Buttons have to be some of my most favorite objects in the world. Hands down.
I noticed that my stash/collection of vintage buttons was wearing pretty thin, so I've been seeking out some new-to-me batches to help with my plight! Yesterday a bunch came in that I recently ebay'ed, and so this morning I sorted through and cleaned them. It's kind of a sad truth when it comes to button-collecting that with a lot of 5 lbs of buttons, I'll end up keeping usually around 1/3rd or 1/4th.
You have to be a choosy sorter! No reason to have dud-buttons hanging around (unless they're useful, basic duds that you know will come in handy).
I just wash them with a colander in the sink, gently swishing them around with a tiny drop of dish soap:
Then I dry them off by shaking them off into a dry towel, and pressing down gently.
This particular batch had some really beautiful red buttons, which is fortunate for me because (as you might've guessed) it is my favorite color.
You know I am crazy for that peppermint-y swirl one!
There were of course some non-red ones that are really knockouts, too. I think these might have to go in the shadowbox of don't-use-just-admire buttons:
They are such little jewels...my own version of treasure.
Comments (52)
Hi! I just discovered your darling blog and work recently and wanted to say hi! Great stuff! I have jars of vintage buttons I need to sort through, thanks for the washing tips. :) Renee
Renee · March 06, 2008 at 06:53 PM
...yummy, they almost look good enough to eat.
Very pretty collection you have!
xo
~michelle
miss.michelle · March 06, 2008 at 06:56 PM
...yummy, they almost look good enough to eat.
Very pretty collection you have!
xo
~michelle
miss.michelle · March 06, 2008 at 06:57 PM
...I'm sorry...I am puzzled to why my comments are posted two @ a time
Silly me....
:D
miss.michelle · March 06, 2008 at 07:00 PM
Buttons do seem like treasure, don't they? My problem is that some are just too nice to use! Now isn't that silly! Great photos! Wold you mind telling me what camera you're using? I'm in dire need of new one and am in need of a little direction. Hugs, Louisa
louisa · March 06, 2008 at 07:09 PM
you scored on those!
kim* · March 06, 2008 at 07:34 PM
I'm glad I am not the only one with a "I would never use this because it is too pretty" box. :) Great finds!
Lori · March 06, 2008 at 07:50 PM
Oooooh those are beautiful buttons! A shadowbox would be lovely!
Elizebeth · March 06, 2008 at 07:51 PM
Hey! I would love to hear how you choose on ebay what batch to get! It seems like such a gamble! Any strategy?
blaze Robertson · March 06, 2008 at 07:51 PM
I have the same colander! I normally have it on a bench top with my fruit in it :)
Love the buttons!
Mim · March 06, 2008 at 07:55 PM
Have you done that really long garage sale from Alabama to Ohio? I'm sure you could find a ton of vintage buttons (as well as vintage clothes and goodies, I'm sure).
Lisa · March 06, 2008 at 07:57 PM
Some of my fondest childhood memories are of hours spent sifting trough grandma's giant jar of buttons! I could just run my little hands through them all afternoon listening to that tinkle!
april · March 06, 2008 at 08:06 PM
Wonderful little buttons!!
Sheri · March 06, 2008 at 08:28 PM
treasures indeed
i share the same sentiment for vintage buttons
your photographs of them are such eye candy
and red is also my favorite color
i even named my new daughter scarlet
Nancy Cook · March 06, 2008 at 08:33 PM
Oh, the bliss a button can bring. I think I am smitten with the pepperminty one myself!! And that last shot has some sublime colors too!!! lovely indeed xxo
A Fanciful Twist · March 06, 2008 at 08:51 PM
ah, you remind me of my vintage button collection and thank you for sharing the washing tips. you love red? me too!
i even make one blog on red colour around me:
www.andisawred.blogspot.com
always love your work and your blog,
Bin.
Binal · March 06, 2008 at 09:15 PM
I'm just starting a button collection... just getting buttons that aren't run-of-the-mill is exciting for me! I don't know much about collecting them, but they are pretty!
Em · March 06, 2008 at 09:46 PM
Lovely little buttons!! What a fun package that was to open, I bet!
Marisa
Marisa · March 06, 2008 at 11:32 PM
I love buttons too. I've recently discovered a stash of buttons hidden away one by one over the years and there are so many! Some of them are so bizarre or super fancy. I always wonder what kinds of clothes they used to belong to.
Marie · March 07, 2008 at 12:16 AM
Those are some great ones! I love getting packages of newly ebay'ed or etsy'ed things. Isn't it the best?
Jessicafied · March 07, 2008 at 12:42 AM
Buttons make me so happy as well! They really are such little jewels and gems.
You got some lovely ones there. :)
i i eee · March 07, 2008 at 01:20 AM
those buttons are all adorable!
Maria · March 07, 2008 at 01:57 AM
... really pretty buttons!
they almost look like sweets!
Francesca · March 07, 2008 at 03:34 AM
we ALWAYS say that! "button, button, who's got the button?" LOL
now i wanna find some buttons of my own! yum!
jan · March 07, 2008 at 05:14 AM
Oh, such lovelies! I always thought myself a bit nuts for not wanting to use the prettiest buttons of my collection, but at least I'm not alone in that... ;)
But really, I have to agree, they're such delightful little things. Come in more lovely shapes and colours than you can imagine and it doesn't matter if you already have hordes, they're not too expensive to buy just for your pleasure :).
Lotta · March 07, 2008 at 05:44 AM
How lovely to see you're new to you buttons. I'm just freaky about buttons!!
It all started when I was pregnant with my second child, I put it down to a weird pregnancy thing, but seeing your buttons have reminded me that my stocks are running pretty low ( my daughter has inherited my fetish it seems!! )
Note to self:
Must go button shoping!!!
Caroline · March 07, 2008 at 09:24 AM
I love buttons too!
Anne · March 07, 2008 at 09:36 AM
They are my favorite things to rummage through at a flea market. Thanks for sharing.
ninaandtom · March 07, 2008 at 10:25 AM
Ohhh, such loveliness! Your blog always gives me such a happy peacefulness. Thanks :)
readsy · March 07, 2008 at 10:51 AM
It's always like finding buried treasure when digging through a bag of buttons. How fun!
elliebelle · March 07, 2008 at 11:52 AM
You have some lovelies there. I have some buttons in my own collection that are even too precious to me to commit to fabric.
Beetlegirl · March 07, 2008 at 12:29 PM
How fun!
Erika · March 07, 2008 at 12:46 PM
That peppermint swirl ones really is yummy! I never thought of cleaning my buttons... hmmm... guess what I'm doing this afternoon! lol
MissKoolAid · March 07, 2008 at 01:13 PM
I have so much trouble parting with buttons...I always think I'll need them for something eventually. I need to start being a good sorter like you!!
Ollie & Junebug · March 07, 2008 at 01:25 PM
Oooh those are quite lovely. And I LOVE the idea of framing the special ones in a shadow box. My grandma used to play "Who's got the button?" with me and I think I still have a couple buttons from her that I will now be putting on display!
Suzanne · March 07, 2008 at 01:28 PM
I also love red. And buttons. Now I need to go find some fun buttons for my aprons.
lilibet · March 07, 2008 at 01:43 PM
aww my mom always had a big tin of buttons that I loved to play with when I was little...I may have to take that up again! looks like a fabulous haul you have there.
Liina · March 07, 2008 at 03:00 PM
Emily, i love the buttons and recognize the feeling of keeping things just to look at! I actually just went to the fashion museum of my city that had a beautiful button-art-exhibition ('objects with a soul') that was so inspirational: http://www.karlitashop.blogspot.com
karlita · March 07, 2008 at 03:11 PM
I have such a weakness for old buttons too! I just bought a "new" jar of them this week that I found while antiquing. :) I really love all the red ones--they can sometimes be the hardest to find!! (Or is it that like you, I just *use* the red ones quickly?! lol)
Casey · March 07, 2008 at 06:16 PM
the peachy colored one with the little glass jewel in it- I have a bunch of those, well my mom does in the ever coveted button tin that once belonged to my great grandmother...those buttons will one day be mine I tell you...I think I need to call mom and ask for that again!
Amy · March 07, 2008 at 10:03 PM
Ooh, pretty vintage buttons! I too am a hoarder of old buttons. I consider myself quite lucky that I have found a local seller at an antique mall who is always supplied with a fresh stock of beautiful old buttons every time I visit, and she charges almost nothing for them. I wonder if she realises that it is the same person who buys her out of buttons every time? ;)
sarah · March 07, 2008 at 10:08 PM
Buttons always make me wish I was crafty so I could find uses for them. But, alas, I was not in line on time when they passed out crafty creativity. Great find!
Kelli · March 08, 2008 at 12:25 AM
Buttons always make me wish I was crafty so I could find uses for them. But, alas, I was not in line on time when they passed out crafty creativity. Great find!
Kelli · March 08, 2008 at 12:25 AM
I love the red ones!
Tizzalicious · March 08, 2008 at 01:14 AM
i love vintage buttons!
i love red!
i love your blog!
yvette · March 08, 2008 at 05:38 AM
i love vintage buttons!
i love red!
i love your blog!
yvette · March 08, 2008 at 05:38 AM
Buttons are fun!!!
Apple · March 08, 2008 at 09:26 AM
Wow! I was just thinking about my buttons this morning. I saw a lot of the same red ones in my collection. My problem is how to organize them. Let me know if you have any great ideas for that!
Susan · March 08, 2008 at 02:21 PM
Me too on the vintage buttons. I've had some great luck on Etsy with getting vintage buttons. I've also done a couple of button swaps. Those are fun. Try this one http://www.flickr.com/groups/384144@N20/
the aesthetic onion · March 08, 2008 at 03:46 PM
I am also hosting this swap, if you love vintage notions, please join it! http://www.swap-bot.com/swap/show/11964
the aesthetic onion · March 08, 2008 at 03:48 PM
i love buttons too. when i travel i like to visit fleam markets and antique fairs and pick up a few. they are great ebcause they aren't too expensive and they are light and small.
risa · March 08, 2008 at 06:27 PM
Gah! It's like your dangling catnip in front of me. I wash my buttons the same way - though I can't stand the smell when you have some Bakelite ones mixed in.
Lotta · March 09, 2008 at 01:29 AM