Anthology

feeling feisty

Well, I've been stewing about this for a little while.  Obviously the state and national politics aren't helping with their various ways of suggesting that women are lesser, weaker, dumber... you name it...   I'm utterly fed up with that.

This past week I have also been reminded of the middle of February last year.  When the budget rumblings were just beginning and customers were coming in asking for our buttons.  We didn't even HAVE buttons yet, we were still reeling.  And the requests have started up again.  Sachi just finished a series of Obama buttons; we had been talking about how we were feeling a little at a loss for where to go, but also trying to figure out what exactly to say.  Then on Tuesday, a few customers came in and said, "where are your contraception buttons?"  And on Wednesday, a customer called and said that she heard we might have some buttons, or could make some for her.  She said she hasn't been particularly political, but all these attacks on women's rights were forcing her to get involved.  "We're mad as heck, don't ya know."  Classic.  Seriously. 

So I told Sachi on Wednesday that we really needed to get going on the next set of buttons.  We watched the girl at her ballet class that night and brainstormed possibilities.  I went a little too far in the dictionary of urban slang.. but did emerge with "my lady business is none of yours."  Meanwhile, as expected, Sachi just needed a little push but threw herself into her panty protest pin series, debuting today.

I've also had a few incidents - a very few, and not enough to constitute a pattern by any means, but nonetheless ones that makes me annoyed with a certain category of person - one who wields power and perpetuates a system whereby they have more power than other people; specifically, they, as men, have more power than other people, as women, and then goes out and yells at the people who have less power.

In all, over the last year, I have been pleasantly surprised.  I have managed to maintain mostly civil retail relationships despite having  opponents to my clearly stated point of view.  I don't expect everyone to agree with me.  And, fine, if you feel that you cannot support our store because we disagree with our Governor, that's your prerogative.  That said, I am much more likely to respond to paying customers.  Although I myself have been tempted with the boycott approach, on a very basic level, I feel like there's no way we are ever going to find any middle ground if we can't even buy, say, a donut from each other (a customer recently told me about a "horrible Republican" baker.. but, yeah, I won't give up the donuts).  Now that I have learned that I can still get along with some Republicans, well, hey, maybe we can start to have a conversation about what it is we do have in common and what it is we want to make our world better for our children.

Nonetheless, between myself, my sister and our part-timer, we've had a handful of unpleasant experiences.  Maybe we just caught these men on a bad day, maybe as women, we just ignore the whisperings of other women, maybe it's just a matter of that particular communication style butting heads' with our own particular communication style.  Still, it is irksome.  And more than that when combined with the behavior of political men on state and national levels.

What is it exactly about these few incidents?  Well, for starters, they were all men.  They stopped in (or stood in the doorway); in all of my situations, there was very little room for discussion, because they basically said what they wanted to say and went on their way.  In the case of our part-timer there was some feeling... not threat exacly, but unease, given that the that it was a group of high school wrestlers (a situation with an underlying potential of physical harm, whether conscious or not).  And yes, this is our store, we are the owners, and we made the decision to be vocal about our opinion.  However, there is some imbalance of power in the retail relationship.  After all, we are trained in customer service that the customer is always right, even when they are wrong.  There is an underlying element that you must maintain civility and that the customer holds the fate of your store or job in their hands.  This gives the customer an advantage.  Additionally, I'm never really sure - does that customer realize that I am the owner of the store, or am I just a hapless shopgirl?  If you think I am not the owner who set policy, then that's even more objectionable that you take your ire out on me.  My objection to these incidents is they way they are like a microcosm of the way certain men (notably politicians) seem to be treating women right now.  No effort for interaction or understanding, just a wielding of power over matters that, honestly, are none of their business.  Sure, these customers are free to disagree with me, but they are not free to expect that I will change or impose their views over mine.  I have just as much right to have an opinion - but since they didn't stop for a conversation, they aren't even letting me have mine.  Well, they might say that I imposed mine on them first, but I don't require them to read or listen to mine.  YET, because of the imbalance of power in the retail relationship, I am required to "smile and nod" in the face of their opinion.

(and another thing, what is the party that regularly complains about the
"nanny state" and calls for small government doing in anyone's personal life?  Unfortunately Citizens United only went one way to declare that corporations are people.  Because if people were declared corporations, then maybe the Republicans would be more amendable to privatizing our private lives?).

I have worked really REALLY hard to get where I am today.  I think every person should have a say in who they want to be and where they want to go.  I think you should behave in this world the way you want other people to behave towards you, and also not assume that your way is the only/best way.  I am personally not suited to stay at home in the kitchen with the children, but if someone else wants to do that, that's fine.  The point of all the work of all the people that have come before us is that WE get to have a say in our destiny.  Just like anyone else.  We can make mindful decisions about what our life is going to look like, and not be subject to the whims of other people.  We deserve that as much as anyone else.  We are smart enough, we are capable enough, and if anyone says otherwise, they are losing out because we could have rocked their world.

protest buttons thanks

In celebration of the 18,000th protest button sold and in honor of the kick-off of Recall Walker petition collecting season, Anthology will be having a button sale on Saturday, November 19th.  Protest buttons made in-house will be 50% off - regularly $1 and $1.50, now 50 cents and 75 cents. While supplies last, though we will do what we can to keep up.  Stock up and bring some home for the holidays.  We still have "with Liberty and Justice for all," which I think means that there's a button for everyone.

 

This is the time of year when the slide from Thanksgiving to New Year's Day goes fast, when I'm thinking about giving thanks and wrapping up a year, about what has changed from last year (what new items do I have to offer this Christmas?  what have I accomplished in a year?), about what to write in my annual Christmas letter, about what I hope for in the coming year.

And it is not that there aren't other things in my life or the life of the store, but a big part of all those thoughts is... buttons.  Buttons, buttons.  A year ago, who would have guessed that would be so?  A year ago, I never would have predicted all that has happened and the role that buttons would play. 

Five years ago, to be precise, the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, was when the plans for Anthology first solidified.  That was my light-bulb moment at 6 a.m.  It is funny to think about our path and the role button machines - which I first had to twist Sachi's arm over (She always wanted a button machine and I told her this would be a great opportunity since it would be a business expense and we could use it to make buttons for the store.)  We had so much fun making our own buttons that we ended up inviting customers to make their own buttons.  The button machine wasn't even in our business plan. 

Even the process of making protest pins started very serendipitously.  We felt very strongly that Governor Walker's actions were wrong and were going to be hurtful to our community at large, as well as to our customers, and so we stood with the protesters from the beginning.  Sachi made her signs, we teared up as the firefighters passed by, I installed our first protest window.  But, mostly, the first couple days, we stood.  We witnessed.  We felt kind of blindsided and helpless; and it felt a little lonely to be standing in the store watching everyone walk up to the Capitol.  Of course, it wasn't about selling, this was not the time.  But then our customers (who regularly walk by and point us out as "the button store") started coming in and asking where our buttons were.  A friend commented that we must be selling buttons like crazy since protesters love their buttons.  Of course as a business, we are always trying to think of ways to build our business.  But I believe that you can't really sell a product unless you really believe in it - you have to pick the things that speak to you so that your heart is in your store.  And in the end, while making buttons has been monetarily rewarding, I think it has saved my sanity this year in many more significant ways.  I can feel alone, helpless, powerless; and then I can check our sales history and be comforted by the number of people who have bought buttons and who agree with me (and extrapolate how many recall signatures that translates into).  I am not alone.  I can feel minimized, marginalized ('oh, you're just a hippie Madisonian') and have my day immediately brightened by a phone order for buttons to be shipped somewhere in northern or eastern or western Wisconsin.  I am not alone.  I can feel voiceless and unheard, and then I can come into the shop and vent my frustration by coming up with new slogans, not to mention that the physical act of making buttons can use up a little aggression.  I can feel worried or threatened about possible hostility, and then I can appreciate that civility prevails.  Most of all, providing the space of our button table has created little pockets of community, moments when random strangers come together and share a chuckle over buttons - these moments of laughter are so valuable to me, and to play a role in hosting them is something that I am truly proud of.

Yesterday we sold our 18,000th button since February of this year.  That is more buttons than we've sold in the previous years since we opened.  That is pretty close to the increase in sales between last year and this year.   A percentage of that funds our local non-profit donations, which have increased substantially this year compared to last year.  That is thanks to the people who have come into our store (or called/emailed) to purchase our protest pins.  THANK YOU!

The Recall Walker catalog, of sorts

In the past two days, I've received two out of town inquiries about "Recall Walker" prints.  I love to see the support for the Wisconsin fight rolling in from around the country, but there's little that gives me a greater thrill than sending items out to elsewhere in the state.  I think it is easy to fall into the trap that one is alone - too small to make a difference.  "Oh, you're just a privledged liberal hippie in Madison," they say, "no one else feels this way," "you're exaggerating..."  But each little package that goes out to the state reminds me that, no, I'm not alone.

In any event, I am determined to persist.  I think that Governor Walker is bad for the state of Wisconsin.  I seriously doubt that he is motivated by anything except greed for power and money and I frankly don't think he cares about the well being of most of this state's residents, an approach which I find highly objectionable in the office of the Governor of the state.  I have seen nothing to indicate that he is interested in job creation except as it rewards the people who donated a lot of money to his campaign.  So, yes, we'll be collecting recall petition signatures at the shop.  And, yes, we will continue to sell our buttons, which have now been joined by other items.

Here, in brief, is a catalog of the items we have in the store.  We are happy to ship them out (prices quoted do not include shipping/handling), just contact us via email at Anthology@tds.net

 

1. "Keep Calm &...."  My original creation - well, I came up with the words and the design and sent them out to be offset print.  11 x 17, black text on white cardstock. $5

2.  "Keep Calm and Recall Walker" A commissioned print available in a variety of colors.  8 x 10.  $16.

3. "Don't let yer Badgers grow up to be Weasels" Screenprint in various colors. 12 x 18.  $10 - $12.

 

4.  Buttons, buttons, more buttons.  We've added some more specific recall text to the collection, as well as some new vintage ladies, though OMG GOP WTF remains one of the most popular.  $1 - $4.50.  Also, protest button bracelets - a collection of 6 of our mini 1" buttons in bracelet form.  $14.

5. Protest sign ornaments.  Personally, I like to find an ornament each year that commemorates the year.  I just have to decide on the message.  $12.

6. Screenprints from Milwaukee artists.  Not exactly recall, but the "Union Made" print is a great piece of art, and we love "WI Rise Up."  $16.

 

7. Postcards.  85 cents each.  Some of our own original photographs as well as work by other artists.

Starting November 15th, recall signatures can be collected.  Sachi and I went to a training session and we will have forms at the shop if you want to add your name to the petition.  The Demcoratic Party of Wisconsin is working with a lot of different grassroots organizations, but centralized information might best be found here.  Wisconsin residents who are eligible voters are eligible to sign the form, and if you want, forms are available online to download, print, sign, and mail in.  The forms must be supervised (and not just left out on the counter) so you'll have to ask one of us if you would like to sign the form.  And don't worry, if you don't want to recall the Governor (or are otherwise tired of being asked to sign the petition) and are somehow still reading this blog post, we won't pressure you to sign.  We just felt it important to continue work in the direction we want Wisconsin to go forward.

wisconsin proud

 

Yes, we love our state, and our city too...  Going away on vacation is always nice, but coming home is nice too.  Though I didn't mean to start bossing around my sister right away, it must just come naturally to me as a big sister, and she responded by making more photo snippets per my request, so we have a new batch, including some of the recent pictures I took at the Farmer's Market (so, yes, whoever approached me asking if I was taking pictures for snippets, you were right).

 

I know I'm probably repeating myself but I am so pleased that we've been able to build up our collection of local imagery.  I missed out with a few artists, one of whom is no longer selling his wares, but some new ones have come to my attention in the meantime.

We are particularly excited that Tara in Milwaukee responded to our request with this great batch of Madison notecards.

Our Madison neighborhood map has now been joined by a Wisconsin counties map, Madison sweetheart photographs, new t-shirts, and a return of the felt Wisconsin ornament and the Madison lakes paper cut.

And we're showing the love for the Midwest too... don't worry: new t-shirts, and the popular Great Lakes cut-out is back in stock.

And you don't think we've forgotten about our Governor, do you?  I think what's happening in Wisconsin is playing out on the larger stage with the Occupy Wall Street movement; it's ultimately about concentration of wealth and power in the hands of a few, at cost to liberty and justice for all... but that's just my opinion.  I must say that police-protester interactions around the country have really made me thankful for the Madison Police Department.  Seeing protests from around the country and around the world bring home even more so how lucky I am to live in this place - to be able to express myself without fear of gunshots, arrests, or someone running the country for 40-some years.   I still haven't seen anything that convinces me that Scott Walker will be good for our state for a full term.  We are personally happy that our chance to collect recall signatures is fast approaching, and naturally Sachi had some new buttons to make.  We also have our prints, including the great new "Don't Let Yer Badgers Grow Up to be Weasels" made here in Madison and a new Solidarity t-shirt.  And, yes, bumper stickers.

 

 

 

still going...

This is supposed to be a short report from downtown Madison for those who are curious.  We're still here.  The fight still goes on.  There are not thousands of people surrounding the Capitol, they are on bus tours of the state, going door to door, making phone calls.  We hope that the recall elections on August 9th go enough our way to slow things down.  We hope that more than 50% of the voting population will come out to vote, that those who didn't vote will always vote from now on.  We hope that even though people have to wait hours to get their photo ID that they will persist and come to the polls.  We will be collecting recall signatures for the Governor as soon as we are able.  Anthology has now sold 15,000 buttons since mid-February so, yes button sales have slowed, but not at all ended.  More "recall Walker" bumper stickers are appearing around town; we've added some new prints and posters to our collection.  And if nothing goes the way we want it to, we will still keep fighting for the ideals of our nation, which are liberty and justice for all.  That's the short story.

Being me, I can't just leave it at that.  What should I tell you?  On the one hand, I feel like I've said everything that I want to say.  That I'm tired of talking and feeling sad/mad/bad and just want to look at pretty things on Pinterest.  That the signs in our windows, the buttons on the table, my bumper stickers speak for themselves.  That surely we're all just talking with the people who agree with us and saying everything that has already been said before.  If you feel that way too, perhaps you didn't even bother to open this post. 

On the other hand, I am in this for the long haul.  For life, as it were.  I believe in good and beauty and truth, and I believe in prevailing over greed and inequality. I don't see it as just a Wisconsin thing.  And I don't believe in being quiet about it.  Clearly there are issues at the national level as well.  And I have talked with many out of state tourists who come to Madison to commiserate and show their support, and who are asking nearly the same questions of their governors or legislators. There is much work to be done.  Even if all goes the way that I wish it to, there is much work to be done. 

And of course, we keep making buttons.  Sachi just came up with a new series of pin-up girls, but I was also inspired to make a new Keep Calm print with a series of Wisconsin-specific suggestions.  As you can see from the picture, I am pleased with myself. The text is my own; I just did the layout in a word processing program.  And, per my own instructions, I had it printed locally.  I got a little distracted with political affiliation of printers (man, that list of Walker donors is long!).  But then I decided that if I could show someone that there was money to be made from a small business Democrat, perhaps that's not such a bad thing.  Also, my new policy is to shop as small as possible.  Even if a small businessperson disagrees with your politics, they probably don't have thousands of dollars to spare to donate to the candidate you disagree with.

Although it is fiction, I am right now reading Game of Thrones, which reminds me of the games that people play through all of time, games of money and power, without regard for the lives of other people.  In my world though, we are on an arc that brings us to more good, more peace, more justice, more happily ever after for all.

"The common people pray for rain, healthy children, and a summer that never ends. It is no matter to them if the high lords play their game of thrones, as long as they are left in peace. They never are." George R. Martin

Without our shop, I might be inclined to sit alone and sulk, to be alone in my worry.  With our shop, I am forced, on a daily basis, to hold my breath when someone comes through the door or pauses to read our sign.  Will they like me?  Will they hate my point of view?  Can we be civil to each other even if we do disagree?  As a shop owner, of course, I am limited somewhat by the bounds of customer service.  But I find those can be useful.  In fact, I wish we all practiced such bounds.  And I know, people say that we are more polarized now than ever before and it seems that n'er the twain shall meet.  But if we all just sit in our corners, talk and never listen, complain about how polarized we are, then that, indeed, will be our fate.  And I strongly doubt that anything can get done if we are like those two Dr. Seuss Zax, which even a preschooler recognizes is a silly story, not something to model oneself after.

It takes work and energy, but I believe we all need to speak up for the direction we want this world to go in.  That said, a critical component is also listening, making space for everyone's voices to be heard.  Which, of course, means hearing things you don't like to hear.  But then, I'm a big proponent of etiquette and manners and politeness so I'd love it if the dialog could take place with such tones.  My resolve is tested often in the course of a week.  A customer came in a few days ago and questioned if she could come in the store even though she wasn't a student, faculty, staff or state worker (per our sign which says we depend on aforementioned people).  I simply said yes, of course (even though I bristled at the obtuseness of the question).  I did have to add that, technically, aren't we all students of one sort or another... and then my sister came out of the office to make sure I didn't go any further than that.  I realize that some people see our signs and resolve not to buy anything in the store.  I'm sorry for that, I'm sorry that they dismiss the creative things that I've gathered, the work of the many local artists.  And because of that sorrow, I try to work harder myself not to dismiss someone just because we disagree politically.  I still have good things to offer a Republican.  But those that walk in, complain about my signs, and then walk out, are only proving to me that they are not my customer and therefore don't give me much incentive.  Meanwhile, I'm getting lots of positive reinforcement for my signs.  It isn't just about money, but certainly, as a business, the loudness of our voice would depend a bit on how our customers reacted.  So far, they are just telling me to speak louder.  So, yeah, I'm still going.

And I know, we all have our anger and our sorrow and our pain.  A guy drove by me a few days ago and yelled "a**hole" out his window at me.  Was it because of my bumper stickers?  Was it because I unknowingly cut him off?  I have no idea why. I linger a bit too long on the encounter, but am mostly left with a feeling of sorrow.  What kind of life is it when we have so much anger and violence in our interactions with each other?  When an unwitting mistake or a simple point of view causes us to completely write off the other person?  We have so much to offer each other.

So, all I can really say is that I hope everyone is still going.  Still being true to your own self and to your hopes and dreams, but also being true to the voice of our country, which, I believe, is supposed to be about liberty and justice for all.

 

P.S.  I also commissioned this print for the shop.  I probably have to uncover it three or four times a day - obviosuly some silent objectors can't walk by it without hiding it.

never doubt, and it's SO not over

That's right.  Still. 

And, of course, there is very little for me to say that I haven't already.  I think it boils down to this:

And in light of that, and the ideals that I hold for this country that I live in, it really will never be over.  Because the battle and the striving is probably constant, isn't it?  Now we hear that the Republicans have redrawn the district lines, in secret, without waiting for input from the wards (usually the local level sends its suggestions up to the state).  So much for small government.  I shudder to think what lines they've drawn up; I'm pretty sure the end result is like playing a game with a child who makes up rules as you go along so that they always end up winning.

So, yes, I feel a little tired and discouraged at times.  But, no, I won't fall into the pit of despair, or the trap of imagining that I am alone.  I am so in awe of all the people working hard around the state, making phone calls, going door to door, making connections to strengthen a quality of life that we can all believe in.  I feel so thankful for my customers who come in and cheer us on.  Only time will tell - in the short term, the recall results, but in the long term, the direction that Wisconsin goes in the future.  But I have to believe that life gets better for everyone, that good triumphs over evil, that hope prevails, 'cause that's the kind of person I am.

And even though there are not the masses of people at the Capitol Square, there are many signs of the ongoing fight.  There's a house in my parents' neighborhood that has been very clever with their signs (my favorite one was: stealing our signs /  won't change our minds / recall Walker).

 

Being a shopgirl and in a more public setting, I have some advantage in that I see people, every day, gathered around our button table, laughing and sharing stories.  We've had a lot of out of state visitors this summer, namely teachers on cross-country trips who had to come to Madison to show their support.  Isn't that sweet?  I have never felt so much the weight of the country looking at our state to see what will happen.  No pressure, or anything. Our button sales have certainly slowed since late February, but we passed the 14,000 mark this week and I take comfort (not just from the money, but from the message as well).

I did finally use #wiunion on our seldom active Twitter account (anthology218), at the suggestion of a customer.  Just like adding protest pins to our Etsy shop, I'm going with the "better late than never" approach.

And we have certainly continued to think up new buttons.  As Sachi says, unfortunately, they keep giving us new material to work with.  I am still quite fond of my chicken series, even though I really don't care for chickens, except for eating, and even though my brother-in-law, rightly, thought that the language was more suited to my sister.

I take perhaps too much satisfaction in the popularity of our "OMG" button, though I'm really not 100% happy with the Dems either.  Does it just feel like politicians are playing their games of power and money and utterly unconcerned with the people that this nation is supposed to be of, for and by? 
But since I know no other way of being, I'll just continue on my little path of making and doing and being.  I am happy that I have this new Pinterest addiction.  I have found great visual inspiration, as well as inspiration in text, thus distracting myself from politics, in between making buttons.  One of favorites: "Don't ask what the world needs.  Ask what makes you come alive and go do it.  Because what the world needs is more people who have come alive." - Howard Thurman

We enjoyed incorporating customer suggestions into the series of dog buttons:

 

And couldn't resist a button based on a recent newspaper typo.  A teacher was quoted as saying she was not a "union pug;" we're pretty sure she meant "thug," but the image was impossible to resist.  And, yes, we realize this is an insult to dachshunds, but it has also been a popular button.

 

Other recent buttons:

And we were pleased to get permission from artist/customer Carl W. to use his work for a button and postcard, the great "Now Settle Down, Kitty" design.

This still remains one of my favorite buttons, and my little talisman for moving forward in this world.

protest pins updated catalog, of sorts

Let's see, perhaps I will actually get to catch up this week... ha ha.  Of course, Sachi is already thinking of some new buttons - I found some trashy romance novels at the thrift store and we're trying to come up with captions for those (maybe something like, "he whispered sweet nothings but all she could think about was collective bargaining," except shorter).

In any event, I thought it would be helpful to provide a summary of the protest pins we have available.  I apologize from the beginning for the glare, maybe someday I'll get a fancier set-up for button photography.

There's a 1" button for $1 and a 1.5" button for $1.50.  We also have some 3" buttons for $3, using photographs of the protests, and 3" buttons for $4.75 based on screenprints from some Milwaukee artists.

Our basic series is black text on white background.  Most of these come in both the 1" and 1.5" size, however those with a lot of text are only in the 1.5" size.

Possibilities include:

crafty women RECALL shifty men
If the ewoks can do it..Let’s stop Imperial WALKER!
with Liberty & Justice for ALL
BUCKY doesn’t bust unions
Yeah, I bussed in. on MADISON METRO!
Oh no! I wanted WALKER, Texas Ranger
Librarians Recall WALKER like an overdue book
RECALL WALKER
second star to the left and straight on to ROCKFORD
whose house? OUR HOUSE
Walker is a KOCH-head
Cheeseheads Not Koch-heads
unbelievable unprecedented unAmerican
even Batman doesn’t support WALKER
KEEP CALM AND PROTEST ON
WORKER rights Not Walker WRONGS
clean ENERGY not dirty politics
RECYCLE WALKER
RUNNERS not Walker
This is what DEMOCRACY looks like
Don’t Walker all over my rights
Never mind the magnificent 7, we have the FABULOUS 14!
Therapists are running out of patience
SoliDAIRY!
Wisconsin, FORWARD!
Where are MY THUGS?! (Teachers & Humans United for Government Sanity)
if I wanted a dictatorship, I would have picked a place with shorter winters
"Naked Power Grab" only sounds like fun
Crafty women UNITE!
RUN to Rockford
Cops for Labor
No sleep ‘til ROCKFORD
railroaded by WALKER
can we disagree without being disagreeable?
I {heart} the FAB 14
we {heart} COPS for Labor
crafty women {heart} firefighters for Labor
Yeah, I bussed in. on MADISON METRO!
Walker is a KOCH-head
Teachers are our building blocks. Don’t knock ‘em down!
was there something about a more perfect union?
the U.S. is a union
Maryland stands with Wisconsin (can be customized to another place)
RECALL SCOTT whatshisname
PUBLIC EMPLOYEES: working for a stronger Wisconsin
another SCONNIE against Scottie
Recall Scooter & Cheesehead Barbie
Manure is for farm fields not the Capitol
Oh Deere! WALKER is full of fertilizer!
We need wind power, not hot air
Thank yoUNIONS!
Don't break our he{arts},Scottie
I'm too young for a Walker
at least my grandma's walker works
Worker rights? You're darn right!
This Mama Grizzly supports those who teach her cubs
Real Americans for Real Wages
I just found 14,000 votes in my cat's litter box (also pocket of my skinny jeans/on the porch by the pop/junk mail pile/hamster's habitrail
Never doubt that a large group of thoughtful committed ticked-off Cheeseheads can change the world

Additionally, we have:

the chicken series:

 
 the food series:

the popular recycle button:
 

the bicycle and motorcycle series:

 

Sachi's retro ladies & men:  The 1" buttons are 1950s women.  Options include: State workers are sexy, Cute girls love collective bargaining, City workers are sexy, Collective bargaining is sexy, Gorgeous women love union men, I love a union man, Cute gals love union men, County workers are sexy, Smart women for union contracts.

 

The 1.5" buttons are 1960s Penneys catalog models, women and men. Options include: State workers are sexy, I love a union gal, City workers are sexy, Walker you messed with the wrong woman, I'm going to give that governor what-for.

Laura's "Union, Yes!" with photographs of Memorial Union terrace chairs.  Available in both sizes. Please specify chair color: green, orange, yellow or mixed.

 


Rosie. In both sizes. Options include: Nurses can do it!, Teachers can do it!, Unions can do it!, Librarians can do it!

"Keep Calm and Protest On."  Available in both sizes.

Miss Forward and/or the Capitol.  1" button with "Wisconsin, Forward!" or just "Forward!"
 

Laura's mini 1970s people.  1" button.  Options include:  Not cool Walker not cool, Wisconsin Forward, crafty gals unite, we {heart} the fab 14, crafty women recall Walker.

In the 3" buttons we have used photographs from our walks up to the Capitol as well as some from local photographers.  These are $3.

 

We also have 3" buttons based on original silkscreens from two Milwaukee artists.  These are $4.75 each.

All right, that's the collection.  We have some buttons in our Etsy shop and we can also set up a custom listing for you.  You can reach us by email (Anthology@tds.net) with a list of the buttons that you'd like (and then pay by PayPal or credit card over the phone) or call us to pay by credit card: 608-204-2644.  Thank you!

 

more protest buttons, and the work/fight goes on

No, it's not over.  It has been a cold and dreary past couple of weeks here in Madison.  Downtown, people stop in the store and wonder where all the protesters have gone (though I can't tell if it is a genuine dismay or just an ambulance-chaser kind of disappointment).  There is some inclination to feel defensive, to believe Walker when he says that the lack of continuing protests means that the issue has "gone away."  To give in to the tiredness and disappointment in a world that hasn't suddenly, magically, gotten better.  To tiptoe carefully around people who might be tired of all my anger and frustration.  To get overwhelmed by all the work there is to be done (politically as well as in everyday and work lives). To miss the flash of excitement and the adreneline of standing amongst thousands.  To take a break because, quite honestly, I am SO exhausted and these months of supposed rest before the busy summer tourist season have been anything but restful.

And yet, this is what it is all about, isn't it?  The daily effort through tiredness and rain, through the promise of spring that sits just beyond reach, through fleeting glimpses of sunshine, through little changes in the way one thinks or buys or gets from point A to point B. 

My objections to Walker's actions have not diminished at all.  My anger and sorrow at hypocrisy and injustice has not diminished. I think Scott Walker is creating a Wisconsin where power and wealth continue to concentrate in the very few, where those who don't have wealth and power are marginalized and ignored, where "small government" means a micromanaging governor and where business is allowed to run unchecked with only short-term profit as a motive.  I believe that government and church have important roles to play in modifying and tempering the individual and business, in calling for justice and morality and greater good.  And I believe that we cannot be "open for business" and neglect our workers, our lakes, our children.

So, no, the work is not done.  I won't be quiet.

Oh, and there are buttons to be made.  Who would have imagined that buttons would be such a consolation?  When I hear reports about the President's low approval ratings, I have only to turn to our Obama button sales to be reminded that he has paid a few months of our rent and that some people clearly still love him (ok, maybe the infatuation is fading, but I'd still much rather have him for a President than McCain.  Or Trump).  When I change channels to avoid a news conference, I come in to find that Sachi has come up with more clever buttons.  And when I feel tired or overwhelmed, there is always the simple action of pressing buttons to fall back on - there is certainly something therapeutic in doing things with one's hands.

There are earlier posts about protest pins are here and here, but some of the new buttons include:

the chicken series:

 
 the food series:

the popular recycle button:
 

the bicycle series:

and the new motorcycle series just in time for "Thunda around the Rotunda" this Saturday:

And perhaps the form of protesting and working has changed, but it is certainly still there.  There have been fewer people walking around the Capitol Square but button sales haven't really slowed that much.  We hit 11,000 buttons sold earlier this week (that's since mid Feb - almost as many in 10 weeks as we've sold in the three years since we opened).  I remember someone commenting that coming down to the Captiol was all well and good, but that doesn't really change things.  (Naturally some national writer complained that Wisconsin needs another huge protest so that politicians know we haven't given up.  Classic proof that you can't please everyone).  I'm impressed with the many people who have worked to collect recall signatures and the new connections that have been made between people working to a common cause, by the people making positive changes in how they shop, whether they vote (record turn-outs this spring!), etc.  Plus, spring must really be just around the corner.  Any day now.

new protest buttons

Ah, I have a little taste of what the writers of SNL must feel like when there is plenty of political fodder for their jokes....

Sachi has been busy coming up with new buttons.  The 14,000 series has been very popular.  One customer walked out with about four on her jacket ... they are pretty entertaining in a cluster.

And she came in this morning with a whole new list of possibilities:

As for myself, we had an order from a Badger now living in Oregon.  He ordered several buttons for a convention, most of which were selected from our existing options, but also ordered "Oregon stands with Wisconsin" which made me a little teary.  It reminded me of the first week of the protests, the first time I walked through the Capitol.  It was feeling like "just a hippie Madison" thing, but then in the rotunda, I was greeted with a huge sign that said, "Maryland is here with you," and another that said, "Michigan is here with you."  Again with the tears.  In any event, it goes along with my "United we stand" button, and I had to expand the collection.  I know this is asking for trouble on a busy day - someone is bound to ask for a state that I haven't printed out yet - but we have had many out of town visitors and I thought it would be nice to spread the solidarity.

protest pins

 



Oh my goodness, what a blur it has been.  Today we are approaching the 6000-button mark.  (that's 6000 buttons sold since February 18th of 2011).

It's so strange how things just evolve.  My old boss used to always say: Listen to what your customers are asking for and take your lead from them.  And as early as February 15th, we had customers stopping in to see what buttons we had.  Just to be clear, we've had buttons for sale and for people to make since we first opened - this isn't something that we just started because of the protests.  That same week, a Facebook friend said, "oh, you must be doing great business right now.  Protesters LOVE buttons!"  When she said that, the protests had only just begun and business was slow because everyone was just going straight up to the Capitol. 

Not that I expected them to be shopping, and I was fine with that.  But the other thing my boss used to say was, "Don't go hunting when the ducks aren't flying," which is to say, don't put a lot of energy into sales and marketing when you don't have a lot of potential customers around.  But the people were definitely out.  

It's interesting to look back on that first week.  All of the shenanigans (and by that I mean the actions of the politicians) going on at the Wisconsin State Capitol happened so quickly that we spent the time just trying to wrap our minds around the situation, let alone come up with buttons. Personally, I think this is evidence of the unseemly haste at which our politicians are moving - when capitalism cannot keep up with politicians, something is a little off.  But you already know where I stand on those matters.

Still, after four days of customers stopping in and asking for buttons, we finally had some buttons ready for sale on Friday the 18th of February.  I was using our 1.5" button-maker (which we purchased a while ago but which hadn't yet paid for itself).  Meanwhile, Sachi was adapting her Obama buttons with things like, "State workers are sexy," and "Smart women for union contracts," and "Cute gals love collective bargaining."  I think we sold 200 buttons that first Saturday; yesterday we sold over 1000.  We have enjoyed and been inspired by the humor of the many signs marching by our shop and have tried to pass some of that humor along in our buttons.  (update: as of the end of April, we've sold over 11,000 buttons.  A percentage of our button sales has always been donated to local youth arts organizations.  The result is that we've made more donations in the last 3 months than we did in all of last year).

We are barely keeping up with button sales in the store and every spare moment has been spent making buttons.  I'm falling behind on a variety of tasks but have received several requests for protest buttons from afar.  Here, then, is about as close as you are going to get to a catalog.  We are always making more buttons and you can always send us an email at Anthology@tds.net and we can send you pictures of what we have (though, be warned, taking pictures of buttons is difficult since there's always the reflection of the platic cover to deal with).

We have two basic styles: a 1" button for $1 and a 1.5" button for $1.50.  Not all the designs come in both sizes but there is some overlap.

First, the simple black text on white background, available in both sizes.

Possibilities include:

crafty women RECALL shifty men
If the ewoks can do it..Let’s stop Imperial WALKER!
with Liberty & Justice for ALL
BUCKY doesn’t bust unions
Yeah, I bussed in. on MADISON METRO!
Oh no! I wanted WALKER, Texas Ranger
Librarians Recall WALKER like an overdue book
RECALL WALKER
second star to the left and straight on to ROCKFORD
whose house? OUR HOUSE
Walker is a KOCH-head
Cheeseheads Not Koch-heads
unbelievable unprecedented unAmerican
even Batman doesn’t support WALKER
KEEP CALM AND PROTEST ON
WORKER rights Not Walker WRONGS
clean ENERGY not dirty politics
BUCKY doesn’t bust unions
RUNNERS not Walker
This is what DEMOCRACY looks like
Don’t Walker all over my rights
Never mind the magnificent 7, we have the FABULOUS 14!
Therapists are running out of patience
SoliDAIRY!
Wisconsin, FORWARD!
Where are MY THUGS?! (Teachers & Humans United for Government Sanity)
if I wanted a dictatorship, I would have picked a place with shorter winters
"Naked Power Grab" only sounds like fun
Crafty women UNITE!
RUN to Rockford
Cops for Labor
No sleep ‘til ROCKFORD
railroaded by WALKER
can we disagree without being disagreeable?
I {heart} the FAB 14
we {heart} COPS for Labor
crafty women {heart} firefighters for Labor
Yeah, I bussed in. on MADISON METRO!
Walker is a KOCH-head
Teachers are our building blocks. Don’t knock ‘em down!

Never doubt that a large group of thoughtful committed ticked-off Cheeseheads can change the world



 

Second, Sachi's retro ladies & men.  The 1" buttons are 1950s women.  Options include: State workers are sexy, Cute girls love collective bargaining, City workers are sexy, Collective bargaining is sexy, Gorgeous women love union men, I love a union man, Cute gals love union men, County workers are sexy, Smart women for union contracts.

 

The 1.5" buttons are 1960s Penneys catalog models, women and men. Options include: State workers are sexy, I love a union gal, City workers are sexy, Walker you messed with the wrong woman, I'm going to give that governor what-for.

Third, Laura's "Union, Yes!" with photographs of Memorial Union terrace chairs.  Available in both sizes. Please specify chair color: green, orange, yellow or mixed.

 


Fourth, Rosie. In both sizes. Options include: Nurses can do it!, Teachers can do it!, Unions can do it!

Fifth, "Keep Calm and Protest On."  Available in both sizes.

Sixth, Miss Forward and/or the Capitol.  1" button with "Wisconsin, Forward!" or just "Forward!"
 


Seventh, Laura's mini 1970s people.  1" button.  Options include:  Not cool Walker not cool, Wisconsin Forward, crafty gals unite, we {heart} the fab 14, crafty women recall Walker.

 
 
All right, that's the collection.  If you have any other questions, you can send us an email at Anthology@tds.net

Thank you!