Button Project Update: January 10, 2002

It is a new year, there are a few inches of snow on the ground outside my studio and I am settling into the rhythm of winter life. I have woven two short sample warps to experiment with different linen combinations for the button project. I am now ready to commit to winding and dyeing the full scale warp.

I have also drawn out a model for the design. As soon as I can figure out how to hitch my new digital camera to my computer, I will be able to post current images on this site.

As far as the number of buttons, I have watched the numbers of confirmed fatalities for September 11 shrink. I have decided to stay with the numbers that were posted when I began to design the piece which was about 4,500. As of late December the actual confirmed number of dead was 3,197. In my heart the spirit of the piece is to honor the loss of each life, and many lives were destroyed in many ways.

Many of you have expressed interest in helping me sew the buttons onto the finished woven cloth. So I have designed the piece so that it will be easy for people to help me sew on the buttons. I will post this part of the project as the time gets closer.

Thank you, again, to all of you who have sent me buttons and notes of good will.