a major de-stash

One good thing to come from a flooding basement is the sudden need to de-stash one's somewhat out of control supply pile.  My so-called workspace has had so many plastic bins of materials in it that I'm not actually able to work in it.  As I was lifting bin after bin out the basement window it became clear that I needed to do a purge.  I have more buttons and felt than I will ever use in a lifetime, so I'm offering them up in my shop at incredibly low prices.

If you, or anyone you know, has wanted to work with 100% felted garment wool or tinker with vintage buttons, please have a look at the supply section in my shop HERE.

Thank you!

now, back to the basement with me...

Purple Turtles

I've been including a little vintage button flower when sending off packages of buttons purchased from my destash shop.  They're just simple stacks with some wool leaves, wound up on wire with a curved stem that can slip in a button hole and act as a brooch or it can hang over the edge of a flower pot, pencil cup, etc.

One of my sweet customers mentioned that she likes purple turtles so I just had to make a little surprise for her package.

I've carved up a mother of pearl button that had chipped along one side (I never throw those away because I like carving them) into a vague turtle shape with my dremel tool and a diamond bit.  I carved with the button under running water. When I was done, I gave him a purple button shell and plunked him down on a wool lily pad.  Silly but fun. 

Have a great weekend everybody.  (silly and fun too, if you can swing it)

Lucky

I started reading The Long Winter last night.  I've been re-reading the Little House books, childhood favorites of mine, that I picked up second-hand and look what I found tucked in between page 50 and 51.

Luck!  It struck me as funny given that the passage on that page tells of the cows whose faces froze to the ground during a blizzard.

Note to self: no grazing outside until it's much warmer. 

Do you remember this image from a few weeks ago?

I had mentioned that I would have to keep my eyes open for a little dog head button to add to my Little House collection.  Well, much to my surprise, a sweet little button landed in my mailbox courtesy of the wonderful Nini.

Isn't it just perfect?

OK, and here is where you get to roll your eyes at me...I bought a button.  Yes, after unloading 100 pounds of buttons, I bought one.  But just look at it!  It's so cool.

There's even wash hanging on the line.  I had to have it.

All this reading has me itching to make green pumpkin pie and practice my stitching.  I'll pass on the red flannels though.  If you haven't read the books, you should.  If you're on Twitter check out HalfPintIngalls.  She has a new book coming out in April, The Wilder Life: My Adventures In The Lost World Of Little House On The Prairie, which I am going to have to order.

The temperature is almost up to zero here this morning and I'm crossing my (frozen) fingers that it hits the projected 27.  This winter is getting long.

Have a good and warm Monday, all.

Bone Button Monday

Dem bones, dem bones, dem bone buttons. 

They might be a little creepy to some people, but I love them.  Bone was one of the, if not the, first materials for buttons.  It's easy to imagine early man carving these practical fasteners out of the bones of his kill.  They're reminders of a time when nothing went to waste.  When more sophisticated materials came in to popularity, they became the ornamentation of common people and peasants.

I relate to and celebrate their history and I appreciate their aesthetic also.  Creamy colors, obviously handmade details, and a weight different from plastic.

Some were dyed and achieved a beautiful brown color, not unlike wood.

Most were carved and drilled by hand.  This lovely below just shouts "handmade" and I can't help but wonder, by whom?

These with the bump on the back were likely turned on a lathe.

Historically, women would dye buttons using a variety of dyes.  I tried an overnight soaking in strong tea on these.  Below on the left is the  tea-stained buttons and on the right were the buttons pre-tea.  (the X button is an undyed button that slipped in)  The result is really subtle.

It was sarahracha's work that I featured the other day that inspired me to make myself a necklace.  I wore it while mopping.  (just for you, Marilyn)

Since I had all the materials out, I decided to make a few for my shop too. 

Natural and filled with history.  Just the kind of things I like to carry with me.

Happy Monday all!

Recycling Is Beautiful

I just had to show you a couple of lovely pieces made by sarahracha today.  My fellow EcoEtsy teammate had purchased one of my 1 pound vintage button grab bags and used her findings to put together not one but two beautiful necklaces so far.  I love that she had no idea what was going to be in the bag but was able to find some inspiration inside.  Her pieces came out beautifully!

This one has a mix of plastic, bone, glass, and mother of pearl buttons all crocheted together.

This fun green and blue number is reversible.  Clever!

She also makes other fabulous eco-friendly pieces like these recycled plastic bag baskets, cork trivets, and more.

I still have gobs of vintage buttons left so if you'd like a grab bag of your own, take a look in my lilfishextras shop.

I'm going to be taking this weekend off.  I'm getting a little frazzled around the edges and want to take a little time to sit down, read some blogs, reply to emails and comments, and regroup.

Have a fantastic, creative, relaxing weekend too, everyone.

Button Monday

I've been wanting to re-read the Little House on the Prairie books, they had been some of my favorites growing up, so before bed the other night I grabbed a copy of "On The Banks of Plum Creek" and settled in.

When I reached the passage below, I started smiling.

I recognized some of those buttons from my own stash immediately so I pulled out a painted china button, a jet button, and one with a raised castle and bridge.  I love the history in these pieces and to read about them in the story somehow gave them provenance for me. 

Now I just have to find a button with a tiny dog head on it.  One more button in the collection can't hurt, right?

Happy Monday and Happy Valentine's Day, sweeties!

Bye Bye Buttons

As you know, I've been parting with my vintage buttons this past week.  I've been selling some off in my destash shop and sending some to friends.  It feels good, this letting go, so I had a good chuckle at myself when I found myself oohing and ahhing over a set of buttons I spied on Etsy yesterday.  I very nearly bought them too, but gave myself a shake and a slap and snapped out of it. 

One step at a time. 

My goal is to have a small jar of lovely buttons just for me to work with and one with the victorian picture buttons I love.  My work has been moving in a different direction (path) and I'd much rather see these beautiful old buttons go on to others who will appreciate them.  I'll keep adding some to my lilfishextras shop over the next few weeks and then I think I'll box up the rest and sell them as a giant lot on ebay.

I feel like I should have some melancholic music playing here as I bid adieu to the love affair that was my button collection.

I found this clear glass button in a set that I put in the shop yesterday and puzzled over why the holes were painted, one red and one blue. 

When I picked it up I realized that the red and blue were then reflected in the facets cut on the front of the button, in an alternating pattern.  How clever is that?

I've been loving hearing from the sweet souls who have been purchasing some of the pound bags of unsearched buttons.  Rebekah (who makes the adorable goodies at Tumus and pinpinn on Etsy) found a few fun ones in her bag and blogged about it.  If you get a chance, stop over and check it out.

Doesn't her bulldog ornament look just like my dog?

Happy Saturday, everyone.

Truth In Art

I had to share with you a piece by a very special artist.  This is a watercolor by my 4 year old son, painted just yesterday.  He described his motivation for the painting as such:

"This is called 'Appetite'."  "I painted your teeth because you eat so much."

Oh how lovely.

In non body-issue news, I got a lovely email from Angel of Stumbles and Stitches yesterday who had purchased a pound bag of my vintage buttons.  She shared a few photos of some of the treasures she found in her bag, over on her blog.  It looks like she found a few mother of pearls, an art glass button or two, what looks like a bakelite button, and a really cool brown flower.  Oh the fun!  If you get a chance, stop on over and check it out.

New in the Shop

I'm running a little late today.  I'll blame it on being sluggish from the enormous sundae I had yesterday... mmmm.

Today I'll be digging through the rubble that is my house after a leisurely weekend, and hopefully finishing up a few small projects.  This morning I did get a few more buttons put in my lilfishextras shop and 2 mossy wool brooches in my lilfishstudios shop so I'm feeling good about that.

If I can stay away from the rest of the ice cream in the freezer I just might have a productive week. 

Wish me luck!

Happy Monday, all.

Bags o' Buttons

I spent some time packing up 1-pound bags of vintage buttons from the giant tub of unsorted buttons I talked about yesterday.  As promised, I've added some to my de-stash shop, lilfishextras.  

To be sure I didn't go through the stash and "pick" I had my kids fill up the bags for me.  When they were done I  added one or two special buttons to each bag, just to be sure there were some fun things to discover in each.  A lot of these buttons will be utility buttons but I'm sure there will be some fancy ones and some "not buttons" in there too.  Fun!

Remember, you can enter the giveaway to win one of these bags for your very own by leaving a comment on yesterday's post.  Comments will be open until Fri. Jan 28.

I'll be working on adding more vintage buttons and other vintage goodies to the de-stash shop over the next few weeks so if that is your kind of thing, I'd love it if you'd stop by and have a look.

 

In other news, the weather has warmed up a bit here (20s! Yay!) so I hope to be able to get out to the barn and cut some wood buttons today.   Of course, this is dependent upon nap schedules around here, as most things are.  I've been working on a few more mossy heart brooches to put in my shop but am out of wood buttons.

Can you believe it? Me, short of buttons? Ha.

Button Monday and a Giveaway!

Some of you may know that I have a rather sizeable stash of vintage buttons.  I love old buttons and enjoy working them into my projects.  I love the history behind them, the odd shapes and colors, and the strange not-buttons that I find mingled amongst them when I buy an old button jar.  Mostly, I love the diggin', the pickin', the explorin'.  I have more buttons than I'll ever use but still...when I see a jar of buttons at a thrift store or yard sale, I have to buy it just so I can dig through it.

 

I have some of my buttons sorted but I have about 50 pounds that I haven't yet sorted.  In fact, they've been sitting in my workspace for about 2 years now sooooo it's time for them to go.  Since I know there are other button-lovers out there, I thought I'd start my de-stash with a giveaway. Yay!

I'm starting with a pound bag o' buttons.  If you'd like to dig through some unsorted old buttons for yourself, then leave me a comment on this post and maybe you'll get one for yourself! 

I'll pick a winner on Friday Jan. 28 so please be sure I have some way to contact you.   I'll ship worldwide, so come on fellow button lovers, let's see what treasures you'll get!

Tomorrow I will start adding buttons to my (now empty) destash shop - lilfishextras - so if you're interested, come have a look.  I'll be adding a bunch of these unsorted bags o' buttons to the shop as well as a few more, but if you're looking for a certain kind of vintage button, just ask and I might have it for you.

Happy Monday everyone!

**** this giveaway is now closed ****

Button Monday

Tomorrow is the first day of school here and for the first time I will have two guys taking off on the big yellow bus.  Today's button Monday is a quick arrangement for my intrepid kindergartener and 6th grader.  

Have fun and learn lots, kidlets.  Momma will try not to cry too much at the bus stop. 

(Oh mommm )

Happy Monday everyone.  (and Labor Day too!)

Button Monday

It's harvest time here under the poplar and pine and I thought I'd show you how I've really acquired so many vintage buttons.  The truth is...they grow here. 

 Come with me for a little walk, won't you?

If you look carefully, you can find them in the flowers.

Sometimes with coordinating spiders.

They're hidden amongst the leaves and dew.

Some disguise themselves as acorns.

They even sprout up from the earth. 

Sometimes with fancy caps.

Some are shy and try to crawl away.

Some are even edible.

 

So if you ever come to visit, bring your baskets.  You never know what will be in season.

Happy Monday!