Well I didn’t only give sewing-related presents this year – I got some as well! My dear Mum gave me a lovely gift card to my fave EmmaOneSock, my brother got me a gift card to Mood, and then I came home to Boston to one final pressie… a massive box of buttons!
These came to me from none other than the Negroni-clad Anthony! There’s a fantastic back story: he met up with a 97 year old woman in San Francisco, whose husband was a button salesman in the 1950s. They looked through my blog together and chose buttons they thought I’d like! And wow there are some beauties. One thing to note is that none of them are plastic – they’re all bakelite, wood, clay and more.
I can’t wait to use the two on the left below – they reflect the light beautifully. Then bottom right is an amazing enamelled peacock button, a beautiful metal one, and a very cool fringed button which I can see on my next coat.
Then we have some crystal hand-carved cats from the Czech Republic, and a 97 year old abalone specimen!
I love these white and blue ringed lovelies, and then there’s some very unusual smooshed clay numbers.
A bevvy of wooden buttons, and some cool carved bakelite numbers.
I don’t usually sew much in a vintage style, but I just adore so many of these buttons, and I’m quite overwhelmed both with the thoughtfulness and generosity of Anthony, and the many possibilities for using them all! Do you know any cool patterns that could show off some cute buttons? I’m thinking maybe a button back top…
Your friend is a very thoughtful and generous person: this is truly a treasure trove of buttons! A button back blouse is a good way to show off a full set of buttons, but if you’ve got any spectacular singletons, you might consider a cape (not the most practical choice for everyone, I know!) or a jacket that only requires one button and that would really show it off. I’m certainly guilty of buying lonely vintage buttons and planning an entire piece around them!
What a wonderful gift! I’m sure you’ll have a great deal of fun matching buttons to projects in the coming months.
What a fantastic story and thoughtful gift!
What a treasure, and such a great back story!
Wow! They’re beautiful! I love buttons – have lots of them and got two big jars full for Christmas. The story behind your gift is wonderful.
What a lovely gift! Anthony deserves that negroni!
I loved seeing these on IG a couple days ago and seeing them now closer up. Sewing friends are the best friends, aren’t they? Whatever you make (button back top – yes please!) these will make for a great, hand touched addition.
And thanks for uploading it to #thewaysewingusedtobe
The Datura blouse from Deer and Doe as well as Tilly’s Mathilde blouse both have back buttons and are fun to make and wear. What a lovely gift, I can’t wait to see what you make with them.
Holy crow, this is an amazing gift!!!!!
way to get more shirts without having to move across the country! What a fabulous gift, lucky you.
Beautiful. I adore vintage buttons. You could easily add a back button placket to your sorbetto, would look great.
Oooo! Fantastic! What about a great wrap skirt for those large single button options? I love doing a nice chunky button on the waist band of a wrap skirt. 🙂
What an awesome gift! I think of buttons as jewelry on a garment you’ve received some amazing embellishment choices!
What great gifts! Lucky girl,,,,the buttons are great!