Button and Brass
Jeanie Whatley
This business started as a "what if" that stayed in my mind for years. With so many visions and daydreams, I finally launched the idea around 2018-2019. I immediately became passionate about the history, beauty, and storytelling aspect of my work. My favorite part of Button and Brass is the hunt for treasures and their significance in history. My goal for every piece is to maintain the culture, charm, and vintage aspect while giving it a restored life. My jewelry pieces are a wearable time capsule - an honorary nod to eras past, nostalgic, and a bold declaration of originality for the present time.
About me
I'm Jeanie Whatley - a native Texan, mom to one amazing son, and a Pitbull named Hazel. I'm a nostalgia nerd, treasure hunter, abstract painter, mental illness scratch off ticket lottery winner and mental health advocate. I adore Alan Watts and George Carlin. I played competitive Skee-Ball for over 10 years (yes, with teams, playoffs, championships, and everything), had great times training for and completing multiple high intensity weighted endurance events, and have an innate love and appreciation for films, actors, and musicians. Hip hop for life. Wu-Tang is for the kids.
With a creative mind and a passion for vintage, I design and construct unique jewelry you can't find anywhere else. Each piece is a blend of eras, history, and personality. My most immense devotion is preserving the old to create something wonderfully new. Now, I would love to share that passion with you.
FEATURED ARTIST
I am grateful and honored to have been selected as a featured artist in some wonderful publications over the years, as well as, a solo showcase at an art gallery in Wimberley Texas.
https://austincreativereuse.org/blog/artist-spotlight-jeanie-whatley
https://canvasrebel.com/meet-jeanie-whatley/
*Disclaimers
All vintage pieces procured are to be as real and authentic to the best of my knowledge, based on the information provided to me by sellers and my own personal research. All provided information on parts and pieces are as accurate to the best of my knowledge. Some pieces were acquired with little to no available background information. I build, not appraise.
One thing is for certain, I do my absolute best to bring you ONLY the authentic best. The authenticity is what makes the piece so special. I love the idea of having the ability to enjoy and experience a legitimate, tactile, piece of history.
Pricing is based off of:
Restoration done by hand
Severity of restoration
Item procurement processes
Historical significances
Cultural significances
Time spent on building
Materials used
Learn More About the Process
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Locally and globally looking through thrift stores, garage sales, antique shops, online sites, but also connecting and networking with different people that I meet, as well as, friends and family. I look for anything different and unique that is fun to build as an entirely new piece, use only parts of pieces, or if it’s just an amazing vintage piece as it is and needs some TLC so shine again.
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My main goal is to play mix-and-match with my inventory, to visualize different design possibilities, styles and metals.
I pull inspiration from a myriad of different areas. Such as, living with family members of the Depression Era, historical photographs, family portraits, vintage magazines, catalogs, and periodicals. Past film and TV shows, as well as, credible current film and TV shows for the colors we didn’t have prior to technicolor.
I learn something new with every piece I build. Whether it works out or not. It nurtures the growth of my creativity, skill and craftsmanship. I love learning. I love improving.
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Once my creation is finished and I am satisfied, I get to share my joy with you.
Now that you are here, scroll around and find something that bring you as much joy as it does me.
Want to see these pieces in person? Click here to see where I am off to next.