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misc: children, buttons, and a very serious question

updated thu 26 aug 04

 

Lili Krakowski on tue 24 aug 04


I think that part of "our" problem is that we think of "creativity" and =
"art" as related. (Will search for that article, Snail!) They simply =
are not. Creativity is a mental function, a part of thinking or =
whatever. Animals do it. We all have heard stories of dogs who limp on =
purpose to get to lie on the couch; apes who use sticks to poke at bee =
nests to extract honey. It is by being creative than mankind "evolved". =
It just is part of the way the brain works.

In our fixation with "art" we tend to credit children with achievement =
they simply cannot have. ALL children are creative. And some are more =
creative in some directions than in others. C'est tout. =20

BUTTONS: If I had or wanted to make buttons I either would press mold =
them, or make them with slip. I also would try to find out what they =
were going to be attached to. One really should figure out the button =
hole size needed, or whether loops will be used to button the garment. =
ALSO: the reason buttons with shafts are hated by all (!!!!!) (Yes, =
dear your Yacht Club Blazer is lovely with those gold buttons, but =
keeping them sewed on is ()(**&&(()) is that they cut the thread they =
are sewn on with.

So when you start making those buttons see if the holes are big enough =
so that you can sew them on well and solid. Be sure the edges of the =
holes are smooth, not sharp--or the thread will be shorn, the button =
lost, and the customer perty peeved. Get true button thread, or heavy =
silk (depending on final use) TEST how the buttons work before =
investing a lot of time etc.

ACIDITY! Is 4% enough? I have asked this before, but my question is =
becoming more urgent. One used to be able to get special vinegars only =
in specialty shops, some pretty ladida. Today at the local supermarket =
in the next town (population 2500) I saw Balsamic Vinegar at 6%. In =
Utica I have bought Japanese vinegar 7% and French red wine vinegar at =
5% and 7%.

4% acidity for the vinegar test for leaching etc has been used as long =
as I can remember. Is it acid enough for today's use?
How acid is lemon or lime?

Lili

John Hesselberth on wed 25 aug 04


Hi Lili,

The FDA test for lead and cadmium uses 4% glacial acetic acid (24 hour
leach at room temperature). I have always used plain old white vinegar
for the qualitative vinegar test. The generic brand I buy is 5% acid
but, since the test is only qualitative, I doubt you would notice a
difference with 4%.

Regards,

John
On Tuesday, August 24, 2004, at 08:13 PM, Lili Krakowski wrote:

> ACIDITY! Is 4% enough? I have asked this before, but my question is
> becoming more urgent. One used to be able to get special vinegars
> only in specialty shops, some pretty ladida. Today at the local
> supermarket in the next town (population 2500) I saw Balsamic Vinegar
> at 6%. In Utica I have bought Japanese vinegar 7% and French red wine
> vinegar at 5% and 7%.
John Hesselberth
http://www.frogpondpottery.com
http://www.masteringglazes.com