Monday, June 28, 2010

Flocks of Buttons

Is there anyone who can't recall sifting through a button box, searching for just the right button to replace the one you lost off of your favorite blue blouse? Our household button box was a green MJB coffee can. It held other artifacts too, a dented brass thimble, a liberty dime, and a tape measure that pulled out of a small red plastic crabapple.
I'm following a long line of craft with my porcelain button offerings. Egyptians liked them, and the Greeks too. But it was the Germans in the 1200's that devised the buttonhole. And more button frenzy followed;


Porcelain 'calico' buttons from the mid ninteenth century.

Hand painted Victorian birds and mammals



My idea of high fashion which is not very. More of a country cousin look, where everything appears homemade, because most of it is. My buttons are two-holed and about one and a half inches in diameter. They are lightweight, and once attached to apparel, do not like to be thrashed about in a washing machine, but rather sloshed gently in lavender scented water then hung on a line to dry in the warm summer sun, country cousin style.




Now all this button talk has made me hungry for a piece of crabapple pie.
Care to join me?
xx
julie





juliewhitmorepottery.etsy.com

41 comments:

Unknown said...

Oh Julie, Your buttons are divine!!

Tracey Broome said...

My button box is an old straw basket that belonged to my grandmother and still has her buttons in it. I was just going through it yesterday looking for a button! Love the little houses :)

cabin fever said...

Julie-
What a delightful new post, full of buttons!!!

The antique ones are so pretty, the hand-painted ones are beautiful.

But - my favorite buttons? That would have to be your JW originals. No question about it.

Thanks for sharing.

Liz xoxo
Oh - I'm coming over for pie. I'll bring the ice cream.

mamabeaks said...

Oh I love all of your work, these buttons are wonderful!

Lori ann said...

Oh Julie, these beautiful beautiful handmade buttons are little works of art! I went straight to your etsy shop and found them already reserved.
I love my buttons, most of which were my grandmothers. These are exquiste, really one of a kind.

xo lori

Vicki Boster said...

Oh Julie, Julie, Julie - these buttons are magnificent. I must have some - I am in button love. Have emailed you through the ETSY shop - these are the cutest things ever!

Vicki

Aunt Jenny said...

Oh Julie...your buttons are so sweet. I especially love your little houses!
I have my beloved Grandma's button box..a simple pine box about shoebox size with small brass hinges and a clasp that didn't work even when I was a tot. It was my favorite place to play in her house as a kid and I still love to play in it!! There are all sorts of little treasures in there as well. Loved this post!

Dreaming Woods said...

these buttons are utterly charming!
i am currently inspired to create mundane clothes for something more lovely with laces and other beauties.
hopefully i am able to purchase one of your buttons to add on my garments.

Delila

Erin | Bygone Living said...

Oh, I love them so much! They're adorable! What a lovely idea ♥

Pamela said...

oh sweetness!

Patricia Griffin Ceramics said...

Delightful!

Anonymous said...

Ohhhhhhhhhhhh buttons! Yes! For many years I treasured a box full of them, many old buttons, some from my little girl dresses. Somehow after my divorce they disappeared......as if my new life could not hold on to those past memories. Now that I'm a grownup, I would love to see them again, even if for only a moment.

My Farmhouse Kitchen said...

my grammy had a button box that i just loved too...sadly...it is lost...how i wish i had it...

i loved this...and that country cousin blouse is adorable...

i love all the buttons too...especially that red plaid one...

very inspiring...


K.

susan Jenkins said...

I am so happy i have my treasured button card from you that I got some time back! I'm thrilled to seeyou are making your beautiful buttons again!Everyone can see! Love your display too,darling shirt and part of your button collection too!
Love, sis

Julie Whitmore Pottery said...

See? I knew you would have button memories too. thank you for your comments, I appreciate you all so much
xx

Claire said...

Hey Julie, I have just been struck down with a serious dose of B.E.V., button envy virus.
Your buttons are gorgeous. I love the blue bird AND the green bird and the teapot and saucer, the little house and the flowery buttons. Guess you could say I just love em all!!
Also love the artwork on the cards as well.
My mums button jar was a dark brown heavy glass jar. Not sure of its origin, but you could only see what buttons were on the top. It was a jar of mystery and what lurked in its dark and mysterious depths was very compelling.
Hope you are enjoying summer, I am sitting here in a rather cold study, fingerless gloves on looking out at the rain and loving every minute of it.

The Feathered Nest said...

Oh Julie...these creations are exquisite!!!!! I love that you're making buttons! They are sure to be heirlooms themselves ~ hugs and love, Dawn

HeARTworks said...

I love, love, love them! But I don't know if I can bear to put them on a dress! It looks so pretty just as it is! Patsy from
HeARTworks

Bunty said...

These buttons are divine - do you have any for sale? I popped over to your etsy store but couldn't see any.

I am currently doing a journal workshop online and my theme is vintage gardens/gardening. Your buttons would be the exact final touch needed!

Hope you can help.

Barbara

Carol said...

oh I love them! We had a huge tin (flowered) where my mom had them all - funny she had them because she never sewed much. I also have a large circular tin for my buttons.

The history of buttons too was very interesting - I didn't realise that the Germans made the holes in them

Thank you!

A time to dance said...

I love buttons Julie and yours are wonderful

said...

please put your flock of buttons on sale soon, they look delicious x

lilylovekin said...

YOur buttons are wonderful. They need to be on a thick hand knitted sweater!

laura said...

Hi Julie I collect buttons especially mother of pearl. You buttons are beautiful & I LOVE my new cups!!! I might be collecting these now. xoxoLaura

Librarian said...

These are lovely! My grandma's button box was a midnight blue tin with a gold pattern; I am not sure what it contained originally, maybe coffee. For my sister and I, it was one of the best-loved "toys" in all of our grandparents' house, and we spent what I remember as whole afternoons playing with the buttons, some of which were very old and (to us) looked quite precious.

Mina said...

Everywhere I go, I look for buttons but sincerely yours are unique and so beautiful!! Lovely post, warm wishes , Mina

Unknown said...

what a lovely post & what beautiful buttons! I'm just so glad that there are so many others out there who are bonkers about buttons - it always amazes me how such small everyday functional things can have such beauty & enthrall for many years.
I have posted a link to your blog on our facebook group http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bonkers-about-Buttons/112735782091068

sea-blue-sky & abstracts said...

Julie, your buttons are wonderful - and they look even better displayed on the delightful cards you have made for them. Well done, Lesley

Vintage Fairy Tales Rebecka said...

I wish I could have brought some of your beautiful buttons to the workshop in France!
But I did bring the rabbit necklace and it got MANY lovely compliments!!!
Can't you join the Julie Arkell workshop next year in September in France!?
I want you to come!!!
I know you would LOVE it.
XX
Becky

Julie Whitmore Pottery said...

Becky,
What a beautiful dream! I know I would love it too. I can't wait to see more pictures and work from your time in France.

Love to you and skating monkey as well
xx

Pat said...

Just wonderful, you know!!! The heart with the little house is my very favorite, but they are are delightful. Hope you are enjoying your summer...pat

Maggie Ann said...

That was so interesting to read and see. Your posts are so charming. Your buttons are calling out to all of us I'm sure, me for sure.=) I still have a button box, its a round cookie tin, and a square cookie tin, crammed with all those goodies. Even shell buttons, which I love the shimmeryness of. My Mom had a button box...well, its mine now, and I greedily used all the vintage buttons first out of it. Enjoyed them though!

Nan said...

This was just wonderful. Though I don't sew, I do appreciate wonderful buttons. In recent years I've seen a lot of creative uses for them.

ShabbySheep said...

Hi I just found your blog and your work is Lovely!
I tried to become a follower, but for some reason it won't let me!
Sheri

Julie said...

Just found your blog and I'm fallen in love with your buttons. I'm sure hoping you have more buttons in your shop soon. I'm a knitter amd would love to use your buttons on a sweater I'm knitting.

I have a large can full of buttons I have found over the many years of sewing!

Unknown said...

Oh yes please Julie, you make it sound so enchanting!

Jamie said...

oh, I love the buttons~ please let me know if you make more - I'd love to purchase some! Beautiful! Jamie V in Mt

Julie Whitmore Pottery said...

Jamie,

I couldn't find your email, but in case you check back am listing new buttons here on the blog next week.
Flocks of them!
xx
julie

Vintage to Victorian said...

Have just come via Viv (Hens Teeth). Love the buttons she's had from you and will browse your blog when I have more time.

Such a shame I had to cancel my pitch at Portscatho on Sunday otherwise I would have been able to see your buttons close up!

Sue

Zue said...

I absolutely adore your little buttons. And have fallen in love with them.
Sue A xx

Jamie said...

ooh, Julie - I missed the button sale! I was out of town. Please let me know when you have them again - I adore them! Jamie V in MT
amzanioli@yahoo.com
http://rem-nants.blogspot.com

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