My 15 Minutes?

Dick came home with these organizers the other day ~ don't know where we will keep them as we have no space, but they must have been too tempting to pass up. I happened to glance at the packaging and despite not wearing my reading glasses, I recognized the pattern I had designed used in the crafting example. Got the glasses to double check, and sure enough, it is a valentine scrapbook paper I created a few years ago ~ hopefully this isn't going to count as my 15 minutes or any portion of my 15 minutes ~ I am still waiting for them!

Vintage Paper Cuts

{source here}

Spotted this interesting CDV on Pinterest today ~ look at the size of these amazing paper cut snowflakes! I don't know that I have ever seen a vintage photo like this before ~ I can't figure out if it was taken to show off the skills of the performer or if it was just a whimsical grouping of props. I love the fact that these are such a large scale ~ everyone is familiar with cutting a paper snowflake, but how many have made such large versions? Something to think about for next year's holiday decorations!

The photo was originally shown on Cabinet Magazine in an article about sepia photographs, but other than it fitting into that category I didn't see any additional information about this specific photo. Makes you wonder!

Highlights from Roller Mills

As I haven't posted many antiques lately, I thought I would play a little catch up and share some images from a while back. As my parents live in Lewisburg, PA, whenever I visit them, a trip to Roller Mills Antique Center is always on the agenda as well. This time I only got a few photos as I was told they do not allow photography anymore ~ too bad, as I always think it is great free advertising for the mall and the dealers ~ maybe they will change their policy if visitors mention they saw mention on a blog!

This was a really amazing watchmakers cabinet ~ unfortunately it was in a glass case, so the photo is not so great, but I think you can still get the idea. This was also the last photo I took before I was told no photos, so I didn't get more than the one view ~ darn!

The above two images are of a freestanding Victorian Eastlake style book shelf ~ it would hold a ton of books in a relatively small area. Each shelf rotated as well, so you would be able to turn them as desired to pick the book of your choice. I think it was pretty reasonably priced, so I would have liked to get it, but getting it from Pennsylvania to Missouri would have been a problem.

As we entered the antique center, this wonderful water cooler was in the first booth ~ I guess it was really made for whatever muscadine punch is, but it would be a great piece to serve any sort of beverage in. I wonder if it was a store display for that specific drink ~ I've just never heard of that brand before.

I also spotted these beaded Christmas ornaments ~ they were also in a glass case, so again, apologies for the poor quality photo. At least the price tags (while they don't make my photo look good) were easily visible ~ it frustrates me to no end when you cannot see the tags or price of items when they are in a locked case and you have to go get an attendant to open the case. Unfortunately, more and more antique malls are using cases ~ most likely because of theft ~ a shame.

Luck of the Irish

I know I am several days late (thanks to National Button Week!) and at least a dollar short as I did not find that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow yet, but I did find these intricate shamrock decorations for celebrating St. Patrick's Day. I found these at an antique show a few months ago and was intrigued by the thread and wire work used to create these ~ it is actually similar to some of the old Victorian hair work techniques. The pipe on the light green decoration is die cut and embossed paper, while the little hat is ceramic ~ if you look carefully, you can see the label that says "Made in Japan".

{back view}

I'll bet these were added to corsages or hats or as a boutonniere to show your spirit ~ I have no idea when they were made ~ just wish there were such things on the market today. At any rate, wishing you all a month of the luck of the Irish ~ hope you all had a Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Raining Cats & Dogs!

{postcard from here}

So far this week it has been drizzling or pouring rain ~ a good week to get design work done inside ~ no spring fever to have to deal with! Unfortunately, as the light is so dim, I am going to have to postpone my St. Patrick's day find until I get a good day for a photo, so please be patient.

Now, the only extra bother with the rain are the wet scotties ~ neither Speck nor Sprocket have gotten the hang of shaking off BEFORE they come inside. Then there is that wet dog smell to contend with ~ ah springtime!

National Button Week ~ Last Day

{syroco or ornawood scottie buttons}

By now, if you have visited my blog a few times, you certainly know that I have a great fondness for scottish terriers, so it shouldn't be much of a surprise that my theme for my final posting for National Button Week is scottish terrier buttons. There is more to the story than just the combination of a button with a scottie on it ~ the first pet I had was a scottie and his name was Buttons ~ you can read about that episode of my life here. Also, one of my favorite books is about a scottie named Buttons ~ more about that here.

{syroco or ornawood scottie dish with scottie buttons}

{white plastic button with metal scottie attachment}

{reverse painted pressed glass buttons}

{tiny plastic molded scottie buttons}

{variety of bakelite scottie buttons}

Hope you enjoyed the week of button postings as much as I did ~ now that I know there is actually a week designated as National Button Week, it will give me another excuse to buy more buttons!

National Button Week ~ Day 7

I know, I should have at least done a green themed button post today, but I hadn't thought of it and since I HAD to go to this antique show today, I didn't have time to take additional photos. A few shows ago, I did buy something specifically to post for St. Patrick's Day, but I am going to just do it a couple days late ~ don't most people celebrate most of the week anyway? I had to make a choice, so this year the buttons won out!

The other thing I can't figure out is why National Button Week is 8 days rather than 7? I am going along with that as well, so I will post my finale tomorrow.

Today, I thought I would share a few of my smaller metal buttons ~ some of these are called steel cut ~ some are made to look like steel cut. I think steel cut buttons can look a little like marcasite, but from what I can tell each little piece of metal is riveted on individually ~ I will have to do a posting down the road with a photo of the back so you can see the craftsmanship. I don't think steel cut buttons are made anymore ~ if they were, they would probably cost a fortune.

It amazes me that there are so many different kinds of buttons out there ~ not only made from many different materials, but within those types, so many different variations. I just love the beautiful details and designs on all of these buttons, don't you?

National Button Week ~ Day 6

{bullion stitch crocheted black button}

Thought I would have to show a few more crocheted buttons as they are so unusual and hard to find at antique shows and flea markets. If I am lucky I will find a card or partial card, but most of the time just a small group of unmatched buttons. While some of those shown below are what I would call wrapped buttons, most are crocheted and a few crocheted with beads.

During the course of the week I have learned something new about these crocheted buttons thanks to Nina Edwards ~ author of On the Button. Did you know that these buttons (called waggling knobs) were used by French prostitutes to attract attention? Read more about them and other button related posts at Nina's blog Buttons and Offal. I am going to have to add her book to my "to read" list as I'm sure it contains lots more information I'd be interested in learning.

One other thing I have noticed while collecting the crocheted buttons ~ I have only ever found cream/white or black, but none in any colors. I wonder if there is a reason for that? I find it rather funny that these were used by prostitutes for attention, as they seem so tame compared to what you might expect a modern day streetwalker to wear! I suspect that the black buttons were used for mourning attire for all types of women, but that is just a guess.

National Button Week ~ Day 5

For day 5 of National Button Week, I thought I would share with you some black glass buttons ~ some plain glass, some with a metallic finish. Although those without the metallic finish can be very subtle, if you take a careful look they have beautiful details.

These days I have noticed that some button companies are making some pretty nice reproductions of these buttons, but they are actually plastic, so they are quite affordable, but still lovely. All the buttons shown here are glass though.

Here is a group of silver finished black glass buttons ~ I wish someone would reproduce these!

National Button Week ~ Day 4

Already day 4 of National Button Week! I had a busy day today, so I just took a couple of shots of two different kinds of buttons I have that I like, but don't have many of. I think the black and white ones are either a dyed and carved plastic or bone material ~ maybe celluloid, I really don't know. But, I liked them and they were the right price, so they joined my collection. They are so striking, I think they would look fabulous as a central piece in a brooch or as buttons on a coat or sweater.

The other type of button I have to share today is also large, but bulky too ~ these are cord wrapped buttons. They have no shanks on the back, so I suppose one was just supposed to sew them on using the cord to attach them. Again, I thought these were rather unusual and were probably used for a coat because of their size.

Only 3 days left! It will be hard to decide which buttons to show ~ I guess it will be determined by how much time I have in my schedule! Hope you are enjoying this button holiday!

National Button Week ~ Day 3

Guess what ~ more buttons to share in honor of National Button Week! Today I gathered up a group of wooden buttons I got awhile ago. Initially, I thought these were made of pinecones, but upon closer inspection they are carved wood ~ perhaps mahogany ~ painted or dyed with color.

I like the dimensional quality of these buttons and was lucky to get a variety of colors and the two different sizes ~ I just wish there would have been more of the turquoise ones and/or the small black ones. I don't remember where I got these, but they did come all together.

I keep these in this handmade chest that has lots of drawers and pegs for handles ~ the chest is full of all sorts of miscellaneous washers and metal parts, along with a few empty drawers ~ well, they were empty when I got it, but not anymore. Each "drawer" is actually a slab of wood with round depressions routed out to form compartments ~ they look a little like a muffin tin.

National Button Week ~ Day 2

Day 2 of National Button Week is here, so as promised I thought I would share one of my most favorite finds ever ~ a vintage box of Wash Crochet Buttons from Germany! I bought this years ago in an antique mall in Greenwood, Missouri ~ I wish the box was full, but I felt lucky that the cards it did contain weren't all the same. It made me wonder if it was an assortment when it was new or somehow multiple types of crocheted buttons ended up in the one box.

Even though the box wasn't full, I love how the buttons were to be displayed in the separate compartments on their individual cards ~ can you imagine walking into a shop and finding these for sale? Although the cards and the box are in rather rough shape, the buttons themselves are in good shape ~ except I doubt I will have the heart to ever take them off their cards and use them as they are so pretty as they are.

I love the variety of crochet work as well ~ I think the ones directly above are my favorites, although I love the first ones shown as well. I do wonder how these were made ~ by hand or machine? If anyone can supply any information, please leave a comment or email me ~ I'd love to learn more!

Don't you wish items like these were still being sold today ~ beautiful packaging, display and product? I suppose there are such things available, but the cost seems outrageous ~ it makes me wonder if these items were costly in the past as well or if they were affordable.

National Button Week ~ March 11-18

Apparently it is National Button Week ~ and to think I almost missed it! So, in honor the holiday, I'll be posting about buttons this week. I do love buttons and am always on the lookout for them at antique shows and flea markets, but I guess I am not really a collector ~ not that I don't have thousands of buttons, it is just that I buy them to use in my work rather than for a collection, so I tend to buy buttons that are less expensive, but still unique. Every now and then I will buy an expensive button, but then I feel like I can't use it unless I use it in a personal piece or gift.

Anyway, some of my favorite buttons are what I call carved mother of pearl buttons ~ there may be a more official name ~ if you know it, please send me a comment. I bought this necklace shown above several months ago ~ I could tell it was made of mother of pearl buttons, but whoever made the necklace chose to weave it together so that only the backs of the buttons showed. When I looked it over carefully, I could tell there were quite a few carved mother of pearl buttons, so I knew it was a good deal. The photos above show a few of the carved buttons and the necklace as found.

Here are some other carved mother of pearl buttons I purchased and posted about earlier. While those in the necklace weren't quite as pretty as those above, I still can't figure out why on earth the person who made it chose to hide the carved designs! Guess it was just my lucky day!