Button Floozies

Read all about it today at Philadelphia Wedding online .

A friend asked me to make a button bookmark for her to give her mom for Mother's Day.  I was glad she did because it made me get back in the bookmark making mode. It also made me realize that people might have special buttons from family members but don't know what to do with them.  So I put up two Etsy listings--one for the Mother bookmark using my button and one for a button bookmark made with buttons sent in by the customer.  They can also choose the word they want--REMEMBER, NANA, SISSY, EXPLORE, CHERISH.... I like how the buttons look dangling out of the book:  I experimented with different ways of placing the buttons, which was fun.  I'll post pictures of some of the other options soon.  You can read more about the project on my blog. http://elizabethjennings.com/2015/04/18/for-mothers-day-and-beyond/

The Colorado State Button Society  members are busy with their annual button show and sale, Square Up Your Buttons .  The show takes place today at the Doubletree by Hilton Denver, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and tomorrow, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.  For more details, visit their website . This year the button SALE portion of the event is free and open to the public -- what a bonus!  You won't find a more varied selection of buttons anywhere on the planet than you will at any button show sale!  Here are some photos of beauties I've purchased at their shows in past years: Check the National Button Society website to find out about local shows you might have in your area.  If you are near one -- you don't want to miss it!

I had some stray buttons that were interesting. And some scraps of paper. I put the two together...  And then kept going!  Tactile, mindless...fun! 

After many months of searching at thrift stores for buttons and coming up relatively empty, I had a restorative experience yesterday!  As in, it restored my faith that it was possible to find beautiful buttons in thrift stores. I found these at the bottom of a bin at our Goodwill Outlet.  The sparkly ones were mixed in with some Christmas ornaments -- not even vintage ornaments.  The larger stones on the outside are aurora borealis stones; the smaller ones have a pale green tinge. Here's what the back looks like.  I think they are just beautiful! I believe these grape cluster buttons are made from Lucite or a similar plastic with sparkles in the mix.  They definitely need to be cleaned but I have to research the best way before I attempt it. Aren't they fun?

I'm always surprised to see where buttons pop up.  Recently, it was on the facebook page for my hometown of Clemson, SC. This button was from the cadet uniform for Clemson Agricultural College, which is now Clemson University.  It was found by Russ Hebert, who is also from Clemson and who found this during one of his metal detecting digs.  When I told Russ I had written a novel based on stories about discarded buttons, he explained that "believe it or not, buttons are our most sought after relic.  Buttons privde provenance and are easily (for the most part) identifiable." You can find out more in my blog here , which includes a link to a video of the hunt!

I am in love with the television show, Downton Abbey.  So many things about the show inspire me: the story itself, of the end of an era and a world in the throes of wartime; the characters and their strength and beauty; and of course the gorgeous surroundings of the manor house.  I recently began to design a series of paper art to celebrate the show.  Here is the first piece, which features some beautiful vintage buttons. On a background of sunny paper with a doily motif, I glued a print of one of my favorite photos from the show of the three sisters; I framed them in a page from an antique photo album and layered other vintage papers and lace around and underneath it.  On top is a vintage cigar label, and an inked brown embossed tag tied it with yellow/gold seam binding.  At the bottom is a tiny cluster of vintage posies. I really enjoyed choosing some buttons to decorate it; they all remind me of Downton Abbey though they are not necessari...