SHAMELESS Marketing of BUTTONSSSSSS!!!!!

Who in the world does NOT like Buttons? Lots of people have fond memories of buttons as a child from their grandmothers or mothers. They not only provide a useful purpose, but many are so incredibly gorgeous or ingenious in their design and materials used.

I have studied and collected buttons for about 15 years and they are by far my largest collection of all the things I love.

I hope you will peruse my Picasa Folder of buttons I have for sale. Look at the wonder of them, even if you are not into buying. Doesn't cost to look!

http://picasaweb.google.com/grammylkk/WildWedsJune9#

Write me at lkk@kc.rr.com if something wants to come live at your house!

Am I Still a Blogger?

Good question...................it has been so long between posts that I am probably only writing this just for me------------but that's ok...........

Been seriously into reading and grandkidlets ball games and helping elderly friends get their home packed up for a move.........lots of living, but no blogging. Maybe my blog has run its' course; perhaps I do not NEED to do it like I once did. We'll see...............

HURRY UP.............and S-L-O-W Down~~~~~~~

Reading has long been a Passion of mine............I have to remind myself at times to slow down as I read; to take it all in; not to rush to finish...........It is difficult when there are so MANY books that I long to read.

I spend most all my time these days reading as my creative pursuit instead of "making things". Oh, I still stitch a bit and re-arrange bits of the home front, but reading is what I long to be doing most.

Reading is the great Equalizer...........no matter your lot in life, if you can read, you have the key to meeting new people, visiting new lands and learning about whatever you want. Give me a great stack of books and a pot of tea and I'm happy.

Since beginning this blog, I have kept a book list on the sidebar. I would love to hear from other book lovers to hear of what you are reading.

Hop, Hop..............Cheep, Cheep..........Chocolate Anyone?

~~~~~When you are a girl who has a bedroom devoted to Peter Rabbit and related bunnies and Easter rolls around and all the other goodies get pulled out for a visit, it is hard to know where to stop! So, some just have to stay in their room and be happy they are out the entire year.


This little container was from cottage cheese back in the 50s. It is paper with a wax coating.



I made these big blue and pink bunnies back in 1974 in a ceramics class.


All the post cards are quite old and it is hard to pick just some to show.
I love using what is at hand; I had some variegated cloth-type "yarn" that I chained a big length of to use for the string for the cards. I may still paint the clothespins if I get motivated.





Included the little tiny doll quilt that I made a couple of years ago as the colors are so right.

Then and Now

He was born in Iowa and became a farmer...............Once he made over 50 perfect ringers in the game of pitching Horseshoes.............That was sorta like making a whole lotta 3 point shots in basketball today; or a couple of holes in one in golf.............he was the First World Champion Horseshoe Pitcher in 1910 and held that title for a number of years..............He was given the title, The Grand Old Man of Horseshoes.................His name was Frank Jackson and I am his great-granddaughter.

In his honor, I collect buttons with Horseshoes as the focus. This tray is one I entered in Competition a few years ago that has both Horseshoes and Shamrocks. They are made from pearl, various metals, glass, horn, Bakelite, celluloid and composition.

Fresh Breath of Green for Spring

Revamped the hutch with St. Patricks' Day post cards and lots of green bits of
china, buttons and books. It is so fun to have this area to change out for whatever holiday or season rolls 'round.

How Cool Are THESE Books ?????

Recently discovered my new favorite place to shop, Stampers Ink. It's been there for 5 years, so I am a bit late in finding it, but it was worth the wait! The owner, Tanya, is the most gracious and helpful of shop owners and she just makes you wanna go back again. She carries the biggest variety of stamps and inks around and has fabulous classes at very low prices.

I was overjoyed to find these two books there. Tanya cuts old Readers Digest Condensed books into these fabulous shapes with a band saw! I am in altered heaven with the Heart one right now. I also bought some Copic markers there and they are wonderful too.

Here is what they look like when opened. Talk about Great Repurposing!




Now, what are you up to at your house today?

Backmarked Buttons

One of my obsessions in button collecting has been the search for ones with the backmark of "Gesetelich" or "Geschutzt", which means patented or trademarked in German. This first pic has metal buttons, some that also contain glass, fabric or plastic. The pink one is all glass.

If you like drop dead gorgeous, this tray is for you! These all have the Gesch backmark and are all large in size with many colors and shapes of glass. The purple ones are my favorites.~~~~~~~~ENJOY!

TWINCHES ~~~~~ And The Frustrations of Life~~~

YIKES! Ok, reality time today~~~~~~I have been in such a slump; eating way yonder too much. I have only wanted to eat and read and not much else. This is not a new struggle, but I have some other issues physically that cause me concern, so I need to get tough on myself if I want to stick around for awhile. I took the REAL AGE quiz on the Dr. Oz site here
At age 59, the quiz says that I am more like 64.8. Poor eating and lack of exercise are mostly the problems. No big surprise there. Take the quiz and see how you do!



I did finish up this TWINCHES project to share with you. They are so fun
to make. I start with gessoed watercolor paper, then add paint, old book text and stamps; mounted it on a piece of sample wallpaper and added some neat old tape measure that I bought on Etsy from Hope

AND, to show what you can do with just a few bits and pieces, I arranged the little Valentine piece under my heading.

Whatever you are doing, find some joy in today~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My New Motto: Eat Less, Make More Art!

Charmstring Buttons

I have a new article online today for Bead and Button magazine, called A Charming Tale.

I have always loved buttons and have been a member of the National Button Society for 13 years. Check out their website here The society holds conventions each year where hundreds of obsessed people come to display their own buttons and to also buy and sell. This is where you will see buttons like no where else. The convention this August is in Manchester New Hampshire.

~~~Honoring Mr. Lincoln~~~~~~~~~

Each year at this time, I create a display of Lincoln memorabilia-----books, post cards, buttons and much more. The mantel cannot hold all of it as I have been blessed to have been given many items from friends. I have always been an avid reader about him and his family.


(Click on any picture to make it larger for viewing)


A few years ago I stitched the head of Lincoln in black and white.
















Buttons are at the heart of my collection. One of my faves is the largest one near the top. It has a silver back mark and was made in 1951, my birth year.To the left of it is a real Lincoln penny set in metal. The bottom two blue ones are what button collectors call "jasperware", a type of ceramic.

Indulgent Post~~~~~~~~~Happy 59 to me~~~~~~

Since one of the reasons I blog is to keep a record of my days which I hopefully will have printed, I am posting today about my birth-day. I visited my mother at the nursing home yesterday, and as I always have done, told her thanks for having me.




Also thought it a good day to finally put a more up-to-date pic of me on my profile. A few years older, quite a few pounds heavier.

Valentines on Parade

From my House to yours~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



Sharing my Valentine display with you today. Hugs to all of you in Blogland!

Yea! My Giveaway Arrived

Oh, my Goodness! I won the 1st Giveaway given by Connie at She Dreams Big and it arrived today. A beautiful handmade bag with lots of sweet goodies in it. Old Valentines, buttons, trim and much more. So well done and so appreciated. Makes blogging even more fun. Thanks Connie!

New Blog on the Block

My friend Gwen has started a new blog this week, Golden Ponderings and Silver Linings, and I would love for you to visit her and leave a comment. You all know how good it makes you feel to be noticed, right? Please let her know you popped in and tell her that I said "hi".

Happy Wednesday to all of you in Blogland!

3 Years Later~~~~~~~~WIP FINISHED !!!

What a great feeling to FINALLY finish a much-loved project! I stitched the redwork part of this Winter Wonderland pattern 3 years ago! Just one of those things that got put aside. I knew that I should not begin another new project until I got this finished.

With all the gorgeous snow that we've had, it fits right in today.

Now, WHAT projects should YOU finish today?

Passing of Gumby Creator

How I LOVE Gumby! Art Clokey, his creator, died on January 8, peacefully in his sleep.

Gumby and Pokey have brought countless hours of fun to me and my grandchildren. These wonderful clay animations were quite astounding when first introduced in the
50's and are a breath of fresh air among the various bits we see made for kids today.
They encouraged values of friendship, honesty, helpfulness and so much more.

Long Live GUMBY!