Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Vintage


Once, while on vacation to Russia, I met a Vivacious and Voluptuous Vamp from Vladivostok. As was her habit, she would sit at her Vanity, on which was placed a Vintage Vase with a Verdigris patina, holding a small number of very lovely Violets. Around her neck, draping over her shoulder, was a rather large and dangerous Viper with the most beautiful Viridescent eyes. As if this was not tantalizing enough, she would then pick up a finely Varnished Violin and begin to play and sing Ave Maria by Vladimir Vavilov...

As enticing as it would be to continue this story, perhaps turning it into a rhyme, I am certain it would veer off our PG path. So, I will regroup my thoughts, and find something more suitable for our VG (very good) group.

I love buttons, especially the Vintage kind. Being a collector with broad horizons, I have accumulated a large number of Vintage buttons. Why? Other than satisfying my fundamental collector urges, I buy them to use for crafting purposes.

Vintage buttons, as many of you know, were manufactured from a wide variety of materials...wood, bone, metal, Bakelite, shell, ceramic, glass and plastic. I have, in my collection, buttons made from each of these materials, although at present, I am most fascinated with the shell buttons.

As some of you may know, my wife, the HappyMrsC recently started making hummingbird feeders from recycled glass bottles. I suggested she use the Vintage buttons to decorate the bottles. And so she has. I have actually just completed my first feeder (photo below).

Last night, for some presently not remembered reason, I decided to Google and learn about Pearl Buttons (mother of pearl or shell buttons). What I found was a quite interesting piece of 19th and 20th century American history. It is a remarkable story of how a German immigrant, J.F. Boepple, turned a sleepy, Mississippi River town named Muscatine, into "The Pearl Button Capital of the World". Its prominence in the pearl button industry lasted for more than half a century, eventually giving way to foreign competition and newer, synthetic materials. I encourage you to check out the wonderful information found on the Muscatine History and Industry Center's Pearl Button Museum website that I have linked below. Needless to say, the HappyMrsC and I have decided that some day we will take a road trip to the former "Pearl Button Capital of the World", somewhere along the muddy banks of the Mighty Mississippi, in the great state of Iowa.

http://www.muscatinehistory.org/pearl_button_industry.html

Peace, and...
Blessings...

This is my installment for the letter "V" in our ongoing, weekly meme, Alphabe-Thursday. I would like to thank our teacher, Jenny Matlock, for providing this 'learning' opportunity. I encourage you to check out some of the work prepared by other students in the class.

Jenny Matlock

33 comments:

  1. I have been fascinated with buttons for years. My grandmother was a dressmaker and all the leftover buttons got put on a string. It was handed down to my mother and my sisters and I played with it when we were little girls
    I visited Muscatine several years ago with some college friends.

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  2. I love the bottles with the buttons. It is so wonderful to see the ways they can be recycled.

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  3. Great post! I love buttons and have many but know next to nothing about them which is unlike me(I like to know something about the items I collect), so I will check out that site and try to learn some more! Love the hummingbird feeders~great use for some of the buttons.

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  4. I think vintage buttons are so pretty, definitely nicer than plastic - ick! Love the hummingbird feeder, what a great idea. And your story was quite tantalizing, I think you stopped just in time to avoid detention :) Kathy

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  5. Very cool Jeff....I adore the vintage buttons on the bottle. Vivacious, I was pleasantly surprised to see how you used the word as well. Great post Jeff...Peace out!

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  6. Jeff you are just an amazing person! The words you use are very creative and they tell a story inside your story! I like everything over here! That button story is something I need to check into more! I do love buttons! Anne

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  7. Hi Jeff

    As a child I loved playing with the tin of buttons in my Mother's sewing basket. There is just something very agreeable about a pretty button!

    I like Mrs. C's hummingbird feeder and the buttons make it outstanding!

    Listening to your Green Day selections ..did you see the interview with them on CBS Morning Sunday Morning show a week or so ago? It was very interesting.

    Namaste,

    Pat

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  8. Oh, I liked the story about the vamp. Too bad you had to stop. Maybe you could revive it in a Saturday Centus lol. I have a lot of buttons here that my mom had but I don't think any would be considered vintage but you never know. I might need to check them out. Great V post.

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  9. oh i love vintage buttons as well ... i have several jars of them ... leftovers from older times. I do love Mrs. C's bird feeders ... and yours is just as wonderful! and love the button photos ... very clever!

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  10. I really enjoyed your story about Russia (very clever) and your button displays are just delightful. Thanks for having such a great blog.

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  11. One of my favorite pieces of jewelery is a necklace made from mother of pearl buttons - loved your post!

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  12. I always learn the most amazing things when I visit~ I had no idea about the pearl button capital of the world was in Mississippi! Love Mrs. C's feeders & your peace symbol :-)

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  13. You had me from the alliteration in the first sentence!

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  14. Very fun post! I love the vintage buttons, and your artful way with them :) . Very talented pair, you and Mrs. C! And that vampish lady in the beginning of your post may need some Vitex ;) .

    Blessings,
    Catherine :)

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  15. You could sell those feeders, they're wonderful! I've never paid much attention to buttons, but it was neat to learn a bit about them. Great V post.

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  16. This is interesting to me, since I just dragged my buttons out of a drawer and have them now displayed in my laundry room. And almost every one has a story or a memory. It's amazing something so small could do that.

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  17. Thanks so much for stopping by my blog and commenting. I've poked around a bit here in your corner of bloglandia and you are a very interesting fellow. I too love and have a collection of buttons. Mine are because my Dad was dry goods salesman and I have his sample cards and loose inventory from the 40's & 50's and now many, many more buttons live at my overcrowded "stuff" house. I look forward to visiting with you again and sharing a thought or two. The Olde Bagg, Linda Ye Olde Crone's Gazette too

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  18. We love squishing our buttons into playdoh and making neat patterns. Great bit of button history!

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  19. I really love all the buttons that you have purchased! I can't wait until me class is over this week and I will start making more hummer feeders! I want to go to the button town!

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  20. Button, button, who has the button? Why it's you who has them all! Great designs.

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  21. My husband went to Vladivostok for the opening of the American Consulate when he was in the United States Coast Guard. Maybe someday he can take me there.

    I loved the hummingbird feeder. What a good idea.

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  22. Wow, what a fun stop on our little journey through Alphabe-Thursday's letter "V"!

    I wonder if you could make a necklace like that? It would be really gorgeous, wouldn't it?

    The way you both used those buttons on the hummingbird feeder is amazing. I still have mine hanging from the bookshelf in our little library. I just can't bear to put it outside yet...it is so charming!

    Thanks for a very informative and fun post, Jeff!

    I always love visiting here!

    A+

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  23. Wow, you obviously had fun writing this post! It was so witty and charming -- I enjoyed reading it! Loved all the pictures, too -- how creative!

    Also, thanks for taking the time to read my post (V for Virtues) and for leaving me a nice comment. This is my first time to join this meme, so I really appreciate it! =) God bless!

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  24. Ooh! love vintage buttons and enjoyed your "V" post today :o) How fun to find a place to visit...just as a result of a google search :o) Hope you take that trip soon.

    And I love yours and your wife's cute hummingbird feeders.

    Blessings & Aloha!
    (thank you for stopping by :o)

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  25. Wonderful post for V, and the bottle with buttons is so whimsical.

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  26. I love the bottles. Adorable. Nice V post!

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  27. VA-Voom that story started out quite interesting, changed course but remained interesting! thanks for a good read, lovely humming bird feeder.

    I enjoyed your father's day post also. I am ADHD, as are 2 of my children, and my son is also ODD.

    I was severely injured on the job in 2005, and since have been DXed with Post Traumatic Depression and Post Traumatic Anxiety.

    So I totally am right there with you wishing well to others with mental, emotional or neurological disorders.

    Be well,
    Susan

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  28. Great V post. I was only able get mine posted before leaving to visit family so I am trying to stop by as many blogs as possible to catch up a little. I have buttons in quite a few containers in my craft/sewing room. They are an addiction once you start collecting them.

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  29. I love buttons too! I always keep an eye out for them at garage sales and thrift stores...I love the hummingbird feeders....the buttons look great!

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  30. Hi Jeff,
    I don't know why I missed this post. I love buttons! Now I understand why you have buttons on you W-post.

    To answer Mrs. Matlock's question, if you can make a necklace with buttons -- YES! I plan to try to make some jewellery with buttons.

    Those who make a lot of very nice jewellery out of buttons togther with beads are

    Lisa of Alterity
    http://alterityart.blogspot.com/
    http://www.etsy.com/shop/Alterity
    and

    http://randomcreative28.blogspot.com/
    http://www.etsy.com/shop/randomcreative

    Best wishes,
    Anna

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  31. Hello again Jeff,
    I am putting a link to your wolf-post on my wolf-post!

    Please take a peek at my V-post if you haven't already seen it. I didn't see your name. I think Mrs.C visited and left a comment.

    Anna's V-word

    And for the benefit of other readers:

    Anna's W-Words

    Best wishes,
    Anna

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