Monday, April 12, 2010

Button Worthy

One of my fondest memories growing up was laying across my Mom's bed and looking through her button box - it was a big, old greeting card box, bursting at the seams full of buttons - for me, it was like a treasure chest. I loved running my fingers through the stash of buttons, listening to the tinkling noise the buttons made - hoping not to hit a rogue pin in the process - this button obsession is not without risk you know! Mom had buttons of every shape, size, and color - diamonds, pearls, bone, glitter-y, glimmer-y jewels. And, most of the buttons had a story - what garment they fell off of, and so on. She still keeps her button box today - maybe some day I'll get it. Fortunately for me I now have my own button box - o.k. - plural - BOXES, and tins and jars, and more. What can I say - I love old buttons.

A neighbor of mine heard I was a button-aholic and decided to share her stash with me. She's not a sewer and saw no future for her buttons in her possession. A year ago she bequeathed the first installment to me, and just last week I received installment number two. I have a very generous neighbor - take a look:
Check out this little Scottie dog - it's Bakelite - chemically know as polyoxybenzylmethylenglycolanhydride - now that's a mouthful! Bakelite was an early plastic and most button collectors will do anything to get their hands on these little gems.

This bouquet of metaled petaled pearled buttons needs a little TLC, but there's potential.

This strand of rhinestone buttons is in perfect condition - the rhinestones are some of the biggest I've ever seen.

These amazing yellow buttons did not photograph well - they are luminescent - they actually glow around the perimeter.

Welcome Spring - This collection of yellow buttons just reminds me of spring - buttercups, lemons and the sun.

Here's a colorful little stash - a few Bakelite and bone added for interest.

Tangerine anyone??? Love these little gumdrops!

Bakelite at it's finest - this is a substantial offering. In all fairness, I did tell my neighbor the market value of her stash - she wasn't looking for money - she wanted someone to "look after" her collection - I understand completely!

Did I mention she threw in a few buckles as well - Bakelite buckles!

As beautiful as these little gems are I am always reluctant to use them - what if I lost one. There just aren't many things I make that are "Button Worthy" of this caliber button - you understand, right?

4 comments:

Sewing Junkie said...

My Grandmother had a Fruitcake tin that had tons of buttons. Every hook and eye she ever took off of anything was there also. Memories of being a little girl. Chris

Anonymous said...

ooohhhh. i'm jealous. like the penny for perspective. ck

Lesley said...

Love that Scottie Dog. That breed was really popular in the Art Deco period, and lots of jewelry, ornaments, clips etc. were made of Scottie dogs. You can get some fabulous ones in Bakelite, and some cute Celluloid ones too. Check out my page on Art Deco Scottie Dogs on
www.decolish.com/ScottieDogs.html
There's lots of pages on the site about Bakelite too.

Victoria said...

What a great neighbor! I too, have bowls of buttons all over the house, and can imagine the thrill you must have felt upon receiving these beauties! The scottie dog is divine!

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