And, finally, my initial estimate of 26 hours grossly under budget, my imaginings of well-sorted containers of buttons strictly imagined (shape, size, color, in the end just color, vague adherence to tonal values and my own perverse black-velvet color theory) the buttons are done.
Lots of white, mother of pearl, motley brown, the rest (reds, greens, yellows, purple, in limited supply. Artworks will be based upon this palette. Gaze at the jars, every one seriously flawed, purple with brown, white with purple, black with burgundy, the sorting of these buttons always balanced against the colors of the neighboring buttons in my palm.
It's a great way to learn about relativity and color.
But, sorted now, no beginnings of things until the fall when (given the predicted/imagined success of the expedition) I'll have time. Expect dire things for Xmas.