Old Glass Jars and Vintage Buttons
Can you remember your grandmother keeping a tin of buttons around for mending projects? The buttons were carefully snipped off old clothing and often stored in an old tin. I love finding those tins at garage sales and estate sales, they're definitely a look back to another time and age, when things were mended and not easily tossed away.
Garage sales, flea markets and even estate sales can yield a bounty of old buttons.
Often I've found a button in an old tin that is just the right size and colors for hubby's shirt that needs mending, but that's not why I keep them around.
The button jars are kept on a shelf in my craft room, as a visual treat, but also handy when I am looking for an interesting accent for the latest knitting project.
These jars are filled with assorted, but mostly common buttons found over the years, usually for no more than three or four bucks for a bag or tin. A future project will be separating the buttons by material so that any fragile ones don't deteriorate from mixing materials in the same jar.
Old and antique buttons are more pricey, but if you're not a collector per se, don't spend the big bucks unless until you know what you're buying. The bonus of buying a jar or bag of buttons is often a few cool pieces will be found in the mix. Maybe even a few valuable buttons. One time I found a Harrison campaign button in a jar bought at a garage sale.
Serious Button Collector?
Experienced and avid button collectors will not be keeping their buttons in jars like these, instead their pieces are carefully mounted on mat boards for personal displays and exhibiting at shows.
Like any collectible, proper care and display are important in keeping pieces in the best condition.
Mats can be purchased ready for mounting or collectors can do-it-yourself with an awl and mat board. Other resources for collectors is a button sizer, a handy tool that is perfect for accurate measurement and quite affordable.
If you want to get serious about collecting buttons, visit the website of the National Button Society. There are numerous shows and exhibits all over the country, several each month. Find one close to you and check them out. With the infinite variety of buttons available for collecting, figure out what ones you want to collect by seeing them up close and personal. Take the time to talk to experienced collectors and dealers -- always worth the time and effort and always the chance to learn and experience more.
Garage sales, flea markets and even estate sales can yield a bounty of old buttons.
Often I've found a button in an old tin that is just the right size and colors for hubby's shirt that needs mending, but that's not why I keep them around.
The button jars are kept on a shelf in my craft room, as a visual treat, but also handy when I am looking for an interesting accent for the latest knitting project.
These jars are filled with assorted, but mostly common buttons found over the years, usually for no more than three or four bucks for a bag or tin. A future project will be separating the buttons by material so that any fragile ones don't deteriorate from mixing materials in the same jar.
Old and antique buttons are more pricey, but if you're not a collector per se, don't spend the big bucks unless until you know what you're buying. The bonus of buying a jar or bag of buttons is often a few cool pieces will be found in the mix. Maybe even a few valuable buttons. One time I found a Harrison campaign button in a jar bought at a garage sale.
Serious Button Collector?
Experienced and avid button collectors will not be keeping their buttons in jars like these, instead their pieces are carefully mounted on mat boards for personal displays and exhibiting at shows.
Like any collectible, proper care and display are important in keeping pieces in the best condition.
Mats can be purchased ready for mounting or collectors can do-it-yourself with an awl and mat board. Other resources for collectors is a button sizer, a handy tool that is perfect for accurate measurement and quite affordable.
If you want to get serious about collecting buttons, visit the website of the National Button Society. There are numerous shows and exhibits all over the country, several each month. Find one close to you and check them out. With the infinite variety of buttons available for collecting, figure out what ones you want to collect by seeing them up close and personal. Take the time to talk to experienced collectors and dealers -- always worth the time and effort and always the chance to learn and experience more.
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