Pearly Buttons and Chasing Tools

At the Genoa National Fish Hatchery Event, they also talked about the old button industry, making buttons from the pearly shells found on the shores of the Mississippi River.  That made me think about my own stash of buttons, from the Grandmas of course.   I found a few hand drilled and handcarved beauties.

These buttons were more likely made from shells out of the Wabash River, along the Illinois Indiana border, as they came from the family that lived in that particular region.  The buttons on the left would make beautiful rings, or brooch elements.  Are the ones on the right some sort of embellishment, maybe for a pearly fringe?  They'd be wonderful as earring components.

In any case, I won't get around to using them for a month or so.  I am busy finishing up ten sets of chasing tools.

I thought I'd be taking all ten sets to my workshop at Haystack, but it seems that five or six sets may already be claimed.

I'll be teaching at Haystack June 1st through the 13th.  I'll be away from my shop and inventory during that time, so I won't be able to ship out any purchases.  If you do purchase something, I will ship it out within 2 business days of my return, so mostly likely, June 16th and 17th.  I do hope to get these chasing tools completed, sold and shipped out before I go.
I should have internet access while I'm at Haystack.  You know how much I love my email, blogs, Skype, discussion forums, etc....  Unfortunately, my travel computer isn't big enough to run my favorite online games- boohoo!   That's probably for the best.  I am hoping to get lots of small chasings done for jewelry.