Buttons & Beads

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INSPIRATION 2014 #19: Pretty vignette of a nice variety of buttons and beads. 

Battered Buttons

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INSPIRATION 2014 #18: Beautiful collection of old cloth covered buttons. I'm not sure what these buttons were used for (underwear?), but they are so lovely in their simplicity. I think the combination of the metal grommets with the texture of the linen or cotton covering is especially appealing.

National Button Week ~ Last Day

{syroco or ornawood scottie buttons}

By now, if you have visited my blog a few times, you certainly know that I have a great fondness for scottish terriers, so it shouldn't be much of a surprise that my theme for my final posting for National Button Week is scottish terrier buttons. There is more to the story than just the combination of a button with a scottie on it ~ the first pet I had was a scottie and his name was Buttons ~ you can read about that episode of my life here. Also, one of my favorite books is about a scottie named Buttons ~ more about that here.

{syroco or ornawood scottie dish with scottie buttons}

{white plastic button with metal scottie attachment}

{reverse painted pressed glass buttons}

{tiny plastic molded scottie buttons}

{variety of bakelite scottie buttons}

Hope you enjoyed the week of button postings as much as I did ~ now that I know there is actually a week designated as National Button Week, it will give me another excuse to buy more buttons!

National Button Week ~ Day 7

I know, I should have at least done a green themed button post today, but I hadn't thought of it and since I HAD to go to this antique show today, I didn't have time to take additional photos. A few shows ago, I did buy something specifically to post for St. Patrick's Day, but I am going to just do it a couple days late ~ don't most people celebrate most of the week anyway? I had to make a choice, so this year the buttons won out!

The other thing I can't figure out is why National Button Week is 8 days rather than 7? I am going along with that as well, so I will post my finale tomorrow.

Today, I thought I would share a few of my smaller metal buttons ~ some of these are called steel cut ~ some are made to look like steel cut. I think steel cut buttons can look a little like marcasite, but from what I can tell each little piece of metal is riveted on individually ~ I will have to do a posting down the road with a photo of the back so you can see the craftsmanship. I don't think steel cut buttons are made anymore ~ if they were, they would probably cost a fortune.

It amazes me that there are so many different kinds of buttons out there ~ not only made from many different materials, but within those types, so many different variations. I just love the beautiful details and designs on all of these buttons, don't you?

National Button Week ~ Day 6

{bullion stitch crocheted black button}

Thought I would have to show a few more crocheted buttons as they are so unusual and hard to find at antique shows and flea markets. If I am lucky I will find a card or partial card, but most of the time just a small group of unmatched buttons. While some of those shown below are what I would call wrapped buttons, most are crocheted and a few crocheted with beads.

During the course of the week I have learned something new about these crocheted buttons thanks to Nina Edwards ~ author of On the Button. Did you know that these buttons (called waggling knobs) were used by French prostitutes to attract attention? Read more about them and other button related posts at Nina's blog Buttons and Offal. I am going to have to add her book to my "to read" list as I'm sure it contains lots more information I'd be interested in learning.

One other thing I have noticed while collecting the crocheted buttons ~ I have only ever found cream/white or black, but none in any colors. I wonder if there is a reason for that? I find it rather funny that these were used by prostitutes for attention, as they seem so tame compared to what you might expect a modern day streetwalker to wear! I suspect that the black buttons were used for mourning attire for all types of women, but that is just a guess.

National Button Week ~ Day 5

For day 5 of National Button Week, I thought I would share with you some black glass buttons ~ some plain glass, some with a metallic finish. Although those without the metallic finish can be very subtle, if you take a careful look they have beautiful details.

These days I have noticed that some button companies are making some pretty nice reproductions of these buttons, but they are actually plastic, so they are quite affordable, but still lovely. All the buttons shown here are glass though.

Here is a group of silver finished black glass buttons ~ I wish someone would reproduce these!

National Button Week ~ Day 4

Already day 4 of National Button Week! I had a busy day today, so I just took a couple of shots of two different kinds of buttons I have that I like, but don't have many of. I think the black and white ones are either a dyed and carved plastic or bone material ~ maybe celluloid, I really don't know. But, I liked them and they were the right price, so they joined my collection. They are so striking, I think they would look fabulous as a central piece in a brooch or as buttons on a coat or sweater.

The other type of button I have to share today is also large, but bulky too ~ these are cord wrapped buttons. They have no shanks on the back, so I suppose one was just supposed to sew them on using the cord to attach them. Again, I thought these were rather unusual and were probably used for a coat because of their size.

Only 3 days left! It will be hard to decide which buttons to show ~ I guess it will be determined by how much time I have in my schedule! Hope you are enjoying this button holiday!

National Button Week ~ Day 3

Guess what ~ more buttons to share in honor of National Button Week! Today I gathered up a group of wooden buttons I got awhile ago. Initially, I thought these were made of pinecones, but upon closer inspection they are carved wood ~ perhaps mahogany ~ painted or dyed with color.

I like the dimensional quality of these buttons and was lucky to get a variety of colors and the two different sizes ~ I just wish there would have been more of the turquoise ones and/or the small black ones. I don't remember where I got these, but they did come all together.

I keep these in this handmade chest that has lots of drawers and pegs for handles ~ the chest is full of all sorts of miscellaneous washers and metal parts, along with a few empty drawers ~ well, they were empty when I got it, but not anymore. Each "drawer" is actually a slab of wood with round depressions routed out to form compartments ~ they look a little like a muffin tin.

National Button Week ~ Day 2

Day 2 of National Button Week is here, so as promised I thought I would share one of my most favorite finds ever ~ a vintage box of Wash Crochet Buttons from Germany! I bought this years ago in an antique mall in Greenwood, Missouri ~ I wish the box was full, but I felt lucky that the cards it did contain weren't all the same. It made me wonder if it was an assortment when it was new or somehow multiple types of crocheted buttons ended up in the one box.

Even though the box wasn't full, I love how the buttons were to be displayed in the separate compartments on their individual cards ~ can you imagine walking into a shop and finding these for sale? Although the cards and the box are in rather rough shape, the buttons themselves are in good shape ~ except I doubt I will have the heart to ever take them off their cards and use them as they are so pretty as they are.

I love the variety of crochet work as well ~ I think the ones directly above are my favorites, although I love the first ones shown as well. I do wonder how these were made ~ by hand or machine? If anyone can supply any information, please leave a comment or email me ~ I'd love to learn more!

Don't you wish items like these were still being sold today ~ beautiful packaging, display and product? I suppose there are such things available, but the cost seems outrageous ~ it makes me wonder if these items were costly in the past as well or if they were affordable.

National Button Week ~ March 11-18

Apparently it is National Button Week ~ and to think I almost missed it! So, in honor the holiday, I'll be posting about buttons this week. I do love buttons and am always on the lookout for them at antique shows and flea markets, but I guess I am not really a collector ~ not that I don't have thousands of buttons, it is just that I buy them to use in my work rather than for a collection, so I tend to buy buttons that are less expensive, but still unique. Every now and then I will buy an expensive button, but then I feel like I can't use it unless I use it in a personal piece or gift.

Anyway, some of my favorite buttons are what I call carved mother of pearl buttons ~ there may be a more official name ~ if you know it, please send me a comment. I bought this necklace shown above several months ago ~ I could tell it was made of mother of pearl buttons, but whoever made the necklace chose to weave it together so that only the backs of the buttons showed. When I looked it over carefully, I could tell there were quite a few carved mother of pearl buttons, so I knew it was a good deal. The photos above show a few of the carved buttons and the necklace as found.

Here are some other carved mother of pearl buttons I purchased and posted about earlier. While those in the necklace weren't quite as pretty as those above, I still can't figure out why on earth the person who made it chose to hide the carved designs! Guess it was just my lucky day!

Buttons, Buttons, Buttons!

While visiting Mission Road Antique Mall a couple of weekends ago, I spotted these lovely antique calico buttons in a showcase. I see this type of button now and then, but not very often and they are always rather expensive.

If you happen to be in Kansas City though, visit the Steamboat Arabia Museum, where you can see thousands of these beautiful buttons ~ and learn a bit about some history as well. The photo above was taken at the museum ~ click on the photo for the source.

Don't know that I have ever found an entire card of calico buttons ~ thanks to the internet though, I was able to find these and an interesting article about calico buttons. Some day, when I am more organized, I will take a few photos of some of the calico buttons I have found over the years ~ I have some great stencil buttons too.

A Different Kind of Delectable

Found this tasty jar of glass buttons this weekend while shopping at the Platte City Antique Show ~ I guess I just have a thing for mayonnaise jars, now that I have mentioned them two days in a row! As you can see, this is actually a Miracle Whip jar, but close enough. I have to admit, I prefer Miracle Whip over regular mayo ~ always a point of ridicule in my household as my boyfriend is quite the foodie and Miracle Whip doesn't cut the mustard in his book!

This jar was packed full of all clear glass buttons ~ I have never bought many of these before, but the jar looked so appealing I couldn't pass them up. Upon closer inspection, some of the buttons have silver or gold metallic accents, so these are even better than I realized. Looking forward to sorting through the rest of the buttons and discovering all the different patterns ~ I think these will look great used in the brooches I make!

Sparks/White Cloud ~ Fall 09 ~ The Trove

At long last, a few photos of some of the things I came home with from Sparks and White Cloud this fall. It always amazes me that I am able to find such wonderful stuff ~ much of it is so old it is a wonder it has survived.

{Arm & Hammer collectible trading cards}

{old marriage certificate}

{glass patterned paperweights}

Below, an exercise workbook of sorts for children from 1923 ~ initially I thought it was a booklet used in school, but after reading the preface, the book was sold for use at home. "These pages were planned with the hope that mothers may be enabled to spend many happy hours with their children..." There are all sorts of activities ~ pages to color, cut out or draw on ~ animals, flowers, birds, paper dolls, mother goose pictures etc. ~ I've just shown a few samples.

{cover and pages from the Juvenile Artist Workbook}

{old & decrepit, but inexpensive music books}

{loved the pattern on this book cover}

{wall registers I plan to use for jewelry display}

{collapsible wire laundry basket to use for display}

{antique crocheted buttons}

Also, a book called Fancy Work for Pleasure and Profit ~ it is filled with all sorts of nice sewing/needlework related graphics and instructions. Unfortunately, the cover was not in the best shape and didn't warrant a photo. I got this book on the way home from my day trip to Sparks and White Cloud ~ at 1/2 Price Books! I'll let you know if there are any really great tips on how to make a profit with fancy work!

{title page and inside pages}