Buttons come in all shapes and sizes, from 6ins at the high end to tiny baby buttons.

Making buttons is an interesting hobby, and I’m told it has many fanatical adherents. Perhaps the most interesting from a hobby point of view, are photo buttons. Hobbyists can use their own bespoke pictures — perhaps of family members — to decorate their buttons.

American Button Machines make every type of machine imaginable, and supply the materials to make the buttons. They list possible users of their photo button maker as:

* professional photographers
* sports teams
* churches
* schools
and for use as commemorations of important family events.

Available sizes are:

* 2 1/4″ Photo Button Machine System
* 3″ Photo Button Machine System
* 3 1/2″ Photo Button Machine System.

If you’re looking for a satisfying new craft you might not have thought of before, why not try button making?

If you happen to be in Exeter, England over the next few days, you should make a beeline for the Craft Festival on the Cathedral Green.

Click on pic for a larger image. Photo by John Evans.

Exeter’s Summer Festival, which organizes the Craft event, runs until the 10th of July. There are a number of highlights on the Art front.

Internationally famous artist, Theo Jansen will exhibit his world famous “strandbeests” at Princesshay and the Spacex Art Gallery.

John McDermot and Raya Herzig will also show their exhibition Aftermath at Exeter Castle. And there are several excellent exhibitions at Exeter Phoenix too.

In conjunction with the exhibition of Theo Jansen’s work, Spacex has co-produced a major new piece by the artist.

This work is a twin version of his last work, named Ventosa Siamesis. Each of the twins will be approximately 45 feet long. Under the guidance of the artist, this enormous creature will explore Exmouth beach from 25–27 June, before arriving in Exeter’s city centre, to be part of Exeter Summer Festival.

Theo Jansen will be present to demonstrate how his new creation works throughout the weekend. The work will be sited in Princesshay Square from 11am – 5pm each day. At times when he is not present, others will be operating the sculpture.

The artist will also be giving a talk about his work on Friday 2 July at 7.00pm at Exeter Central Library £6 (£4 concessions). Tickets will be available through Spacex. Booking is essential: telephone 01392 431786.

Here’s an interesting use for recycled leather. Make a pouch for your mobile phone.

I don’t know about you, but the official holder supplied for my BlackBerry is virtually useless as it has to be carried in the pocket. What looks like an embryonic strap for a belt is stitched up and unusable.

So head on over to ecouterre.com for a tutorial on how to use recycled leather to make a case for an iPhone — or any other mobile device.

LINK

NASA has a great little project online to keep the children busy over the holidays. how to build a paper rocket that really takes off using fizzing tablets, such as Alkaseltzer antacids.

You’ll need the following materials:

* Paper, regular 8-1/2- by 11-inch paper, such as computer printer paper or even notebook paper.
* Plastic 35-mm film canister (see hints below)
* Cellophane tape
* Scissors
* Effervescing (fizzing) antacid tablet (the kind used to settle an upset stomach)
* Paper towels
* Water
* Eye protection (like eye glasses, sun glasses, or safety glasses)

See how to, at NASA Space Place.