Sunday, February 2, 2014

Seven Things To Do With Vintage Pearl Buttons



Vintage Pearl Buttons...mmmmmm.



Aside from my three children, one of the blessings I brought away from my marriage was an impressive array of vintage sewing items from my ex grandmother-in-law. 

She was gone years before we married, but since I was the only one even remotely interested in the items, I was offered cigar boxes full of zippers, snaps, trim and notions. Of all the items, my favorites were the buttons. 



There were buttons of all types; vintage plastics, jet, carved wood, horn, leather and metal - even a small silver button among the stash. Still, my favorites were the pearl buttons.



I sewed about a million on a man's suit vest circa 1990, and wore it quite a bit. It was REALLY heavy. Heavy vests are not really my thing anymore.  

Until recently, the other buttons have remained in their Little Corona cigar boxes. Blogging and Pinterest have inspired me to bring them out into the open, and flaunt my wealth of buttons!

Some of my favorites now fill a space in a small wall-display box found at a thrift store and painted white. 



It is in my middle bedroom, with the still-green chest. (I did at least BUY paint for it...does that count?)



Here are six more very creative ways to use and display vintage buttons, via Pinterest:

Jewelry...this piece from Quench metalworks was featured on I Love Handmade Blog, which is on hiatus now.





I LOVE this lamp shade from She Dreams Big...and it looks like it would take about as much time as my heavy vest. 

Here's a simple one from Timewashed on Etsy. Display carded pearl buttons under a cloche. 




Another simple, but charming approach from Laughing with Angels caught my eye. 


She displays her buttons in a vintage jar and on a flower frog in her studio, so she can be inspired to create! I'm going to do this, too. No more cigar boxes for pretty things.

How about Clever Karen's wonderful ivory crazy quilt?


Another Etsy Item (sorry, already sold, of course) from RememberMeEmily combines a vintage salt shaker, buttons and book pages into an adorable mini flower arrangement.

via

Update:  Emily has NEW vintage button items HERE.

Emily even has a doll head like mine! Love it.
For more creative ideas for vintage buttons, please visit me HERE on Pinterest. 

Word for the Day:
Matthew 7:6
“Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.

Possibly Linking With:
Sunday
Sunday Show-off Link Party
Nifty Thrifty Sunday
Monday
Metamorphosis Monday
Mod Mix Monday
Revival Monday
Masterpiece Monday
Make it Pretty Monday
Tuesday
Vintage Inspiration Tuesday
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
The Scoop
Inspire Me Tuesday
Inspiration Exchange Linky Party
Wednesday
Blissfully White Wednesday
Restored it Wednesday
Wow Us Wednesday
Show Me What Ya Got
What’s it Wednesday
Cottage Style Party
Penny Pinching Party
Thursday
http://petitemichellelouise.blogspot.com/
Grey Dey Thursday
Creative Inspirations
Thursday Open House Party
Time Travel Thursday
Share Your Cup Thursday
Friday
Feathered Nest Friday
Furniture Feature Friday
Friday Redoux Link Party
Frugal Friday
Vintage Inspiration Friday
Fabulously Creative Friday
Saturday
Party Junk
Get Schooled Saturday
Show and Tell Saturday



14 comments:

Gypsy Heart said...

I remember my grandmothers having buttons like that! Such treasures these days and so beautiful.

xo
Pat

AnnMarie aka Vintage Junkie aka NaNa said...

I love your button ideas...especially the lampshades! They look really pretty on picture frames too! Visiting from Make it Pretty Monday

Jennelise said...

Wonderful ideas! I love your little wall shelf. :)
Jennelise

Donna Wilkes said...

I am very stingy with my button collection. Mostly I just put them in jars to sit around looking pretty. Love the frog idea for the button cards.

PS I missed your party again. I want email alerts when you post.

farmhouse-story said...

wonderful collection, revi! love the lampshade idea, and the crazy quilt must be darling! the bitty cabinet looks great with all your other wall accents!

Vickie @ Ranger 911 said...

My grandmother had coffee cans filled with old buttons that my sister and I loved to sort through. I inherited 2 of them and lent them to a friend and never got them back. I've since started my own collection. I love the crazy quilt with button embellishments!!

Pura Vida said...

I have a tin box very much like this...so many pretty ideas..they are so lovely

Unknown said...

Thanks for all the lovely ideas. I have plenty of buttons in my craft room to play with so might need to try out some of these ideas.

Pat said...

Revi,
Adorable ways to use vintage buttons, dear one!!!
I, too, use vintage buttons within my creating. I made two wreath pillows and a POSH Button Basket Pillow that are a huge hit with my followers!!!
Thanks for all the amazing ideas!!!
Fondly,
Pat

Marty@A Stroll Thru Life said...

Oh I love them all. So pretty. Thanks tons for linking to Inspire Me. Hugs, Marty

From the Old InkWell said...

Oh I've loved pearl buttons since my girls were babies and I sewed it in their sweet clothes. Your ideas are awesome.

Sette Design said...

Really pretty post. I like the lampshade too.
Cheers,

Kim said...

Although the lampshade would be labor-intensive, it is so worth it! Love that idea. Maybe I could drape instead but so many good ideas. Thanks for curating this for us Miss R.
Kim@reposhture

Kathryn Ferguson Griffin said...

Revi, your button collection is beautiful! Thank you for sharing. You will be one of the fan features tomorrow at the Sunday Showcase from the Make it Pretty Monday party at The Dedicated House. Pop on in tomorrow to check out your feature! Have a lovely day tomorrow. Toodles, Kathryn @TheDedicatedHouse