Buttons

I needed one button; a simple white 1/2" shirt button with 4 holes.

Friday afternoon seemed the ideal time to catch up with a small stack of ironing and a few garments which needed the hems taken up--items which had accumulated while so many hours have been spent in the garden or putting up produce.

My sewing machine and fabrics are in the large cool family room in the basement--at least 10 degrees cooler than the main level of the house on these sweltering July days.

The vintage-style blouse, one which I  snatched from the rack at Goodwill, had sleeves which flowed past my fingertips. meant to be  gathered--one supposes at the wrist---with a fine fabric tie.

Gina, the fashion expert, agreed that I could shorten the sleeves to my favorite elbow length.

It was only when I spread the shirtwaist on the ironing board that I noticed a button missing.

Several decades ago I made many similar "blouses"--for myself, for G. and for her cousins.

[It was the era of Jessica McClintock's "Gunne Sax" vintage style frocks and blouses--rather pricey off the rack, but something of a pleasure for a skilled seamstress to produce.]

I have buttons from that time still on their tidy cards, but a rummage through two of my button boxes didn't turn up an exact match.

I stitched on a similar button so that I could wear the shirt this weekend--

but the slight mis-match troubles me.

Today I pulled out several button boxes--taking inventory of my stash.

I have many novelty buttons; some beautiful metal buttons were given to me by a friend who worked for many years at the Geiger of Austria plant in Middlebury, Vermont.

At the end of each fashion season cones of thread matched to the woolens, linens and silks of a particular "line"  were discarded, as well as the distinctive buttons.

Knowing that I was doing some tailoring at the time, C. asked if I could use buttons.

To my astonishment she appeared the next day with two zip lock bags bulging with buttons.

My grand daughter--4 or 5 years old at the time--loved to separate the buttons into matching piles.

Eventually we strung them like beads on red string to keep them sorted.

I bought the cat buttons--just because they are catty.

The impractical but intriguing owl buttons were removed from a pricey sweater that came my way.

I have buttons in baskets, buttons in tins.

I brought this tin of old buttons from my parents house after their deaths.

My mother, like all frugal homemakers, clipped and saved the buttons from clothing that was too worn to be refurbished.

J.'s mother also had a box of saved buttons and I have carried on this time-honored thrifty practice.

[I suspect my generation is the last to patch, mend or replace bottons!]

These are some of the more startling examples from my mother's box

Those three domed buttons in the center are actually clear and almost cone-shaped.

The green marbled one is huge. My Mom was quite conservative in her clothing choices--hard to imagine that she flaunted something like that green one--or even the red disks with the lop-sided white centers.

Buttons with Beatrix Potter images--I must have used some of these for a dress for one of the grand daughters.

Middlebury, Vermont [30 minutes from my home for many years]

had many lovely shops--catering to the well-to-do people associated with prestigious Middlebury College.

Danforth Pewter made all sorts of serving pieces, elaborate candlesticks, vases, pitchers.

They also produced specialty buttons, charms for bracelets, hair clasps, key chains.

The buttons were displayed in cunning wooden bins.

I was making vests [waistcoats] at the time--pieced of beautiful woolens, velveteens and such.

If the vest was a gift I sometimes bought buttons which I knew the recipient would enjoy.

I believe I meant these pansy buttons for a vest to keep--I may yet create it!

Cowboy boots and hat--buttons which I used to decorate the collar of a denim jacket which J. wore for years.

A favorite vest which I still wear---can you see the cat face buttons?

Teasel took an interest in my button rummage.

Even one button dropped on the floor would be a choice tidbit for a bored cat to roll about.

Cats and buttons on the loose aren't a good combination: rather like handing over the button box to amuse a child who would put them in mouth, nose or ears!

I did finish the alterations and ironing, in spite of the elusive button.

I seem to be acquiring a collection of simply elegant white shirts.

If you recall Meryl Streep's wardrobe for the role of Karen Blixen in Out of Africa

you'll have an idea of the "shirtwaists" accumulating in my closet.

Projects

My Amish neighbor, Delila, does beautiful hand quilting.

She admits that piecing quilt blocks is not her strong point.  She purchases tops pieced by a Mennonite or Amish group and offered for sale through a brochure.  She then quilts and finishes them and puts them up for sale at auction.  I am impressed with her work and decided I would like to have her hand finish a quilt or two for me.

So, we have a 'deal' going. I created the top above, a setting of Log Cabin blocks [56 of them]  known as Fields and Furrows. She will complete the top and offer it for sale, giving me a 'credit' for the price of the top toward quilting one of mine.

Last week I dragged the numerous bins and boxes of my prized fabrics into the new family room and began rummaging out the pieces which I felt would be harmonious for this project.  The quilt will go to auction in March, so I chose lovely springtime florals.

I delivered the quilt top to Delila yesterday and her appreciation of it was heart-warming.

She feels that if ever a quilt should attract a good price this might be it.

Said Delila. "Shall we go into business?"

As I become better acquainted with this hard-working woman I have a sense that with financial backing she could make a success of the sort of emporium she would so like to have.

We'll see what happens with the quilt venture.  Sadly we both realize, as do most other crafters, that one never clears enough on a well-made item to repay the labor involved.

I

I had a certain amount of feline assistance during the project.

Teasel kindly waited to occupy the basket until I had used the cut strips arranged in it.

The fabrics have by no means been put away.

I have had this primitive cupboard for more than twenty years.

I purchased two of them from a neighbor, Bucky S., who bought, repaired and sold vintage pieces.

Bucky gave me a choice of colors and I chose this blue from a line of reproduction miilk paints.

The cupboard held dishes in the dining area of our small log cabin in Vermont.

In our first home in Wyoming it became my fabric cupboard.

It was in storage through the brief times in two more houses, then stood in the entry of our last WY house as a sort of catch-all.

I felt the cupboard needed refurbishing--it had acquired some scratches and scuffs, and I thought I was over my 'blue phase.'

I chose "Holly Hill Green" from the line of repro milk paint which is sold locally.

J. helped me drag the cupboard into the new family room.

It was scrubbed with Murphy's oil soap.

This afternoon I began painting.

NOT happy with the outcome!

The green is much more vivid than it appears on the color card.

J. came in and commented, "You've got John Deere green--how about some John Deere yellow stripes to go with it?"

[Above photo taken before paint was dried.]

Taken after the paint dried.  It is not so violently green, but its not the dull dark green I hoped for.

I shall ask M. S. who repurposes vintage furniture if she has a glaze I could apply to darken the color.  Otherwise I fear my persnickity sense of color will have me buying another pot of paint.

I am most anxious to sort and store my fabric, get the bins out of the middle of the floor!

The second of the two cupboards almost blends with the "Fireweed" paint color on the two sheet-rocked walls in the room.

I could be tempted to repaint this also, but J. says the scuffs from several moves add to the "primitive look."

It needs a new pane of glass on the left door.

It may eventually hold more fabric or perhaps some decorative items.

More of my belongings are appearing from packing boxes and need to find a resting place.

Yet another task was to clear off the accumulation of unrelated items which had been landing on the built-in buffet in the dining area. Since the ceramic cat was drifting about, I placed it as an ornament in the center of the buffet top.

J. says this is what has persuaded Charlie-cat and his daughter Jemima to consider this a

proper place to recline.

Living cat sculptures.

I don't suppose I will ever get the whole house sorted and looking/staying tidy.

Too many interesting projects and diversions skip through my mind--all more entrancing

 than mere housework.