What you find in a thrift store button grab bag

January 24, 2012

I bought a big plastic bag full of buttons at the thrift store the other day; I call them button grab bags. This one was $3.99. I was looking for hidden treasure. Here's what was in it:

Tons of full button cards.

They were all plastic, and colorful; vintage, but not very.

And another pile of partial button cards and some loose ones.

This was the oldest thing in there, I think.

Then there were some beads and baubles.

Finally, the junk that inevitably turns up in the dregs of the button bag:

stray game pieces, googly eyes, some hardware, etc.

No treasure this time; you can't win them all!

What's the most exciting thing you've found in a thrift store button bag?

Comments

Unknown said…

I got the e-book you posted about below. You are an old hand at button buying. I don't have that many yet so I haven't hit on any treasures. I did buy three bags of homemade pins at the Goodwill recently. I have taken the pin off and used them on some of my plarn purses. Woohoo. Sista we are the best.
QMM

January 24, 2012 at 4:22 PM

Margaret said…

Lucky You I am on the lookout.

January 24, 2012 at 4:35 PM

Unknown said…

I always buy button bags at the thrift store, but I don't know that I've found anything different than what you found! Actually the neatest thing in there was a clear hard plastic box, with a lid that 'snaps' to the bottom, measure 1 x 3 x 1. I remember my grandmother having these kinds of little boxes that she stored all kinds of things in - needles, bobbins, knitting supplies, etc. Some semi vintage buttons in the bag, but I like the box best :)

January 24, 2012 at 4:43 PM

Mary Helen-Art Saves Lives said…

My Goodwill has several artists and quilters who visit and we often compete for the buttons stash. You have quite a find here Lady Bug and they are simply lovely. Lucky Girl!!! Peace, Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart

January 24, 2012 at 5:02 PM

roselynn sullivan said…

My goodness no, you cannot win them all, what fun would that be? Yes I have found a few button bags in my button career since 2004. My most interesting find was a gold tooth. I took it to a coin shop and got $25.00. I feel so fortunate to have found the Button Floozie site. I never quite fit in with all my button friends. I never could leave my darling buttons on cards for very long. Off they would come so I could give some away, sort, touch smell, maybe even taste these little jewels and definitely turn into projects. So now I know I am indeed a Button Floozie and that is what Button Floozies do. Roselynnsullivan@gmail.com

January 24, 2012 at 10:20 PM

Kathy said…

Eeeee! I love treasure hunting through a poke sack because you just never know what might turn up!

January 24, 2012 at 10:44 PM

Mosaic Magpie said…

I recently found some old coins in a bag of buttons. I checked them on ebay and each worth about a dollar. Fun to dig around in the bag just to see what was thrown in.
Deb

January 25, 2012 at 2:01 AM

Cindy said…

Hi Sharon,
Thanks for stopping by! I got the heart pins from an etsy shop called Fresh Prints. I think she has some in stock. If not, just search for decorative stick pins. There are many pretty ones!
I will spend some time checking ourt your blog. I love buttons and have quite a collections.

January 25, 2012 at 11:54 AM