Buttons

I have a collection of buttons in an old rusty Quality Street toffee tin.  It reflects my life of dressmaking, mending and making do.  My mother started when we were children, she would remove the buttons from dresses that we had out-grown become beyond repair.  Also from shirts that had had their collars and cuffs turned enough!   They were a constant resource in our childhood games and used when we too began to dress- make.

My collection has not been added to of late.  I no longer make clothes, as it is not a cheap alternative to buying as it used to be. Also, it is a very time consuming hobby and preparations must be made well in advance if a particular outfit is required.  Clothes no longer get repaired or altered to a changing shape. They are unceremoniously binned or recycled at the local charity shop so they are more desirable with the buttons left on.

However there has been a revival of vintage fashion and buttons have become big. I have received some beauties recently for birthday gifts.  I have used them to replace those on a tired sweater or stitched to hat that needed a lift.

It has encouraged me to look at my buttons more closely and display them … not hid them away in a tarnished toffee tin.