Terry Butler
Building a ship in a bottle is generally regarded as a very unusual hobby for someone to take up, particularly in this day and age when time seems to be so precious. But that’s just what Terry Butler, who describes herself as “home hobbyist and artist” has been doing for the past seven years.
Terry was born in Midland, Michigan, and graduated from Midland High School in 1971. Shortly after, she began travels in Europe, where she met her husband, Buck Butler. Her interest in ships in bottles piqued when she saw her first actual ships in bottles in a shop in Cornwall, England, about 15 years ago. Terry was captivated. "I'd always loved seeing them in magazines. Here, I saw good ones for the first time, and lots of them, every one different. This was the first time I'd seen the possibilities of what could be done.” "Then," said Butler, "I saw the prices. We afforded one, but I wanted every one of them." "I thought if I could learn to do this, I could own this collection." About 10 years later Terry 
ordered, sight unseen, the book "Ships-in-Bottles," by Don Hubbard, a founder of the Ships in Bottles Association of America. From there, she began learning the art.
Terry is one of only a handful on women in the world who build ships in bottles. She is very detail oriented and prolific in her modeling. Last year alone, Terry completed approximately 157 models. Today, she mostly makes ships inserted in pocket watch casings, and miniature bottles which, when finished, are housed in walnut shells. There is great demand for her pocket watch ships, mostly by word of mouth, and Terry admits that it is becoming increasingly difficult to keep up with the demand.
Orders are sure to increase now that Terry has become the modeler/teacher for the Stars. This past summer, Terry was commissioned to create about a dozen ships and to teach Matt Damon, and Eddie Redmayne, who plays Damon's son in the movie, “The Good Shepherd,” how to insert completed ships into the bottles. This movie is directed by Robert DeNiro and is scheduled to be released near the end of the year. Interestingly enough, it was Don Hubbard, whose book helped guide her in the craft, who recommended her for this role. Terry’s work, and the ship in bottle scenes depicted in this movie, should help in increasing interest and appreciation for this hobby and craft.
Other examples of this Artist's work - Click on a picture to enlarge
