This is a tale of a dreamer and her buttons ...
There are buttons which were bought on adventures in the far north and west all tucked away in a basket which arrived in the post from the Head Chef many moons ago (it never ceases to amaze me that he remembered the name of the shop in Bath where I gazed on it in mute adoration and he seemed to ignore me, only to ring them later and arrange for it to be delivered into my own fair hands).
There is a tin full of my inheritance from my dear departed grandmamma - where on earth did she get all of those yellow buttons from? I never saw her wearing such a sunflower shade of yellow ...
And a tin of odds and bods and singles in all sorts of jolly colours ...
Not to mention a Penhaligons Bluebell soap box full of quite aged buttons in sober colours, enlivened by some bright and sparkling gold.
So what is one to do with such a treasury of buttons? I have stitched them on cardis, and embellished T-shirts; I have put them on pincushions and needlecases, but still the tins are overflowing.
I was at quite a loss as to how to be inventive with buttons, but then the lovely people at Search Press sent me a book which offers some wonderfully creative solutions to a surfeit of buttons.
Button Jewellery by Marrianne Mercer, in the Twenty to Make series, has some lovely ideas for simple to make button jewellery.
I particularly like these bracelets which make use of the sort of metallic buttons which were originally spares from men's blazers and vintage suits, or mixed brightly coloured singles ...
And these bag charms, which also make the most of those single metallic buttons:
So if you fancy trying out some of the button jewellery ideas in this lovely little book, then I have a copy to give away, courtesy of the kind people at Search Press.
Entry is open to anyone, anywhere - just leave me a comment below - or if you are having trouble commenting (as I know that some bloggers are), just email me to enter. Please, if you are entering via commenting, make sure that you put your email address in the comment box, or put your email in your profile, and make your profile accessible to others, otherwise I can't email you to tell you that you have won!
And if you have any more ideas for using up a button stash, then I would love to hear them!
As it is half-term for many people this week or next, I will leave the giveaway open for a couple of weeks to give you time to enter - the closing date will be Sunday, 15 June.
75 comments:
Certainly look like there are some wonderful ideas for using buttons in that book. I am currently on the hunt for teeny tiny buttons for my dolls dressmaking - I have lots of the kind that would be wonderful to use with that book, but far too big for Sasha and Co.
I nearly bought that book today but opted for the bunting one instead (perhaps it's fate 'hehe').
You really don't have to use those buttons, you could just lovingly fondle them!
B xxx
What a wonderful give a way. I use lots of big buttons for counting with the children I work with, they always find them interesting. Also I have very fond memories of my mum's button tin. My own button tin is a Belgian Biscuit tin with images of Tintin on it.
My kids and I just love letting the buttons run through our fingers. It's one of our favorite things to do.
Ooooh, what a fabulous book, I am swimming in buttons here, I love them so much, new ideas for use (and showing them off) are always welcome. Please add my name to the hat x
My button tin is full of memories! I recognise so many of the older buttons from coats, dresses, blouses that either my mother or I wore.
I love button boxes, sadly mine got lost in a move, but I am going to be rootling though mum's soon (she doesn't know it yet - it'll be a nice surpise for her!)
I'm planning to make some activities with buttons for my 2 year old and I'm trying to collect as many as I can. I'm thinking of sorting colours, counters, etc... that's another use for buttons!
This book looks like it's full of more ideas and it would be nice to have a closer look! thanks for the chance!
Oooooooooooh! (as my grand-daughter says when she gets a present) may I join in? (she doesn't say may I join in - she isn't two yet!)
Julie xxxxxxxxxx
What a lot of lovely ideas!
Count me in please
That looks like a wonderful book!
I have to confess I love to sit and stare at my button stash - I sometimes run my fingers through them too:)
What a fabulous button collection!
I love hunting for buttons at thrift stores and tag sales. I could use that book!!! Thank you.
That book looks amazing - as a keen button hoarder I'd love a chance to win :)
I have quite a few buttons knocking about the place........admittedly most of them are still attatched to clothing, but that can soon be remedied with stealth, cunning and a good pair of sharp scissors.........please put me back in Teddy-Faces biscuit bowl for your wonderous giveaway.
lily x
My other half likes to see what I make but he can't get excited like I can about fabric and ribbons and buttons...I apparently had a very lengthy conversation with him about buttons. At the end of which he said - "Well there's 10 minutes of my life I'll never get back". Now if either one of us starts going on and on about something we say "Shall we talk about buttons now?" ;-)
I think if I started making and wearing some button jewellery he'd find it beyond funny! :-)
What is it about buttons? We all love them and children learn to sort them into colours and sizes etc and love having a play with them too. What a lovely book - must check it out on Amazon or at the Book Depository.
Cool giveaway - abbylaws@:wyenet.co.uk X
I love buttons and I have tins, boxes and bags of them. If you have time check out my last button creation (with my lovely mother-in-law) I'd love to have the book!!
What a fantastic collection of buttons! Do you ever find you don't have one that is just right for what you need? That seems to be my problem. Would love to win that book, thanks for the chance to win.
I love buttons and this book would be great to give me some more ideas for my stash, please enter me! Have a great week! :) x
So you're not giving us your buttons then?!! Bummer! Ah well that book sure looks like a nice treat with so many lovely ideas. Sweet giveaway thank you!
I love your button collection! I am a bit of a buttonaholic too! :o)
C x
I've been having a rummage through my button collection this evening - it's my favourite part of making a cushion! Those 3 little details on the back closure.
I need to know... does your Penhaligon's box still smell? I * love* Bluebell.
I inherited my nan's button tin, it brings back so many memories when I go through it,
Victoria xx
What a nice giveaway! Just happen to have a whole little drawer full of those metallic buttons and just knew there was a creative way to use them...that book would be inspiring!
Your grandmother's buttons are lovely - wondering if that yummy butterscotch yellow could be from the 1930's? Next to the classic "Nile Green" seen in quilts, buttery yellow was popular too!
I've have my mum's old button tin and remember playing with all the buttons inside as a child which kept me busy while she was sewing. I also have a huge collectin of buttons which need using up some where. The giveaway book looks like just the right book to give me some ideas.
Please pop my name into your hat. Thanks.
Anne xx
I love your button tins, they're so pretty. My buttons are in an empty plastic container that wash capsules were in - so boring.
I'd never want you to have to do the complex financial bit of shipping anthing across the pond. I just wanted to let you know that I am another button appreciator. Old and new buttons, precious materials and not so precious.
We button lovers know treasure when we see it!
xo
I once inherited too got a lot of buttons. one of my friends used the smallest of them for cards, which she did. They were gorgeous applique flowers! everybody likes these lovely flowers:)
I wish I had kept my Mum's button box - but I didn't realise how wonderful this was at the time! Oh well, never mind! Yours are lovely.
Liz
Please count me in Pomona. I couldn't bear to have my buttons hidden away in tins, so I colour-sorted them and now they sit in glass jars on a shelf, thereby giving me pleasure every day.
Jak x
Wow, I have huge button envy! What a great stash and also a great giveaway x
Hi,
I have been making some accessories with buttons for a workshop that I am running at school in a couple of weeks time. Broches and corsages mainly this weekend. Plus stitching them to headbands. My daughter has picked up the button bug too. That book looks good so I am off to take a look at it more closely. Thank you for the tip.
Goodness me, I think that buttons may almost have to be of the universal language department. Nearly everyone seems to like to fiddle with buttons..it's the history & the tins & the memories & the colours. I just like having them. Just saw this picture here: http://pinterest.com/pin/30612423/ (hope the link works) . Uses up quite a lot of buttons to make a heart picture with them...I fancy all mother of pearl ones. Have a bright & happy week. Much love Catherine
Ha ha my "word" is pfull...could well be : )
oh what a wonderful treasure, all of these buttons! i can never have enough ;)
Ooh, ooh, please oh please count me in. I love buttons and have a small but growing stash of them (some inherited, some bought, some thrifted). The book would be great. And I love your button collection. Here's a thought for a project - sew buttons on the front of a square (say 12"x12") throw pillow case. Not in a perfect pattern (though it occurs to me that tight concentric circles could look cool) but rather scattered randomly over it, all different sizes. I did this with old mother of pearl buttons and a pale green pillowcase. It looks lovely in my daughter's room.
Having a button collection to rival your own, how could I resist?
I love my button collection almost as much as I used to love looking through my gran's button tin. So I agree that they don't have to be used, adoration is enough.
Oooh, we love buttons. I'd love to find some ways to display more of them. I've been considering box frame and glue gunning them on the inside but I do need more inspiration!
fingers crossed.
Being a fellow button hoarder of the first degree, I'd like a chance....thanks xx
I have vases, tins and boxes of buttons and love them like old friends! I think we are reminded of our granny's and times gone by. They are so versatile and useful for so many craft projects. x
You mustn't go entering me, it would be way too embarrassing if I won so soon after the last one. I just thought I'd check out your gorgeous buttons (and hear the story of course), having a bit of thing about them myself, you know!
Oh that looks like a great book! Especially love the bracelet. i tried to enter your last give away but google wasn't playing nice so hopefully this time it will let me enter!
I love buttons but I only have one large kilner jar sitting in my kitchen, its a jar of happiness! When I'm feeling down I like to go to a lovely fabric shop in Rochester High Street and fiddle with the buttons, the shop owner thinks its funny. When I leave the shop I don't feel down anymore! Amanda x
What a wonderful way of recycling buttons - would like to win.
Leah x
Oh! I would love to join your giveaway! I LOVE buttons!!!!
C x
Ooh! I have a friend who wears the most delish turquoise necklace that is made from buttons! I always mean to make one, but life gets in the way. That looks like a really good book to give me a start!
oh buttons! My grandmother also had a tin full of wonderful buttons which i used to love playing with when i was really young. I love button jewellery too, though I've never made any! I have used buttons as decoration on small purses I've made. What a lovely giveaway!
I love finding new ways to use things... I would love to have a copy of the book :) And how sweet of Head Chef :)
caitlindevlin(at)hotmail(dot)com
What a great idea a book devoted to button collectors. I sure hope I win I have some lovely vintage boutons. esterling9 at aol dot com
I would love an opportunity to win. I have button bracelets and button necklaces. I love buttons. The book looks fantastic! .... Lisa
I wonder what is about buttons that's so attractive? Your collection is fantastic!
Hello,
I would love to own some of those previous buttons. I made a button quilt a few years back so my button jar is looking a little sad.
Happy days.
Bev.xoxo
This will make for a fun project that my youngest to make to send to her sister who will be away for her first year of college! Can you imagine her delight if she were to open a care package from home, inside finding such a treasure from her baby sister... wonderful!
Buttons bring back such fond memories of my childhood. I'd love to go through my Moms button cans. I have them now displayed in my home.
I won't use any of hers but always buy what I find at sales, etc. LOVE buttons!
Thank you so much for the opportunity to win this inspirational book!
*hugs*deb
Your blog is adorable...just the kind of things I love! Thanks for stopping by thisandthatcreations.blogspot.com. I'll be stopping by yours more often!
Christine
I would love to win it!! It's a lovely giveaway!!!!
I think making button jewelry would be fun. Thus far I've only used them in folky type wall hangings and runners. Thanks!
For some reason, my little girl always collected buttons...Her 34th birthday is coming up and this indeed would be a lovely way to surprise her (I actually have a small tin with buttons I started to keep for her to include)!
Thank you for the opportunity and may you have a blessed day!
Ta Ta for now!
Oh yes, how can one resist a tin of buttons. My grandmother made bracelets like the one in the book with metal buttons!
Lovely giveaway thank you.
Creative giveaway! I love to make xmas ornaments...vintag looking wreaths, trees....awesome! Thanks for the chance! KERIHAG at YAHOO dot COM
Buttons! Just my cup of tea! I love them and would appreciate a book on how to use my collection!
I think that we never have too many buttons.I adore them and I am always on the lookout for more.Seems like they will never run out.I'd love to have a book on them....looks very interesting. ciao Alison
Oh, I adore buttons! Love seeing your collection, Pomona. I'm in awe of those vintage yellow buttons - that's one colour that you don't see often.
Button jewelry is so appealing and this book seems to have some pretty ideas. Wish I could add a new idea for buttons, but I can't suggest anything other than using buttons to embellish anything from hats, bags, clothes, pillows and anything thing else that can be stitched onto. ;o)
I'm a button hoarder too! And am in serious need to inspiration for using them! Just found your blog and all it's loveliness, so off to have a read & early morning cuppa, cheers!
pumpkin-soup(at)xtra(dot)co(dot)nz
me me me pleeeeease
love buttons and the book looks like its full of ideas :)
I too have my grannies button tin and still find it wonderfully nostalgic when looking for the perfect piece.
I have made earings, added them to sewinf projects and only the other day used an old cork button to secure the door on a project I was helping my friends grand-daughgter with, the best air raid shelter in Yorkshire|
Today I am not sewing I am in bed having fallen and torn the ligament in my foot which has pulled a piece of bone away.
So I need a project for the next 6 weeks, please add my name to the4 hat.
Amanda
Oh...WOW! These are so lovely!
Count me in!
Ooh this looks lovely. I'm a new crafter and blogger and would love something like this for inspiration! I am now following your blog :)
www.njs-randomness.blogspot.com
I am just updating my blog and put you on my sidebar, then came across to catch up with you and I see that you have a give-away, gosh i obviously missed seeing that the last time I visited. I LOVE buttons, so couldn't miss this opportunity :)
x Sandi
sandi.lee@bigpond.com
Great ! It is still time to comment and try my luck ! Anyway, I am here just trough gardens visits , and have not waisted my time !
The fascination with buttons continues....from playing with my mums button tin to this lovely book. Count me in x
Oh I do so love buttons - please count me in!!
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