Monday, August 6, 2012

buttons, BuTtONs, BUTTONS!!!


I love buttons!  Old, new, glass, rhinestone, metal, pearl, plastic...I love them all.  I think its because my mother was an avid seamstress my whole life, until she got Alzheimers and could not remember how to sew anymore.  And she used to keep extras in a round cookie tin.

I also had the fortune of sharing button gathering with my Mother-in-law who had jars and jars of old buttons that her mother kept.  I use the term "gathering" because I don't know enough about them all to be a collector.  I have jars and jars full of old buttons from her and my mother in storage.  And becuase I can't get to them at this time without a great amount of effort and searching (LOL), I started "gathering" buttons again!



I find myself using buttons in almost everything I create.  I think they add such a special vintage touch to aprons, pillows, mixed media, doll making and even tucking them into swap items and stash boxes.






My button love was reignited when I started following the Button Floozies blog and did a swap with them.  I hope to be able to learn about collecting as I go. 

I find myself at antique shops digging through boxes and trays of buttons looking for those unusual or special buttons to add to my collection.




I found all these carded buttons in a wonderful shop up near Elk Grove, Ca.  I just love the pale pink ones above and the Marie Antoinette shaped one also.

The aqua buttons in the middle to the left are glass with an awesome dotted pattern on the backs.

Here are some photos.  If anyone knows about any of these, please share.  I would love to hear about them.  I have ordered a button collectors book but it has not come in yet.  I thought the metal ones were also very cool.

 I'll be posting again with another group of buttons I found recently in Cambria, Ca.  at an Antique Mall. 



This one is cone shaped and looks like "bakelite", although I don't know much about it.  I love the unusual shape and the stripes are fun. 


 This group is a bronze color and they are also glass.  Very pretty. 


And finally, a great set of clear glass buttons and some pretty pearls.





5 comments:

Tami Hacker said...

I love buttons and have been an avid collector since 1996.

Try internet searching "_____ (the state in which you live) State Button Society". Most states have a state society and many with local clubs.

There is also the National Button Society. If you want to really study buttons these are the organizations to help you learn.

Button Hugs, Tami

Julie Ann said...

Such awesome buttons!! Miss you, Becs! *Hugs*

Laurie said...

I loved seeing the buttons you found! The Marie one is referred to as a "realistic" because it's in the shape of something. I, too, adore the one that looks cone-shaped; they are called "tight tops" and I think it is probably celluloid (but I can't tell by looking.) I echo my pal Tami's comment above about finding a local button club; if you visit just once or twice even you will be amazed at what you can learn! Another good thing to learn to identify buttons is to look at the big button sellers on eBay and even on Etsy -- they describe/identify their buttons very well, and have good photos, so you can learn a lot that way.

HI! I'm Tabitha said...

Wow what a score... My deaf friend Marsha sent me your way.... U have a lovely blog. Ur newest follower Tabitha

stefanie said...

hi becky,
got your email, but for some reason when I try to reply it wont go thur, sent you an email from an old email address
no problem on the buttons, you really do like them!