What do you mean s-t-r-e-t-c-h your buttons? That’s impossible! Surely, that could not be possible, you might say. But what I mean is of course for you to use up your leftover buttons and put to good use. It doesn’t really matter if its made of plastic, metal, vintage or othervise. It can be transformed into a beautiful piece of wearable art.
Most of us would have tons of sewing odds and ends, and in our trusty little sewing kit will reveal some buttons that are rather long forgotten. Although we normally have what we call spare buttons, you know, just in case we have those …read more

I marvel each time we have a yard sale the items that delight people who stop by, especially those into crafting. 
*One lady bought all the buttons my daughter had decided she could part with.  She told me she decorated clothing with them.  At a previous yard sale, a customer said she made Christmas stockings for sale and decorated them with buttons.
*A young man purchased a box of used crayons.  I asked if he had children who enjoyed coloring.
“No,” he replied.  “They’re for me.  I have some coloring book pages and am going to color them to make wrapping paper.”
*Another customer purchased …read more

Many artists nowadays incorporate buttons into their mixed media and fabric art.  This photo reminded me of some of the lovely effects you can achieve.
The appeal of your art will vary depending on colors, styles and materials.  They also be memory pieces, using buttons from special occasions and from clothing of family members attire.
Some quilters/fabric artists use many buttons of various colors and types so these  nearly cover the piece.  Others use buttons simply to enhance their design or emphasize specific portions.
How have you used buttons in your art work?

Collecting buttons, for crafts and as a hobby, fascinates many people and often gives you a glimpse into history.  Hat buttons, not made to adorn hats, but with designs of hats on them, provide another source of interest.
Recently I learned about these intriguing buttons that have evolved through the ages.  They contain designs and pictures of hats…sometimes the hat alone and sometimes of a person wearing a hat.  The hats come from different eras, but the buttons aren’t necessarily of that same time period.
However, hat buttons are sought by collectors since they haven’t been made to any extent in recent …read more

I had to get my button stash out today to find one for a shirt.  The jar with common buttons held nothing spectacular, but this set me thinking about the buttons my daughter and I’ve collected over the years.
Some we’ve saved and some we’ve sold at our yard sales.  However, buttons often tell a story about the clothing they’re on and occasions when it was worn.  Also, if you’re a collector, buttons are reminiscent of the places where you found them.
I remember collecting buttons when we lived in Denver.  My husband was attending airline pilots’ training, so our 2-year old …read more

Embellishing quilts, fabric art and mixed media has become very popular.  The artist might use simply a few items or can almost cover the piece in a technique called encrusted embellishing.
What types of embellishments are there?

Beads
Buttons
Charms
Scrapbook stickers
Handmade fabric buttons
Pieces of wood
Decorated CDs
Foil
Artificial flowers
Keys
Advertising buttons on pins
Postage stamps
Rubber stamping

Do you have any other interesting embellishments that you use? How do you use them?  What are your favorites?

Collecting buttons for themselves and their historic interest has been around for ages.  Nowadays, fabric artists have begun collecting unique and interesting buttons for their quilts, collages, and other arts and crafts.
In the midst of accumulating buttons for arts and crafts, you may find some unusual and even rare buttons.  So your interest is piqued about the hobby of button collecting itself. 
You’ll search the Internet and browse through books to find out more about these items you’re using.
 Or, you might be a button collector who is wondering what to do with those you don’t need for your collection.  You’ve culled …read more

How do you organize your beads and buttons for your artwork so you can find them easily?  Do you have great organization?  Or are yours scattered here and there in containers, in drawers, and on shelves?
What’s a good way to organize?

By size
By color
By color and size
By design
By artist
By era

My daughter has separated the small beads she uses for her embellishing into containers.  They are organized by color, then by size and design.  She puts these into small clear plastic containers she can see through.  Then she stores the smaller ones into a larger clear plastic box.  Thus they’re easy to …read more

Do you have a button collection for your youngsters to explore and show off their creativity?  This wouldn’t be your treasure of precious buttons or those you especially need for your own craft and fabric art projects.
The “Kids’ Stash” would be odds and ends of buttons you’ve collected, taken off old clothing, saved for mending and other utilitarian tasks.  These are great for youngsters to use for crafts and creativity(as long as they’re beyond the “putting everything into their mouth” stage of life).
My daughter became interested in buttons when I did dressmaking for a lady who was an avid button collector.  When Miss …read more

 QuiltingAndPatchwork.com
  More quilters are discovering the fascination of art quilts, those you hang on the wall and use for decorative effect.  You might place them on a bed but generally use only for adornment.  Perhaps you’ll use fabric art pieces in clothing, too.
To embellish their art quilts, quilters and fabric artists often choose beads and buttons, some of which they may make themselves.  I ran a poll to determine whether my readers are into this type of embellishment.
Question – Do You Use Beads and Buttons to Embellish Your Quilts?
10%  – Yes, frequently
70% – Yes, occasionally
20% – No, never
It would seem …read more