Tender Buttons

I was in New York City a few Sundays ago and just walking around the Upper East Side (like you do) and on turning into a cross street I found this:

I had totally forgotten Tender Buttons was in the area I was walking around and feel there must have been some kind of sixth sense making me take that street to get across town!

Now the fact it was a Sunday and I couldn't shop...…..

Never mind there is always another time!

Buttons

I was going through my stash/collection of buttons the other day and sorting thought them. Of course I have more than I will ever use in my lifetime! Many of them I have acquired at vintage textile shows or in thrift shops. Good buttons for smocking and heirloom garments are hard to find in my area. The modern ones have no character and plastic doesn't always look right. So I buy vintage mother-of-pearl buttons when I see them. Of course, I need shank buttons and buttons with two or four holes in them and I need different sizes. So my stash, or rather collection, has grown over the years. It was time to organize them again and remind myself just what I do have, which might stop my buying more! (who am I kidding!).

While I was going through the collection I found many still on the original button cards. These cards are all very pretty and many are helpful too. Button cards today state the price and makers name but little else. Some of the vintage button cards state manufacturer, country of origin and button size. They also have lovely pictures on the cards of decoration. Much more fun!

Do you have a button stash, sorry collection?

Vintage Finds

I wasn't going to add anything to my collection of vintage linens. I really wasn't. I was going to look at pieces but they were going to be staying wherever they were. Really, how many hand towels or hankies or napkins do I need?

Ask me how long that resolution lasted!

On a recent visit to Vermont I found this beautiful towel, and at the price it was($9), I really couldn't leave it in the dusty corner of the antique dealers booth!

 

Then at another multi dealer shop I found this New Mexico hankie and the cards of buttons. The hankie was laid on a piece of mounting board and enclosed in cling wrap. That whole packaging must have cost more than the $3 I paid for the hankie. The buttons set me back a $1 a package.

Oh well, maybe next time I will be stronger.... May be!

Mystery Smock Along Clue 6

                                       

                                                                       Clue Number 6:

Make the ornament uniquely yours! After finishing clue 5, there are some nice open spaces between rows 5-7.

I have several suggestions on how you can fill that space, and below you can see what I did, but the final clue is to exercise your creativity and make this ornament uniquely yours!

So here are my suggestions:

                Flowerette – beaded or not.

                Holly or Mistletoe – 3 French knots, lazy daisy leaves

                Bullion Christmas Roses

                Silk Ribbon Poinsettia

                Mother of Pearl Buttons

                Repeat clue 5 with a different color, beginning 8 pleats to the right (don’t try to count the pleats – just line up with the Triple Crowns)

 

Next week there will be detailed instructions on constructing and finishing your ornament!

Stash and Storage

Following on from ‘Where SAGA Members Actually Sew’, we’d love to see your Stash and Storage!

Take a photo of your Stash as it is (don’t tidy it!) and Storage of your sewing notions, buttons, fabric etc. and email them to saganews@smocking.org

We can all benefit from other people’s ideas, so even if your storage solution isn’t perfect, it may help someone else organize theirs! Let’s see how many ways there actually are to store lace, thread, ribbon and buttons!

Here's one to get us started (and no, it isn't my stash!)