Gail Hughes, Richmond, KY

Gail Hughes Art Buttons

other

Gail Hughes grew up in rural NW Washington State. She graduated from the University of Washington with a BA in Economics. Her father was a boat builder and worked with molds and resins. Gail finds that she has adapted her process for button making from his fiberglass boat building techniques.

To make her buttons, Gail uses jewelry grade epoxy resin, which is durable and can be machine washed and dried. The buttons are molded, some from vintage buttons, and some using contemporary designs. Most commercial buttons today are made overseas and must be ordered in very large quantities. Gail's process allows small scale production and allows her to work with small-scale artisan businesses producing clothes and accessories.

Gail adds, "Kentucky has many unique themes and natural resources such as horses and wildflowers that can be used to create Kentucky specific art clothing and accessories."

Gail’s buttons can be found at the Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea, Berea, KY; and at fabric and yarn stores.