Button Floozies

This article is from Piecework Magazine and I thought you might enjoy reading it if you have not already seen it.

I wrote a post on my blog yesterday well i say that but really i just posted a whole bunch of gratuitous button shots! like this one want to see more ;) click the link http://maximumrabbitdesigns.blogspot.com/2012/02/gratuitous-button-shots.html kind regards x vInTaGe VioLeT x

British author Nina Edwards has written a book I know you will want to get: On the Button, the Significance of an Ordinary Item . In it, Edwards explores the humble button and its cultural history, from its place in fashion to its use in the arts.  She also looks at us -- button lovers -- and why we enjoy and collect them. With photos, button history, and descriptions, the book celebrates everything we enjoy about our favorite little fasteners! Best of all, in my book, is the mention this blog gets in the introduction!  A must-have for Floozies, for sure!

My Colorado Springs Button Club made the news, from yesterday's meeting!  Button collecting is serious business for this club. Photo by Mark Reis, The Gazette (That's me, at 2 o'clock, dark hair, black sweater!)

Happy Belated Valentine's Day to you! I mounted a few common heart buttons as a  Valentine's Day display...   I am always looking for heart buttons with "I LOVE YOU" on them, any language including Rebus.  I only have seven "I LOVE YOU" buttons, so please contact me if you come across different styles... Thanks! (Tami Hacker, vintageconnections.blogspot.com)

Calling all floozies!  I was wondering if you could look at these treasures I found and see if  the first picture might be button covers.  I am also including some cool buttons I found in a jar at the flea market for 10.00.  Yay I made a good purchase I am thinking!  If anyone could help me id the others I would be so happy! Thank you.

This buton card was the perfect size for an ATC.  I added all the things I love to collect and many things that remind me of my mom's sewing room.  This was swapped all the way to London!

When you're looking through pinterest, and find one of your handmade originals in someone's folder ! I've been making and selling these for years, but I kept this particular one for myself!

The buttoned heart ornament above was among the beauties from the Valentine Swap I hostessed on my blog.  Click here and here to see all 20 of the valentine beauties by my talented crafty friends in Blogland! Happy Valentine's Day, Button Floozies!

Spring is coming soon and I've been busy painting bluebirds (and birds of all colors) on my antique MOP buttons which I sell on my etsy shop ...  Also I want to remind everyone I have a detailed tutorial on my blog on button painting.  It covers every step from the preparation to the finishing spray... and also covers supplies needed. If you are interested in painting on buttons check it out...  It's great fun... http://olderrose.blogspot.com/p/button-painting-tutorial.html Gerry Krueger http://olderrose.blogspot.com/ http://www.etsy.com/shop/olderrose

I know you're all getting your Valentines together to share with your own sweethearts, but in the event you need one more gift idea, I'd like to share mine with you. I love sorting through my vintage buttons to create a button heart for someone special. I've made quite a few of them and while they're simple to make, the effect is quite elegant. All you need is a 5" x 7" shadow box frame, a large supply of buttons (I like to do all of my hearts in a monochromatic scheme, so I choose buttons from the same color family for each heart), and a hot glue gun. If you're all thumbs like I am, you can use a low-melt gun instead. I take a heart-shaped template and place it on the velvet background of the frame and outline it with a light colored pencil to make the heart image that I'll use as my guide for placement of the buttons. Be sure to leave enough room around the heart so that you can put your piece back into the frame. Then, using larger buttons...

Here is a fun way to use buttons in your home decor... plus storing them as well! blogged about here: Artsy Fartsy

I have seen and admired these tape measure bracelets for a couple of years now and finally figured out a way to make one without the toggle findings. I used black elastic cording I had laying around and tied it in a square knot, it is hidden in the fold over of the end of the tape measure. I sewed the end and measured around my wrist, left an inch or so and cut it off. then folded and sewed down the other end. I'm sure you could glue down the ends and use a small ponytail elastic band if you wanted to. I then went to my button stash and found 3 that went together and sewed them on and added some glue too. Sew Simple! Button Floozie, Deb

Here is an interesting tutorial showing how to make dorset buttons.  Some vintage thread or dorset buttons available on Etsy

I was surprised this afternoon with a Valentine from a dear friend, Linda Sue ! Linda Sue knows me well, so of course her Valentine is full of buttons! Wrapped in a lovely vintage paper napkin, her handmade Valentine holds pink and red buttons! Tiny pink carded buttons!  Chunky red carded buttons!  And loose ones -- including a gorgeous mother of pearl button... set in a metal frame!  A vintage but new Valentine handkerchief, and coordinating antique needles in their folded paper package, also grace the pocket... and then there is the imagery on the card itself: also button-y, and then studded with real buttons!  Such a treat!  Such a thoughtful gift for hearts and flowers (and buttons!) day!

This little birdie is posing prettily with some of my recent antique store purchases: a spring, some laces and trims, and, of course... some beautiful shell buttons, lovingly preserved on a scrap of card.  They have a beauty all their own!