By KAYLIN PICKETT

BG Independent News

Russ Veitch is a familiar face to anyone who frequents Grounds for Thought in downtown Bowling Green. But what some might not know is that he is also the provider of the buttons displayed across from the register. The buttons are free for everyone to take as many as they’d like. 

Veitch creates numerous buttons with photos from inspirational quotes, funny photos or political messages. First, he designs the picture on the button and prints it out. Then, he begins assembling the button using a button maker from the American Potter Button Company.

His most recent creation was inspired by a quote from a character he saw on TV. The button features an image of a man attempting to untangle a black line that has bunched together. Around the image are the words “What do I do to undo what I didn’t do?” 

Veitch started making buttons for the Edgerton Alumni Foundation in his hometown of Edgerton, Wisconsin. The foundation was created to raise money for teachers to implement projects that were not part of the school’s normal budget. 

The buttons started out with designs that supported education while remaining lighthearted to bring attention to the foundation. He would give the buttons away at the foundation’s bookstore.

Another one of his buttons was inspired by a quote closely connected to the University of Wisconsin. This button is very simple, with just the words “Only through continually and fearless sifting and winnowing can the truth be found,” in elegant font on a white background. 

Once the bookstore closed, Veitch no longer had an outlet for his buttons but still enjoyed making them. To remedy this, he asked if he could give them away at Grounds for Thought in Bowling Green. Over the last five years, he’s given away about 4,000 buttons at the coffee shop.

The buttons are available for everyone to take across from the register at Grounds for Thought. While waiting to have their order taken people are able to browse through the buttons and pick a few that appeal to them.

“I see them all the time,” said Kelly Wicks, owner of Grounds for Thought. “They put the buttons on the backpacks and wear them around.”

Veitch’s creative process for button making is simple, but it makes every design unique. He creates many of his designs when he is inspired by something. Whether it is a quote from TV or the happenings of the world, Veitch will take a quote, find a picture that relates to it and create a button.

“There’ll be something that’ll trigger something in my head,” Veitch said. “It might be a movie, it might be national whatever day.”

He then uses his tools from the American Potter Button Company to assemble all of the pieces. 

Though many of Veitch’s buttons are created by him, he will occasionally partner with organizations. He helps them create buttons to get their messages out or to give away at events.

He also has many humorous buttons like the one that has a picture of two skeletons with the quote “Don’t break someone’s heart, they only have one. Break their bones, they have 206 of them.” 

Veitch has lived in Bowling Green for about 50 years and is glad to have found a way to bring smiles and conversation to the community. When he wears his buttons, he finds that they get people to engage in conversation. 

“What I found is having them here and people walking away with them, maybe that’s what keeps me going,” Veitch said.

Posted by: Kaylin on August 5, 2025.
Last revised by: Jan Larson McLaughlin