Sunday, March 30, 2008

Buttons!

Hi button lovers of the world!




Through Heather's blog I arrived at Sugar*sugar where the lovely miss Analise asked whether we could show our buttons to the world. Well, being a button addict myself, I couldn't resist of course. One sign of my button addiction: I once went to Amsterdam by train (1.5 hrs) to buy heart shaped mother of pearl buttons. I needed them so bad to finish a pincushion.

It all started at my grandmothers'. When I visited her I loved to play with:



Those shiny black glass buttons. I used to play 'shop' with them.

Since I'm reading and lurking an awfull lot of American blogs, I have noticed that your buttons are far more colourful than ours. When I buy a box of buttons the vast majority of them is grey or brownish. That's also the case with our button cards:



Very to the point huh? No playing children or lovely ladies...I guess that's typical Dutch. Even nowadays there still aren't many people who buy beautiful and expensive buttons. The market is a typical place to buy such supplies.

But I still managed to collect these:


Well ladies for every 100 grey/brown dutch buttons there is one red one. So take your calculators please, to calculate my total amount of buttons...
Ok, I'm not playing a fair game as I buy vintage buttons loose sometimes. For my dutch readers: the Noordermark(e)t in Amsterdam is a great place to buy vintage buttons but the best is 'De Winkel' (Vrouw Juttenland 39) in Delft. I only have to warn you (probably an addict yourself). Don't fall apart when you see what they have done there with all vintage buttons on cards:


They just cut old cards in half or in more pieces AND they write prices on the face of the cards with black markers. I couldn't believe my eyes and of course I couldn't keep my mouth shut either. Someone has to save what's left of the diminishing button-on-card population. So I asked whether it please could be possible to write the price on the back of the card, preferably with pencil. The lady laughed loudly...Why on earth? They were pricing the buttons this way for more than 20 years now and NO ONE she repeated NO ONE did ever mind...I should almost boycot that place, but they have amazing glass buttons:


So lets skip the greys and the browns. I sometimes use them with old fashioned rope to pack something a little bit old fashioned.


If there is 1 red button on 100 grey/brownish oned, pink is even more rare. I guess 1 on every 200.

Mother of pearl, one of my old time favorites, is quite common, except for the heart shaped ones, but you know now that you can find them on the Noordermarket in Amsterdam.


And here some blue buttons. I have added the biggest blue one because its a typical one. My mother who was often sewing clothes used this one on a jacket for herself. In the sixties she used to wear costumes (jacket and skirt) complete with gloves, grace kelly bag and high heels. I can see her image vividly just when I look at that peculiar button. My parents' button box is like a photo album to me!

Like this one: a carved peach stone given to me to my neighbour Mrs. Trense. She was a very sweet old lady, who used to give me all kind of treasures. Like empty Avon bottles and boxes. I cherish her memory.



I remember those green ones, they were typical childrens buttons in the sixties.


Later on these childrens buttons arrived here. Of course I like everything. No limits for LiLi M. again.

Well I'm off to see the worlds most beautiful buttons now. I just wonder is there any blogger out there who buys just as many buttons as necessary, not just one for pleasure only? Have a nice week!

45 comments:

Splashes of Pink and Mint said...

Yep, I use them, zelfs bijna dagelijks! Maar oké, die zijn niet zo mooi als de jouwe hoor! Ik dacht dat ik veel had, maar nu zie ik jouw potjes staan.... daarbij valt mijn collectie behoorlijk in het niet! En schrijven op die oude kaartjes.... het zou verboden moeten worden! De tranen springen je daarbij toch bijna in de ogen....!!!

Anonymous said...

What an absolutely FAB collection! :)

Joy

Georgia Peachez said...

Great buttons! xo, suzy

Marianne said...

Oh wat mooi! Wat een leuke knoopjes heb jij. Daar gaat mijn hart sneller van kloppen.
Ik denk dat ik je voorbeeld een keer ga volgen en ook een keer een berichtje over knopen schrijf, maar dan vooral over het knopendoosje. Ik heb het merendeel van mijn knopen van mijn moeder georven in een heel oud delfs blauw blikje. Ik moet ze toch eens gaan sorteren, zeker nu ik de knopenverzameling van mijn schoonmoeder er ook nog bij heb.
Maar ik heb jammer genoeg niet zo´n goed oog voor wat ´vintage´ is en wat gewoon oud is.
Ik kijk uit naar een bericht van je met voorbeelden van wat je allemaal met die knopen gedaan hebt.

Marloes said...

LIDWIEN!!! Wauw!!! Moet mezelf even knijpen! Ben ik de knopenhemel? Mijn god! Ik kwijl het toetsenbord helemaal onder! Prachtig al die knopen!

Je helpt me steeds weer aan een nieuwe verslaving, aan de knopen op kaartjes had je me al aan, maar ben nu ook op zoek naar klosjes en garen op kaartjes, doosjes, patronen e.d.

Houdt m'n blog maar in de gaten want ik zal showen wat ik bij mams op zolder allemaal heb gevonden!

leesiebella said...

WOW! What a beautiful collection~ those big cards are wonderful!

Thanks for playing!!
:0)

xo
Analise

Beth Leintz said...

Your buttons are BEAUTIFUL- I am drooling with button love! Honestly, I think I find the same ratio of pretty buttons to ugly buttons, I keep my pretty buttons upstairs, but I have a huge TUB of ugly buttons in the basement. What is they say - you have to kiss a lot of frogs to find the prince, and you have to buy a lot of UGLY buttons to get some pretty ones!

Lori said...

Lili, i am SCREAMING over your button collection!!! oh my, so MANY amazing and gorgeous buttons you have:) wow!!! i love your huge button cards in spite of the lack of pictures, they are so wonderful...and eeeeek:( i can't believe the place that marks the prices in black ink on the front...sounds like your suggestion didn't go over very well either, that is tooooo bad!!! your pink buttons are real stunners...i have the hardest time finding pretty pink buttons....thanks so much for showing us your very beautiful button collection!!!

Heather ~ Pretty Petals said...

What a wonderful collection Lili! LOVE the blue ones... :)))

Karen Bosch said...

You have a great collection. What variety!

Kelley - a very JunqueyGal! said...

I'm so happy you stopped by my blog and now I've found yours! I've noticed that most of my buttons are browns, blacks & white too - rather plain janes. I adore the sheets of buttons!!! And the blue kitty, oh my goodness. Nice to meet you! Kelley

Little Pink Studio said...

Wow, you have some really fabulous buttons!
~Cerri xo

Barbara said...

Dear Lili, these are wonderful! As beautiful as all of them are, I think the Dutch button cards are my favorites. Thanks so much for visiting!

María Elena said...

Lili, your buttons are fabulous, too!!!

Diane Mars said...

Very interesting about the button colors, never new that but it does make sense. We in the States love COLOR and the love of color reflects in our buttons. You have some beautiful treasures. And so glad you spoke up about that marking up the cards ): Oh dare they!!
Hugs,
From Your Button Sister,
Diane

Betty said...

LiLi, You have a beautiful buttons collection!

cherished*vintage said...

Your glass buttons are amazing! Love the pink and the blue. All are beautiful!!!
-Karoline

Anja said...

Hahaha, ik geloof dat je buttons in de smaak vallen. Ik heb recentelijk ook ontdekt dat die dingen zo leuk én handig zijn. Maar 1 probleem: ik zoek al 2,5 jaar (echt!) naar een set grijs-zwarte knopen (ik zag er een paar van jou die erop lijken) voor de jas die mijn oma voor me maakte. Ik ben er nl. een paar verloren (niet in één keer hoor, hihi) en ik struin elke markt en fourniturenzaak af naar DIE knoop... misschien heb je nog een tip hier ergens in de buurt???

Eva Agnes said...

Oh yes, I have a lot of buttons as well. But, not as many as you have.
I love buttons.
Of course I have time to visit you. Your blog is lovely.
Love and thanks for your visit.
Eva Agnesud

Marja Rijnsburger said...

Hoi Lidwien, zou jij me kunnen zeggen wat ik in mijn instellingen moet veranderen. Af en toe is de computer abacadabra voor mij.
Geweldige verzameling knopen heb je trouwens. Moet mijn blog nog aanvullen want computer wil af en toe niet wat ik wil.
By the way, welk rozenmandje bedoel je ???

Groetjes Marja

Abbie said...

Oh! your buttons are lovely! Your storage is to fdrool over too!
Gorgeous!!
Thank you for the peeks!
xoxo~
Abbie

Cowboys and Custard Mercantile said...

Oh my .. what a fantastic collection of buttons you have Lili.. a true button fetish .. I think!!
I love the cards of buttons and you are so right.. it is sacrilege to cut them up.. they are art forms in their own right..
If you would like to send me your address.. I have something you might like!!

Love
Michelex

Marja Rijnsburger said...

Ik heb voor je gezocht naar het plaatje van de rozen maar heb het niet meer kunnen vinden. Komt van het internet waar ik zocht naar volgens mij old painting roses.
Kan je dus helaas niet verder helpen. Ben trouwens benieuwd (lees nieuwsgierig) naar je hobbykamer, is ie al klaar of ben je nog steeds bezig alle verzameldingen te ordenen.
Foto van schapje met glazen potten met knopen ziet er alvast erg gezellig uit.
Groetjes Marja.

Margo said...

What a wonderful collection of buttons! I love how they're all displayed. And those HUGE button cards are beautiful!
Margo

Jennifer said...

Ohhhh...I just love those button cards...you lucky girl! Thanks for visiting! Jennifer

Jeanne said...

Oh what a wonderful collection of buttons you have. And very neatly organized as well. I think my favorites would have to be the pink ones, although it was a difficult decision to make!
Thanks for sharing...
xo
jeanne

karlascottage.typepad.com said...

oooh, so sweet! love the kiddie buttons!

Alli (One Pearl Button) said...

If there is a blogger out there who buys only the necessary amount of buttons, she is certainly not me. I'm definitely a button hoarder. Your collection is beautiful - the blues are my favorite.

Adla said...

Oh Lili...you have buttons for every occasion girl! loving the pinkish collection most!

Anonymous said...

What lovely buttons you have!! I have a soft spot for them too especially the glass ones.Have found a new person on the Bras market in Mechelen who has them. There was a another lady ,years agoo,who had boxes full of them...But suddenly her stall was there no more.She also sold old linnens and ribbons and so.I am very sorry that I did not buy more buttons of her but I was not in buttons and so as much as I am now.

Heather - Speckled Egg said...

You have a ton of buttons too! Beautiful ones! What a great collection!

Debbie Doughty said...

You've managed to gather quite a colorful collection despite their rarity! I loved reading all about them. I collect them too, but missed this fun "show and tell"...

Sandra Evertson said...

Great button collection!
Sandra Evertson

Reflections from the Stone Nest said...

Lovely buttons, indeed! You have a wonderful collection. It's amazing what pleasure one can get from such a small thing! Enjoy!

Kitty

vosgesparis said...

zo dan was jij toevallig net even op mijn blog dat je la copine du sud zag langskomen... heb er toch voor de verandering een andere naam aangegeven die beter bij het verhaal paste ;) leuk dat je weer labngs bent gekomen Groetjes dees

Natasha Burns said...

oh my goodness your buttons!!! they are amazing, so many wonderful beautiful shapes and colours. i especially love old buttons still on cards too

julie (jane's apron) said...

Love your button collection. And I have to tell you that I also LOVE your blog banner!

Kingswood Food and Craft Market said...

Well it seems we definately have a button shortage in Australia because i never find any :(
I loooove your collection. I think Mother of Pearl are my all time favourite, they remind me of my nanna.
I love how you have some still on their cards too!

this was my first visit to your blog and i'll be popping back for sure!

Shannon :)

Felicia said...

Fabulous buttons :)

Anonymous said...

Heb weer genoten van je blog! Snap je dat nou dat jij de 1e moet zijn die die mensen moet attenderen op het feit dat schrijven op een kaartje absoluut not done is! De wereld zit toch vreemd in elkaar vind je niet...

Je collectie is fantastisch, snap niet hoe ik een paar jaar geleden ,na het overlijden van mijn opa, een hele knopenkist heb weggegooid!!!! Kan mezelf nu nog wel slaan daarom. Daar zaten vast nog wel wat juweeltjes tussen.

Geniet van het leven, liefs van Claudia.

Rose Garden Romantic said...

I'm so happy to have found your lovely blog! You have a wonderful button collection!
Michelle

linnea-maria said...

Godness godness Lili! Now im soo jealous on you, I was drooling over your collection! So many beutiful buttons!! I've only having two cans of old bakelite, glass and mother of pearbuttons mostly from my old relatives. In sweden it is more difficult to find nice buttons. But funny the red collection i have some buttons like them but in the blue colour. I was laughing out loud when I read your comment i can imagine how your husband was thinking of your swedish, perhaps the same my would think if I would read your dutch friends comments loud. If you want the recipe in english i can write it to you via mail. Have a lovely weekend. Perhaps I will take a pic of my tiny collection. I have used a lot of them on my vintage clothes. Hugs /linnea-maria

Angelines Artero said...

Fantastic buttons, in my book you can see how I use the bottons. Sorry for my bad English. Regards from Spain

Anja said...

Hee, ik heb (eigenlijk door jouw blog, want mn zoektocht was een beetje ingedut) eindelijk knopen voor mn jas gevonden! Bedankt voor de inspiratie, haha! Wil je ook vragen om mee te doen met een nieuwe challenge die ik gestart ben. Meer info vind je erover op mijn blog. Zou het heel leuk vinden! Lieve groetjes en fijn weekend nog, Anja

RobinBirdsNest said...

Beautiful, beautiful buttons!!!! What an awesome collection!