Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Got Buttons?

I do. Heaps of them. Bone. Mother-of-pearl. Glass. Wood. Celluloid. You name it.


And they've been winking at me from their box, telling me they're too dandy to be hidden away.


So, to oblige the little play pretties ('scuse the cowboy lingo - I've been reading True Grit by Charles Portis - a great book, by the way), I made a little wall hanging to show them off.

The idea came from my friend Sarah, who made one when she was in college, recycling denim pants and some vintage buttons. I had always admired it, and asked her if she minded if I made one for myself. She didn't mind none. Thank you kindly, pardner.

So I did the same, cutting a strip of fabric from the leg of an old pair of jeans. Plus, I had some embroidered ribbon that I used to cover the back to hide the stitches. I reversed the ribbon to have the raw side facing up because I thought it looked more interesting.


Some of these buttons are at least a hundred years old. Some are from 30's, 40's, 50's and 60's. They really are little works of art in themselves, at least to my eye, and should be appreciated.



20 comments:

amy danielle said...

Neat! I love seeing you create in the littlest things, using buttons or doodling in your journal- gives us a glimpse of your beautiful soul. xo

Anonymous said...

dazzling darling!

Cheryl said...

Tins of buttons. I used to love playing with my my Mother's and Grandmother's button tins. This is a great way to show off some lovely buttons and not hide them. (Please leave some in the tin for the little ones in your life to find. They'll thank you or remember it when you are gone!)

It's Just Dottie said...

I have extreme button Love.
I don't know why but I do!!!
Smiles, Dottie

Thickethouse.wordpress said...

Love buttons and have lots which I've never done anything with. I like your ribbon very much! Just a bit south of me is the Warther Museum which is fascinating. It's mostly about woodcarving, but there is a house with nearly 80thousand buttons displayed, even one from Mary Todd Lincoln's inaugural ball gown. If you're ever around here you should go see this!
http://www.warthers.com/museum.htm

Kit said...

Oh Jodi, of course you made something so fun and lovely. I'm working on my button collection; it's kind of boring so far.
I read True Grit this summer, too! I LOVED it. Beautiful and funny at the same time. Made me want to read more Portis...someday...maybe next summer.

Jodi said...

Cheryl, that's a good idea!

Kristie, that sounds like a place I'd definitely like to visit.

Jodi said...

Kit, you're right--it is a great book. And I was thinking I want to read more Portis, too. But the story descriptions haven't grabbed me yet, and I'm afraid of being disappointed.

Chelsey said...

In elementary school we had a button jar that I loved to play with and sort through so this is a tinge of nostalgia for me...

Leslie said...

i like your "play pretties." and i have a button box too! but i think i'd rather read "true grit" than sew...

Anonymous said...

I love this post. It was so great to see the buttons in person too! Good luck on the honey harvesting soon. Take lots of pictures!
Mary Drennen

Jodi said...

I will, Mary! xx

Quotidian Life said...

I'm going to show this to my daughter, Kristen. We are recycling shirts these days and are collecting lots of buttons. Just today she remarked, "There must be something I can make with these buttons!"

Emily said...

I used to love collecting buttons when I was little. Yours are beautiful!

Now I have another book to write down in my list of things to read :)

Christine said...

Love this idea, I work in a thrift shop from time to time and old buttons in jars are donated all the time.

Beloved's Redheaded Bride said...

Wonderful idea! Love old buttons!

I came through from "Ellie's" blog. Thank you for letting me peak in! I will be back to take one of your cast iron winter recipes! ;)

Jodi said...

B. Bride, you're most welcome.

mountain mama said...

great idea...now you can see them pretty buttons whenever ya please!

my MIL has tons of buttons, she makes vintage jewelry with them.

tamarahillmurphy.com said...

Your button collection reminded me of my mother's. She keeps a glass jar for my daughters to open and sort and play while they are at her house.

Abby said...

I LOVE BUTTONS!!! they are a little treasure of life. i made button flowers and decorated my apartment with them :)

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