional research metallurgist. Tom’s interest in coin making was aroused by the writings of J.R.R. Tolkien.
Using turn-of-the-century equipment Tom’s first coins depicted subjects based on the Tolkien stories. Tom’s interest in button-making began when he decided to make a set of buttons like those lost by Bilbo, the main character in one of Tolkien’s stories. It was not until much later that he learned about button collecting and button collectors. Tom has a B.S. in Geology from Michigan Technological University, a M.A. in Geography from the University of
Arkansas and 35 years of metalworking experience.
Description of program: Tom will present a short story of how he became interested in button-making, and a
more detailed discussion of the development of the tools, materials and techniques he employs. In addition there
will be some accompanying metallurgical information.
Bruce Cole: True Legends Pictured in 18th & 19th Century Buttons
Bruce Cole is also a highly recognized button collector and is a vendor with a unique eye. Bruce became fascinated
with glass buttons when he was fifteen. In addition to his passion for glass buttons, Bruce has spent many years
studying and collecting uniform buttons. Since his childhood years Bruce has been a quintessential collector of
many things. He owned an antique store specializing in glass for years.
Description of program: Bruce will present pictures and stories about a selection of 18th and 19th century buttons
with obscure, fascinating and surprising histories. Most are buttons from his private collection.
Robert Benson: Micronesian Vegetable Ivory Studio Buttons (My Journey from Nut to Button)
Robert Benson is a button-maker who has traveled a unique journey to making vegetable ivory buttons. Bob has
been working in palm seed carving for 25 years. In 2006 Bob began making buttons, using a rare palm seed that
grows in Micronesia. This palm produces the largest seed of all the vegetable ivory palms in the world of which
there are about 12 species. Entering the button collectors’ world, Bob was impressed with the existing knowledge
about vegetable ivory. Bob embellishes his buttons with many materials, such as, turquoise, mother of pearl,
ammonite fossil, tiger-eye, dichroic glass, carved bone moon faces and florals.
Description of program: Bob will tell his story of making vegetable ivory buttons which began in 1982 on
Pohnpei Island in Micronesia. At the time he was installing a running water system for a remote village. When
the project was completed the village chief presented Bob with a sack of palm nuts. Thus began his journey
from nut to button. Bob will provide examples of the material and will show the processes he uses to make
vegetable ivory buttons.
Jill Gorski: Button Bliss Necklace
Jill Gorski is an author of Warman's Buttons Field Guide and Busy with Buttons - Save, Stitch, Create and Share.
She also owns Jillions of Buttons. Jill is a fiber arts fanatic who is passionate about button history, education
and preservation. She teaches workshops on crafting with buttons throughout the U.S. and is active in the quilting
and knitting worlds.
Description of the workshop: Participants will create a button focal point necklace using beads and buttons.
Three design options are available in kits. Pattern includes all three design options, as well as instructions for
making earrings. Tools will be provided for students use.
Tuition and supplies: $25. Workshop size may range from 4 to 10 participants.
Elizabeth Hughes: The Evolution of Sports Costume as Shown in Buttons
Elizabeth Hughes co-authored the Big Book of Buttons and edited the most recently revised edition.
The “Big Book” is considered the bible for button collectors. Elizabeth has been a regular contributor to
The National Button Bulletin. She has been collecting buttons since 1970.
Description of program: Elizabeth will present the evolution of sports costume as illustrated in buttons.
Nancy Allen: Satsuma Buttons & Buckles: A Clay Canvas for a Decorator’s Paintbrush
Nancy Allen has been writing a book on Satsuma buttons and buckles with Akiko Nishida, a native of Japan.
Nancy has written a number of articles and given presentations on these classical ceramic buttons. Nancy’s
ardor for Satsuma buttons began while attending an antiques show in northern Wisconsin. Here she spotted a
small Satsuma button. Having a longtime interest in Japan, where she lived when she was age ten, the button
immediately captivated her and her button collecting focus became clear.
Description of program: Each Satsuma button features hand-painted glaze designs. In most cases these designs
represent classical Japanese places, stories and themes. Over the years, the style of button-face designs or glaze
colors changed, which can help in dating a button. Nancy will show examples of these beautiful buttons and the
stories behind them.
Susan Beal: Button Jewelry
Susan Beal is the author of Button It Up (2009), Bead Simple (2008), World of Geekcraft (2011), Modern Log
Cabin Quilting (2011), and the co-author of Super Crafty (2005). She also teaches crafts at PNCA, Maker Faire,
MAKE Workshop, and Modern Domestic. She’s been featured in Handmade Nation, Sunset, the LA Times,
the Oregonian, CRAFT, and other magazines and publications. Her blog is at westcoastcrafty.com.
Description of workshop: Create your new favorite necklace, bracelet, and earrings using your own contemporary
or vintage sew-through craft buttons in any size or style. Using basic wire-wrapping techniques, you’ll make
beautifully customized jewelry pieces to give as gifts or wear again and again.
Tuition: $20. Supplies participants need to bring:
Sew-through buttons (2 for earrings, 8-20 for necklaces, 12 for charm bracelets)
Chain (7” for bracelet, 18” or longer for each necklace)
Clasp (1 for each bracelet or necklace)
Small jump rings (2 for each bracelet or necklace)
Earring wires (2 for each pair of earrings)
One spool 24-gauge craft wire in the color/metal of your choice
Workshop size may range from 5 to 15 participants.
Diane Gilleland: Kanzashi: The Art of Japanese Flowers
Diane Gilleland is a crafter, writer, and teacher. She produces CraftyPod.com, a blog and podcast which also
features craft-making videos. Her work has been featured in numerous craft books and publications like
Woman's Day, Parade Magazine, CRAFT, and Sew News. Her first book, Kanzashi in Bloom, was published
in 2009 by Watson-Guptill.
Description of the workshop: Kanzashi tsumami is the Japanese art of folding delicate squares of silk into
three-dimensional flower petals. In this workshop Diane presents a simplified form of the traditional Kanzashi
technique. Participants will learn to make three-dimensional fabric flower petals using a simple series of
origami-like folds. The flower petals are then combined to make an endless number of simple yet exquisite
flower designs completed with a fabulous button center. When finished, the Kanzashi flowers make wonderful
brooches or perfect embellishments for many craft projects.
Tuition and supplies: $25. Workshop size may range from 10 to 50 participants.
Gil Biggie: Creatures of the Myths (on Buttons)
Gil Biggie has been immersed in button collecting since the early 1980s. She began collecting buttons while
living on the east coast where she was mentored by some of the most prestigious collectors in the country. She
describes herself as a full-time button collector, part-time student of history, an occasional writer of newspaper
columns and articles, and a retired RN. A move in 2000 brought her to Reno, NV. In 2003 she spearheaded the
establishment of the Western Regional Button Association. Gil has been a button dealer since 1990.
Description of program: Gil will identify the creatures found on buttons and match them to the myths they
represent. By connecting myths, as depicted on buttons, to their cultural roots button collectors and non-collectors
will find the discoveries fascinating.
Gary Brockman: The Heroic Woman
Gary Brockman, a retired science writer and publisher, is a highly recognized and respected button collector and
dealer. He has served on the board of directors for the National Button Society and Wisconsin State Button Society.
He has written articles for The National Button Bulletin and is a contributor to the button section of the
Bead and Button website.
Description of program: The Heroic Woman as depicted on buttons sounds simple and straight forward, but these
buttons are captivating when viewed in their historical and cultural contexts. The program is guaranteed to provide
an evening of entertainment and education. Gary is passionate about buttons, viewing them as an affordable and
personal way to study art, technology, and cultural histories. Gary has collected just about everything, but he says
nothing has affected soul and sanity as much as buttons have.
Jon Sauer: A Turner’s Road to Creating Wooden Buttons
John Sauer is a self-taught wood turner whose passion for woodturning began early in life with a lathe made by his
grandfather. From this humble beginning Jon has amassed an extensive resume in the woodturning and wood-
working world. He is a multi-award winning woodturning artist, has given ornamental woodturning presentations
and seminars internationally, and is represented in galleries worldwide. He creates his wooden buttons using an
extremely rare 1868 Holtzapffel ornamental lathe that he completely rebuilt. To say his exquisite rose turned
wooden buttons are beautiful is an understatement. Jon states, “To take a raw material, change its shape, and create
beauty of form brings purpose to my life.”
Description of program: Jon will present an overview of his work, discuss the machines he uses, and show the
process of creating a button on the rose engine lathe. Jon will display sample cards of the materials he uses,
samples of some of the exotic, precious woods, and samples of his turned wooden buttons, tops, and vessels.
Kay Ferguson: Make Your Own Fused Glass Button
Kay Ferguson, an art teacher, painter, stained glass artist and fused glass artist, is highly recognized in the world
of button collecting. About 12 years ago, Kay presented collectors with her first set of fused glass buttons.
While selling her buttons, Kay was came to appreciate vintage and antique buttons, and began her own button
collection. Later, Kay imported buttons from India made to her specifications. She is an avid button collector and
a dealer at several state button shows and at the annual National Button Show.
Description of workshop: Using small pieces of glass, students will assemble their own designs on a 1” square
which will be fused to form a unique fused glass button. The glass designs will be fired overnight and then
available for pickup the next day. Students may make several buttons or a matching set.
No previous experience working with glass is required.
Tuition and supplies: $25. Workshop size may range from 10 to 40 participants.
Kelly Angeley: Beading with Buttons - Basics
Kelly Angeley works in her home studio in Florence, OR. Kelly holds a Bachelor's Degree in Fine Arts from
Western Washington University, where she began her artistic endeavors as a painter. It was a healthy obsession
with beadwork that caused Kelly to put down her paintbrush. What once started out as a hobby has become a
serious profession. Kelly sells her beadwork in galleries and boutiques along the Oregon coast and has exhibited
her work in international beadwork exhibitions. Kelly is an award winning beader whose work has been featured
in numerous books. She is a frequent contributor to beading magazines. She teaches beading at venues throughout
the United States including the Bead and Button Show and the Beadfest shows.
Description of workshop: Learn basic bead stringing techniques using jewelry wire and crimp tubes. Create a
lovely necklace using both beads and buttons. Once you learn these basics, you will have a new way to showcase
your favorite buttons.
Tuition and supplies: $65. Participants need to bring: Beading mat or surface to work on, a task lamp if you have
one, glasses or magnifiers if needed, wire cutters, and a flat or chain nose pliers without grooves.
Workshop size may range from 4 to 20 participants.
Click here to download the information about the Juniors programs
– coordinated by Mary Ann Melloy:
Download the Junior Programs that will be offered
at the 2012 NBS convention:
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