Monday, July 7, 2008

This is...a bit of a catch up...

I've had so much trouble keeping up with blogging lately, so here's a catch-up from the last two 'This is...' themes.


Last week's theme, as chosen by Betty Jo from Lino Forest was My Best Op Shop Find. And basically I was paralysed by the choices, as I've found so many great things over the years. In the end, I chose my favourite most recent find, which is this little embroidered tablecloth (sorry, I really should have ironed it, but hey, I think I may have confessed here once or twice already that I'm lazy like that!).


I just love the little Scotty dogs around the edge, and the little matching napkin (shown in the middle of the cloth). It's in perfect condition - looks to have never been used!

And this week's theme, as chosen by Danielle from Teacups on Treatops is My Most Treasured Childhood Possession.

Again I have lots of things from teddies, to plastic jewellery, to poems written in Grade 2.


But the thing I love most is this tin. Looks pretty unexciting really doesn't it! But it used to belong to my Grandma, and it was always filled to the brim with buttons. I would spend hours at her place playing with this tin, or rather with the buttons within. I would sort them by colour, then by size, then by pattern, or even by interestingness. I even loved the feel and the sounds of them.....are you starting to get the picture of where my button addiction may have originated? Anyway, this button tin became mine a long time ago, and before I discovered sewing, it just sat in my special meatsafe cupboard (another treasure that once belonged to Grandma and Grandad - it is a rickety old thing with a stained-glass window in the top cupboard door, with wire mesh at the sides. Grandma used to keep her potatoes in it. But I digress...).

Anyway, once I discovered sewing, I realised I could actually start using the buttons I had loved so much for so long. And then I realised that I actually had an excuse to start a button collection of my own, adding to Grandma's stash.


And of course my button collection fast outgrew this old tin, and is now sorted (by colour) in glass jars by my sewing area. But this tin still has pride of place. It now contains pieces of elastic, because I like to think it would still prefer to be useful. And I never tire of looking at it. If I am stuck for inspiration, this tin always takes me back to a childhood filled with colour, texture, and imaginative wonder.

All this from a tin eh?....who'da thunk it!!

28 comments:

flossy-p said...

Buttons in themselves take us back to times gone by I think. My partners Mum gave me a large portion of her old buttons collection, and now my partner identifies which childhood outfits they came from, or were sewn into.

That tablecloth is great too!!!!

Melanie Gray Augustin said...

That is such a lovely story. A wonderful reason for your button love.

CurlyPops said...

What a lovely story to go with your tin.....I love your button collection, it's so pretty!

Bird Bath said...

what a wonderful treasure and the memories that come with the tin are very special too! Ahhh, the simple pleasures of buttons - I love them too.
The scotty doggie tablecloth is a great find...will you turn it into something or keep as is?

JustJess said...

From one button-lover to another - your collection is fabulous, and even more special because of the origins of the addiction!

Kara said...

I love seeing all those buttons organised! I have tins everywhere so never really know what I have!

Sasparilla Sue said...

Wowsers!!! Look at all those buttons! They're so pretty lined up like that. What a great story, too. How exactly does one determine interestingness?

SadieandLance said...

Ooo I love that table cloth. I have a similar one that my Great Nanna made. Same green gingham! Wonder if it was from a pattern?

And now I have button collection envy. Thank you very much!

Sharon said...

That's a lovely story!Button porn rocks! I need to go and sort my buttons into colour order now, they look fantastic!!

.girl ferment. said...

Totally ace story of the expanding button tin. From 'the small stuff' big things grow, (oh dear did I just say that)?
xx

Hey Harriet said...

I have a friend who is a mad collector of Scotty dog things. She would go wild for that tablecloth! It is very sweet! A lovely story about how your button addiction was inspired by that sweet tin from your Grandma. And I Love old meatsafe cupboards. Yours sounds like a very cool one!

& Hey I was expecting yummy pics of baked goodies as a follow-up from your previous post. I guess you ate them all. Piggy ;)

Danielle said...

How fantastic that your grandma's tin started off your button-mania :)

Jacinta said...

Like the sentimental attachment to your grandma's tin of buttons. With a collection like the one you have now, she would be most impressed. Love the colours.

Black Eyed Susie said...

I'm envious of your buttons. I never seem to be able to find the ones I want when I want them. What a good idea to colour code them too.

Thanks for the photo ideas!

Ali said...

thank you for your lovely button story Bec. Grandmas are very special ... as are their button tins

Anonymous said...

What a lovely post, such evocative descriptions. The special tin is beautiful, and I just love your current collection of buttons! Isn't it crazy how much fun you can have as a kid by simply organizing something?!

Hot Fudge said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Hot Fudge said...

You've got to love those old tins full of buttons. In my case it's my late mother's button tin that my children used to play with when they were little. It's an old ice cream tin (yes, back in the '50s ice cream used to come in tins) which I still have and cherish. Once the youngest grandchild gets past the stage of eating buttons, I'll get it out for them to play with. So they'll be playing with their great-grandmother's buttons! After seeing your fantastic jars full of colour co-ordinated buttons, I am now on a new quest.

Jodie said...

I remember sorting my nans buttons as a kid while we watched telly.
I have her old button tin as well - here in my sewing room. I love it!

Rachel said...

I love how you organize your buttons! And I think it's wonderful how you've kept - and used - your grandma's tin!

Anonymous said...

I love that tablecloth! And the button story is indeed lovely. Go Nanna!

laura said...

I ve got memories like that! but unable to get to that jar , cause I lived all my childhood overseas .Keep hold on to that jar, very precious!Lovely Button collection.
regards Laura

Keshia said...

What is it with Grandmothers and buttons, I remember doing a similar thing when i was young either sitting at her feet when she was sewing playing with her buttons or the scrap of materials that fell my way... Great story!

Cathy {tinniegirl} said...

My Gran was one of the people who introduced me to a lifelong love of handmade goodness. I love your tin. Old tins are beautiful. Your button collection must light up your room. It's so lovely in that photo.

Jenny said...

Lovely tablecloth and that tin is gorgeous with lots of happy creative memories. I remember playing with my mum's button tin too-for hours!!

Two Peas In a Pod said...

I heart your buttons. They are so pretty and look at you so organized. I wish, mine are in jars everywhere...I even have my baby sister now addicted to buttons so we swap when we find some good ones. Cheers Kyla

Sharon said...

Hi Bec! You've won an award, stop by and pick it up when you get a chance!

Nikki said...

I inherited my Nan's button jar, too. HOURS of joy, and lots of real treasures.