Button button who’s got the button!

[Mammamel]

After yesterday and today, I think I do!
I scored well at a yard sale yesterday.
This lady is selling off her mother’s estate. Her mom was a member, perhaps even founder of a button club. Yes there are clubs that collect the little things we take for granted and forget often to make tight on our clothes.

I have carded buttons and loose buttons and bagged buttons. There are some I think are mother of pearl, some metal, some cloth covered, lots of plastic and that stuff before plastic, but I can not remember the name of it. There are wooden ones also.

There are pink ones and blue ones, red ones and orange ones. I never noticed before how many shades of color there are. Nor did I realize how slight the differences in shade can be.

I ended up with a small jelly jar of, fabric buttons, blue buttons, brown buttons, orange/yellow, red, green, pink/purple, varied novelty, and a jar and ½ each whites and blacks, plus over a jar of metallic.


And that doesn’t count the extras. Like, 3 button dolls, these were so cute I went back for them after my first trip! A planter full of misc, beads and “Jazz Ups” and odd jewelry things. 3necklaces, a really odd red and white button string thing with a pierced ear dealy on each end. Plus button covers, and lots of lapel pins. Oh and a cross stitch kit from 1999. Its dated, 1999, so when I make it I plan to leave off the date part… A Barbie clothes pattern, which will find its way to ebay eventually. I also scored a baggie of collars, not lace just white, a stencil and several pages of various stickers. I use stickers to make signs for work so i am always looking for cheap (IE under $1) stickers!

Or the drugs. Yep I found drugs in my buttons! 3 different kinds of pill, 1 of each. There were also assorted tacks, straight pins and some kind of colored... metal things tons of them.


One set of earrings matches the hat I HAD to have. I don’t know WHY I HAD to have it but I just had to. It is white with a red and white polka dot ribbon… with the tags still on it.


But my fave score was the buttons. I could make wall hangings pictures out of the buttons, and I just might. There are tons of ideas ranging through my head right now. Dolls, aprons, and others places pretty buttons could be honored.


I was told by an older wiser sewing buddy to not remove the carded ones from the cards until I was ready to use them. So those will be filed in a box for now, some may make diorama displays in shadow boxes, if I ever get the boxes and decide not to use them on various sewing projects!


For some pics of my buttons, presort, you can go here:

http://s27.photobucket.com/albums/c152/MammaMel/

Now off to do laundry and assorted other fun things!

[Jester]

And I thought I had a lot of buttons! (both of my grandmothers were collectors and I have all of theirs).

Is the plastic you are trying to think of Bakelite?

[Mammamel]

Quite possibly! I can never remember the name!
I have so far found buttons form France, Italy, Japan, Germany and USA, so far none say made in China.

[Avie]

What a wonderful treasure you found indeed!!! Thanks for the pictures too! It is a very lovely collection. I can not wait to hear what you create with your buttons.

[heather]

Very nice!!!

[Dannielle]

Oh wow! That's a dream of mine...to come across a giant lot of buttons.

What a fun way to spend a few hours...sorting. :D

[Livvy Kate]

Great button haul-Mel! I'm sure you already know this-but if oerchance you have some bakelite beauties in there-they can fetch a nice penny at auction. There are a few different ways to test for bakelite too if you care to know whether a button is simply plastic or something much nicer.

[Jester]

Here is an article about ways to test, and what not to do, for Bakelite.

http://reviews.ebay.com/HOW-TO-TEST-FOR-BAKELITE-PLASTIC_W0QQugidZ10000000000099629

[gayla50]

I love buttons I have my Dear Aunts and Mil button jars I have my Grandmothers and her Mothers ... and l love them all
But what you found was pricesless .. what a joy Great button haul !!!!! what fun

[maritimemama]

the pre plastic may also be celluloid, usually pre WWII, i have to test for it alot in my line of work, I have seen alot of buttons lately in a few of the collections we are receiving and some are just fascinating!

[Jester]

Maritimemama, how do you test for celluloid? Is there a home test we could do? (I have a ton of old buttons, some of them quite unique)

You know, in a way, it's sad that the woman's children didn't care enough about the things she loved to keep them to pass on to their children. I've found family Bibles, some quite old, at yard sales. I always buy them and give them a good home. Seems like someone should care.

[maritimemama]

Gayle it is in the way they look (more wavy less shiney), light colours are more "cloudy" (like yellows) and the weight (a bit heavier) we don't recommend chemicals and such unless it is absolutely critical as it diminishes the value so not sure if there are any home tests I could safely recommend. Jet is also a very old black material that some jewlery and buttons are made from and it is also less shiney and a bit wavy. Also look for French Ivory a pretty yellow material often mistaken for cellulose and plastic.
If people don't want to keep things, local museums will gladly take them if they meet their collections management ploicy. I learned alot the other day by going through a womans collection, the decendents were sending the whole houses contents to the dump. she was a nurse in the early 30's and it documents her whole career, uniforms, letters, school materials, some is quite revealing. she had trouble getting a job even as a nurse becaus it was the early 30's. anyhow I could go on and on lol.

[Jester]

Thanks, MM (You can call me Gayle, if you'd like). I believe I might have some jet buttons and maybe some cellulose. I have a lot of shell. I'll have to look tomorrow. One of my grandmothers did sewing for the Ford family in Detroit, so she had a lot of high-quality buttons.

One of my friends owns a museum with things from her late husbands childhood (in the 20s) There are even things from HIS parent's early lives. In the 10 years I've known her, I have not been able to make it through the entire museum. I always end up crying and have to go outside and sit down. Old stuff just has that effect on me.

[maritimemama]

there edited to call you Gayle! If you like old things I wish i could take you through a tour of where i work, i am a curator for a collection of over 41 000 objects. I think it is important to preserve the past and pass on the knowledge to the younger generation.

[Jester]

LOL You didn't have to go to all that trouble!

I would love to have a look around your museum! I love museums and all the old stuff. We live with a lot of it and actually use it, so the kids know how things used to be done. We homeschool and are very hands-on, so they not only know the old ways, but have done them.

I'm particularly interested in old kitchen utensils. I have them hanging all over my kitchen walls (pain in the neck to clean). I think the only thing I don't have is an old kraut cutter. I'm keeping my eyes peeled, though.

Sorry if this is repetitive and rambling. I'm so tired tonight! I think it's time for me to hit the sack. I can hardly pull myself away from the computer!

[GrammyGoo]

I have a love for buttons too, inherited from my Grandmother. They are like little jewels or pieces of Art. My oldest Grandddaughter shares my facination with them. My littlest nope, they are just buttons to her.
Mel you got some great buttons there.

Blessings, GG