sunshine in my shadows: buttons

I was rummaging in the linen press today when I found one of my boxes of vintage buttons. I spent a happy half hour playing with them, running them through my fingers, sorting and generally enjoying them. Such divine little treasures! I began buying vintage buttons several years ago when I stumbled across them on ebay. I literally bought them by the tin or box full which is rather hilarious considering my sewing skills. I have no idea what I thought I was going to do with all those boxes and tins of old buttons.

**This very badly lit photo shows a tiny part of just some of my buttons in a plastic laundry tub. I have begun sorting them into plastic zip lock bags.

Of course in the many tins and boxes I bought I also received plenty of drab, boring and sometimes plain ugly buttons. The buttons I found today are just a teeny fraction of what I have packed away here in the house and shed. (Imagine a dragon with his hoard of treasure!)
I fell in love with all kinds of buttons from pretty filigree plastic buttons to big clunky coat buttons and everything in between. My favourites however remain the lovely glass buttons. The photos I am sharing today are a bit of a variety, the box I rediscovered today has some of my prettier buttons inside. The dragonfly buttons are an early obsession. Czech glass is so pretty.

**variety of vintage glass buttons, mostly czech glass. I have lots more of these beauties!

**I adore my dragonflies and have them in many colours and sizes. My photographs really do not do them justice.

I first fell in love with old buttons as a young girl. I can remember a neighbour lady who sewed had a huge button jar that she would allow me to play with. I thought it was like a magic treasure chest and it absorbed my rapt attention for hours as I sorted and admired. Actually her whole house was a treasure trove of haberdashery items, lace, ribbons and vintage frocks. So I fondly remember and say thank you Mrs B for giving me a lifelong love of old buttons and all things vintage! (Mrs B also handed me some lovely old gowns to play dress ups in, Oh how I wish I still had them now!)