I am "The Button Lady". I collect buttons. I teach others about buttons. I have written two books about buttons. My goal is to make button education accessible to everyone. I feel I am failing.
Today I embark on a mission to continue what I started with my books and lectures. I will write about buttons, chapter by chapter. I will not shy away from controversy. I'm calling it like I see it, because you all deserve to know.
I am so excited about this endeavor that I may wander from my path from time to time. I must be patient and start at the beginning, or risk having my message lost. I welcome your questions and thoughts. Ask anything, say things pertinent to the subject. Open your eyes and your minds. Learn something new.
Learning. We learn something new everyday, it is said. What do you, and I, do with this learning? It is our responsibility to share what we know with others. Do not keep your "light under a bushel". I am asking all of you to share my blog messages on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, and the like, so that everyone will have access and learn about buttons.
"Really, Jill, " you say, "Buttons?" I know you are thinking this because I though it as well. I see the same look on the faces of others that I had when I saw a flyer for a State Button Society Show. I went to the show, thinking it would be "fun". I left the show, knowing it had changed my life. I was entrusted with knowledge and a mission and I have embraced it; writing books, articles and speaking to groups. It needs to grow larger, and I need your help. As I post chapters here on my blog, I am asking that you share them with others, and encourage them to do the same. It is my hope that you will be ambassadors for me when you see what I am seeing on the Internet, eBay, Pinterest and at flea markets.
Look for my first installment tomorrow and you will see why I am so passionate about this.
Button Blessings to you all,
Jill
I have an adorable niece named Grace. She and her twin brothers, Seth and Ryan, have been helping me set up, work and tear down my show booth for several years now whenever I visit Arizona. They love to help me sort, package, count and label my stock. They each have their own button boxes which they made themselves and they have become button fanatics. I can't imagine why!?
When Grace decided that she would like to get serious about button collecting, at the ripe old age of 7, I started her with China buttons. Grace calls them "Chiiiiiiina Buttons" as if they were rubies. It brings tears to my eyes! She now has a lovely card of China buttons complete with identifying labels and she studies her copy of Warman's Buttons Field Guide diligently to be able to identify new buttons I send to her.
China buttons are a wonderful button for a beginning collector because they are plentiful, inexpensive (for the most part), and colorful. There are several body styles and types of China buttons, but the most popular seem to be "Calicoes" and "Stencil" patterns. There are over 326 Calico patterns (and that number grows as new specimens are discovered) and over 63 Stencil patterns catalogued. Both types came in several colors and sizes.
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I'd like to talk about China buttons this week in my blogs. What exactly is a China button? Where were they made and when? What kinds of Chinas are there? What are they worth today? Where can I find China buttons? In addition I'd like to share new finds and research that is being done today. Can you see why I'm so addicted? And this is just one type of button!!! Heaven help us!
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