Thursday, March 20, 2008

So, What's Up With Blogging?


Yes, I do enjoy reading blogs. No, I have not enjoyed setting this thing up. If I ever thought for a second that I had a future in computer programming, I can now officially say that I will not be pursuing that line of work.

Anyhow, the point is that I created this blog as a way of showcasing my work in the world of crafting, and to also keep in touch with other crafters. I have set up a nascent etsy shop (see link at right), and I am hoping to add more and more items as time goes on. If all goes well, I may even sell a thing or two!

I set up a studio in an old school down the road from me. It is a rather run down building that has a certain charm. Mostly the enormous windows that let in loads of light, the wooden floors, the plaster walls. I love it! I share the space with a lovely woman named Susan, also, and she makes dolls and other very cool and artistic things (check out her etsy shop: Threads of Inspiration: http://www.threadsofinspiration.etsy.com

My newest obsession is wondering how I am going to deal with my pretty impressive button collection.  I have been collecting buttons for awhile, and now I am trying to figure out how to sort them.  For awhile, I was putting them in this tray that has separate compartments:



Obviously, the tray got a little full, so I had to come up with another plan.  Then, I found this wooden tray at the thrift store:


I could store some buttons in here, but it will eventually fill up.  And that is because I also have all these buttons:


And these:



One day, in an effort to avoid cleaning (a skill that I am quite gifted at), I sat down and decided to organize the white buttons that were in the black tray.  So, I took floral wire and strung the matching ones onto it.  That system might work, although I am not thrilled with it.

In a seeming stroke of brilliance, I bought this darling set of little watchmaker's cases that come in these boxes (I got them from my favorite gardening catalog, Lee Valley:  http://www.leevalley.com )

Each box has a bunch of really cute containers.  I decided to put the buttons in them, so I started with the red ones.  Needless to say, I filled most of them up in no time, and I barely made a dent in the button collection.  









While I would love to use these cases for all my buttons, I really can't afford to buy the number of cases it would take to house them all.  So, if anyone out there has any good suggestions for my dilemma, send them on!











8 comments:

Lisa said...

I love this post - and now I want to be crafty and worry about where to put my buttons. Really!

No ideas on the button organization yet but I promise to think about it. Just don't get rid of them because they are beautiful.

Betsy said...

I love your blog and your buttons! OK, and you too. :o) You obviously have to make and sell something made with buttons. But, then you won't have those beautiful buttons anymore! Hmmm.

Cardinal Point Wine said...

How about putting the buttons thru one of those coin sorting machines? Of course they would be sorted by size and weight instead of color, but they'd end up in neatly packed columns, and you'd know how valuable they were by... the...
Canadian buttons would get stuck and ruin the machine, so pick them out first.
I am full of helpfulness!

cowboyearl said...

How about a new product called the "coat of many buttons"? I would start out making the prototype in X-large, just to rein in the collection a little bit.

LOVE the blog and the store--You go girl!

Lisa said...

I actually think the Coat of Many Buttons idea is pretty fabulous. If anyone could pull it off, it would be you!

Threads of Inspiration said...

I like the coat of many buttons too. You could cover lampshades with them or put rows of them at the top of your socks or wire them together to make a (very heavy) curtain. I've been looking at crafty books published in the 70's-can you tell.

Lisa said...

Love the idea of putting them on curtains. In fact, my 9 year old needs some very cool curtains for her room!

Button Lady - want a job? :)

retotted said...

baby food jars, or jars in general with lids screwed into a wooden plank-y thingy?