Does anyone else out there have a tin or jar of buttons, collected over the years? I'm lucky enough to have some of my Grandmother's buttons. I remember playing with them when I was younger, emptying the tin out and sorting them into piles of different colours or shapes.
These two books were both on the new book display at my local library and I couldn't resist picking them up.
The Warman's Field Guide is fascinating. It starts off with the history of buttons and lots of information on actaully collecting buttons as a hobby. It features full colour photos detailing all the different types of buttons (more than you think!) and their values. I actually found a few of Grandma's in this book!
Button It Up has full colour photos as well, detailing ove 80 projects involving using up your button stash. Many of them inolve jewellery and are quite creative.
As a sewer, I have my own tin of buttons, ready for any project or repair needed. And I'm still exploring making my own polymer clay buttons for children's garments or quilt embellishment.
What's your button story?
Friday, February 12, 2010
Warmans' Button Field Guide - Jill Gorski AND Button it Up - Susan Beal
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Wishin' and Hopin' - Wally Lamb
Continuing with Christmas tales this week....
Wally Lamb is perhaps best know for his novels The Hour I First Believed, I Know This Much is True and She's Come Undone.
Lamb also has taught creative writing in a women's prison. Two anthologies of the women's writings have been published - I'll Fly Away and Couldn't Keep it to Myself. I've really enjoyed these two books.
Wishin' and Hopin' is just a great, fun Christmas read. Felix Funicello (yes - he's related to 'that' Funicello!) and his family live in Three Rivers, Connecticut in 1964. Felix is twelve. We follow Felix into his school - St. Aloysius Gonzaga Parochial - and get to relive the agonies of elementary school and the sixties ( remember the Pillsbury Bake-offs?) Lots happens in Felix's life on the way to the pinnacle - the Christmas pageant.
I found myself nodding along, emembering, sympathizing and laughing out loud with Felix. Lamb presents a Christmas message in a wonderfully entertaining manner. Perfect with a cup of cocoa and easlily devoured in one sitting.