On a recent visit, my mom brought me a treasure chest.
See? It's printed right there on the front!
Okay, so it's not actually a treasure chest - it's an antique cookie tin (don't you wish things were still packaged like this?). But what's inside was nearly as good as treasure -
buttons!! My mom collected antique and vintage buttons when I was growing up, and so my grandparents - antique dealers and flea market addicts - always picked up big lots like this when they found them for a good price. This must have been one of their finds that was never incorporated into the big collection.
This weekend I took some time out from my busy schedule of lazyness and sorted them. Sorting buttons is one of the things that I *loved* doing as a kid that hasn't lost its appeal as I've gotten older.
I know nearly nothing about vintage buttons, so there's not much method to my sorting: I pick out my favorites and divide them into colors, then place them in mason jars on my sewing table. The rest go back into the container and into storage in my craft room.
I noticed these two almost immediately. A triplet of theirs has long been one of my very favorite buttons; in fact it was featured in the very first OPB blog banner (does anyone remember back that far?!). I was thrilled to find two more!
This one is also very cool. It reads "Liberty, Unity, Benevolence, Concord," with "F of A" above the seal. A bit of internet research revealed that it refers to the "Foresters of America," a fraternal society heavily influenced by the Robin Hood legend (and you all know how I feel about Robin Hood), that traces its origins back to the 13th century. Neat!
I always like pretty pink and red plastic buttons, especially when they have cutouts.
There are always a ton of whites, but they can be pretty, too. The leaves are mother of pearl and must have been embellishments; I'm thinking about turning them into earrings.
The little green knots would be perfect as cufflinks (please enjoy the cat hair on the rug...we're keeping it real around here).
There were a ton of these blue buttons - I think they'd be pretty on a shirt dress.
Ah, sorting things by color is so satisfying. Not a bad use for a Sunday afternoon.
Have you found any treasures lately?
See? It's printed right there on the front!
Okay, so it's not actually a treasure chest - it's an antique cookie tin (don't you wish things were still packaged like this?). But what's inside was nearly as good as treasure -
buttons!! My mom collected antique and vintage buttons when I was growing up, and so my grandparents - antique dealers and flea market addicts - always picked up big lots like this when they found them for a good price. This must have been one of their finds that was never incorporated into the big collection.
This weekend I took some time out from my busy schedule of lazyness and sorted them. Sorting buttons is one of the things that I *loved* doing as a kid that hasn't lost its appeal as I've gotten older.
I know nearly nothing about vintage buttons, so there's not much method to my sorting: I pick out my favorites and divide them into colors, then place them in mason jars on my sewing table. The rest go back into the container and into storage in my craft room.
I noticed these two almost immediately. A triplet of theirs has long been one of my very favorite buttons; in fact it was featured in the very first OPB blog banner (does anyone remember back that far?!). I was thrilled to find two more!
This one is also very cool. It reads "Liberty, Unity, Benevolence, Concord," with "F of A" above the seal. A bit of internet research revealed that it refers to the "Foresters of America," a fraternal society heavily influenced by the Robin Hood legend (and you all know how I feel about Robin Hood), that traces its origins back to the 13th century. Neat!
I always like pretty pink and red plastic buttons, especially when they have cutouts.
There are always a ton of whites, but they can be pretty, too. The leaves are mother of pearl and must have been embellishments; I'm thinking about turning them into earrings.
The little green knots would be perfect as cufflinks (please enjoy the cat hair on the rug...we're keeping it real around here).
There were a ton of these blue buttons - I think they'd be pretty on a shirt dress.
Ah, sorting things by color is so satisfying. Not a bad use for a Sunday afternoon.
Have you found any treasures lately?
53 comments:
That is some sweet loot! It reminds me of the big bag my dad handed me that my grandmom had collected for years. It's so exciting imagining what to do with them all!
I'M SO insanely JEALOUS!
I have a tall jar full of them, they're sooo pretty to look at!
So fun!! I love buttons, and your new collection looks amazing!!
What a awesome assortment of buttons! I'm always on the look out for treasures! I've been on a few treasure hunts recently and posted on my blog the finds I've come home with! :)
wow! first, LOVE that tin, its definitely treasure-chest like! and WOW again for an amazing collection of buttons!!! cant wait to see what becomes of them, even if its just sitting pretty in jars :D
WOW! So so nice. I hope you have a ton of fun with that.
Wow, what a treasure! I love vintage buttons. :)
fun fun fun! glad your mom has some treasures for you that you weren't aware of!
these are all so lovely! I hope you don't mind, but I pinned a few of these to one of my boards on Pinterest...
http://pinterest.com/valeries/crafty/
I love vintage buttons. So pretty.
That's awesome. I was waiting patiently for the page to load in my reader and saw the picture reveal and thought "See! Of course it's a treasure chest. It's written right on there!"
Glad it holds such great treasure.
Those bow-buttons in the last picture are my fav!
Kate
my mom has a tin of buttons like this from her Grandma who absolutely saved everything. It was one of my favorite pastimes growing up to organize those buttons. Have fun with your treasure!
I too, have always had a passion for buttons and sorting through them. Especially old vintage ones. I oo and aah over this small collection.
And I agree, the small 'cookie treasure chest' tin is adorable. Things in Germany DO come packaged this way still (at least some items) But I know how you feel about the american packaging .... USUALLY it is not so nice. (especially like this amazing find :) )
So cute! I LOVE buttons.. wish I had a treasure chest to sort!
Brianne
♥
Jealous!
What a great collection! What are you going to do with them all?? Would love to hear your project ideas!
wow--those buttons look AWESOME. I am a button collector too, but I've never found a great stash like that!
Sarah M
How fun!! I love the thought of having a treasure chest:)
Ooh, I'm jealous! My mum had a button tin, too, and I could spend hours making pictures out of all the brightly coloured buttons when I was little.
Hi! I was sent over from FN.
Button collections like that are awesome. I can never resist them at thrift store and garage sales.
Love the blog, very elegant.
~Rachael
BUTTONS!! I want a treasure chest filled with buttons. I love them. Well, you can probably tell I do since my blog nam eis The Button Owl :).
x
wow, that is a treasure chest indeed! such a lot of pretty buttons, i can see why you'd be happy over this. i'm always kind of drawn to vintage buttons in second hand shops, but i almost always tell myself not to buy them, because i have no idea what to do with them. of course, they can fulfil the purpose of just being pretty and soothing to sort :)
ooooooh, i collect buttons, too! nice to see some button love :)
Uh, your collection is awesome! I love buttons...and collect them! The vintage ones are the best!
And what a cute "chest" they are in! My Grandma used to have tins like that! Awesome!
Your collection is gorgeous! I remember reading a book about a girl going through her grandmother's button collection, and each one telling a story. I think it's amazing how you can take so much design inspiration from something as small and ordinary-sounding as a button.
Stopping by from Freckled Nest, and having a blast. :)
Oh wow! that's so cool.
AHHHHH, soooo jealous!!! I'm certified button-obsessed. Awesome photos, they're making me drool ;)
I really love the last photo with all the different types of green/blues... what fantastic buttons! I didn't realise I liked buttons until I read this post and was thinking "wow! I need to go and get me some! :)" I hope you post pics of what you end up doing with them all. O the possibilities.
ahhh soo purdy!
(and great photos capturing them!)
i've gotta keep searching for treasures...only trash lately, but that's life sometimes! I'll keep my eyes open though :)
(Found you through FN!)
I want a treasure chest full of buttons or yarn to show up on my front door. It's sad that in an effort to save money, nothing is packaged beautifully like that anymore.
Swoooooon! I love vintage buttons! I have a collection from my husband's grandmother... one of the best treasures I have... along with her old ribbons and lace! I use them in my jewelry making and in embroidery projects. All of yours look amazing! I am green here!
I love the buttons sorted by color, I do the same with my yarn. Seeing the spectrum captured within glass jars makes me so happy. Actually, I did discover a treasure yesterday...a Polaroid 635CL Cupercolor! And my old Polaroid iZone! I thought of your post immediately--it's in my starred category.
Thanks for sharing your beautiful new buttons!
Just visiting from FN, and oh my! This button stash is absolutely a dream come true! Treasure indeed. Love your blog!
What a pretty collection! I have some of my grandmother's buttons, and I just love getting them out every now and then and sorting through them. :)
What a beautiful collection. I love buttons! :)
I used to have the biggest collection of buttons. This post makes me want to go out and thrift and find some more interesting ones. I love the button in the bottom photo with the cream back and teal colored flower.
I found this post to be very comforting and relaxing. But maybe that's because of the amount of cold medicine I'm on right now. I always loved that basket of buttons your Mom kept by the fireplace at your old house : )
Treasure chests are so fun and this one is a beauty!
Wow, what a great stash! Just popping over from FN to say hi. I'll be back for more reading, because your blog is awesome!
That's quite the haul!
Sent by Freckled Nest!
-Cara Mason
www.midkid.ca
Sorting buttons is a favorite activity around here. Recently my grandmother gave me her button box...something I've wanted since I was a kid...I am in mad swoon. it was worth the wait.
When I was little I could sit and go through my grandma's jars of buttons all day. Seeing this brings back fond memories of my childhood!
Gah! Button envy.
AH! I'm so utterly jealous! I love buttons! I think the most recent treasure I found was my mom's hidden vintage designer bag collection (so my sister won't steal them haha)!
Hi! I am coming over from Freckled Nest. I saw your button post and it made me swoon. Eek! You have such amazing buttons. My mom and grandmother send me buttons in the mail a few times a year and it always bring such extreme delight and joy to my heart. You have the cutest though. I am so jealous.
oh my!! so many pretty buttons!! i love the soft effects you put on the photos too!! do you mind sharing what you used alli??
I LOVE BUTTONS SO MUCH! hahaha Rad.
SOOOO PRETTY!!
Love all the different buttons, especially the white ones. You should totally make those leaf buttons into earrings!
And if you ever need ideas for your next giveaway, I'd say a small jar/pouch-full of buttons might be a great idea. :P
visiting from freckled nest. i love the images of this post, great colors!!
i know very little about them but my mom also collected them. antique buttons are so beautiful. there are esty shops selling repurposed button jewelry that is really neat.
Oh Alli, I love buttons! What an inspiring collection. I can't wait to see what you do with them! :)
oh my GOD all of the buttons! love them.
i just started following your blog &i love it.
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