Monday 20 September 2010

Buttons

I've collected buttons as long as I've collected clothes. With every purchase I diligently remove the little plastic ziplock bag and place the spare buttons with all the others in the plastic purse I keep with my (very small) sewing kit. Sometimes I even sew buttons back on, but not very often. Did I mention before that sewing brings me out in some sort of allergic reaction.

So, hoarder that I am, I now have quite a collection. Most of the clothes that they would be spares for have long since made their way to new homes. It's a good job I kept them though, because otherwise what on earth would I have made for the MMM challenge 'buttons'?

Dipping into my other piles of accumulated potential art supplies (what my Mother would call rubbish) I found a length of tough wire, my home-made paper beads and some silvery spacers all tangled up with gorgeous pink raffia...

Behold my heart - a celebration of clutter love!

What do you hoarde?

30 comments:

  1. I collect my buttons just like what you did with yours. I now have several boxes full of them!

    I think everyone has a hoarder inside. Hoarder and the act of hoarding is a subject I use a lot in my creative work.

    Apart from buttons, I "hoard" books, paper, pens, necklaces, bracelets, quotes, dreams and about anything that I take a fancy. ;)

    P.S. Hit a huge brick wall in coloring my very first face (following Suzi's instruction). Feeling extremely deflated at the moment. Don't even want to write my own blog post. :(

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  2. the question would be: what do i NOT hoard? LOL! but you see: everything is good for something... and your wonderful button heart is the best sample therefore!

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  3. The button heart is gorgeous!....am a confirmed hoarder too-of all kinds of beads,buttons,paper,books,pencils,shells,feathers,stones-the list goes on, always a relief to find others who understand :)

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  4. Oh love your button heart...and yes I am a hoarder too....a little bit of everything and lately envelopes and stamps....for use in my collages one day....lol

    Jenny x

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  5. What a wonderful idea to make a heart with buttons it beautiful.
    Anni

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  6. Your button heart looks beautiful.. you know... all of us are hunters and keepers ;)

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  7. The buttons you saved have such a soft, sweet and whimsical look in the heart you created. I cn see that hanging free-form or on a door or wall.

    As far as hoarding goes, I pretty much collect just about everything from unusual wine glasses to vintage cloth. My studio has standing room only these days.

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  8. I always loose my buttons! lol This is a great piece! What a great way to use all of those items! I love hearts!

    Beautifully done! :)

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  9. The question is what don't I hoarde? Like I tell my husband I just like stuff. And buttons are one of those things that I hoard! Your button hanger is beautiful. Oh and I tried my hand at sketching yesterday,lets just say that I will keep practicing until I post it.But it was fun and relaxing.

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  10. The heart is so simple and sweet, I love it. I too horde buttons in the little plastic bags, and I bought a large box of someone else's hoarded buttons, I save ribbon, paper, string, beads, old jewelry and on and on. I thought that is what all artist did and from the comments I was right.

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  11. Books, books, books and books!! Probably the only thing worth hoarding for me...hehee. But your buttons here look lovely! And I think we both share the same kind of allergy for sewing!! (^_^)

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  12. Not only is the a beautiful piece of art it is a wonderful idea so simple yet so lovely...great work.

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  13. Yay..what a fun spirited post..lovely buttons..love your creative touch..beautiful!

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  14. I "heart" your buttons! I used to play with my Mom's button collection when I was a kid--sorting, arranging, and classifying. It kept me busy while she sewed. I don't sew very often, but I have a button collection too.

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  15. "Storytelling" could be fun. You told a story here about buttons! Maybe each button has their own story to be told? Mother's reading to children? An illustrative of favourite story books?

    As you said, there are "enchanted stories" in your "world of words and pictures" Lisa, just waiting to be told! I know you'll do an amazing job! You are a writer and an artist!! ;) (And I am looking forward to seeing what you do!)

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  16. What DON'T I hoard??? Just 2 days a go I was walking down an alley and saw some rusty bottle caps...20 steps later, I turned around and picked them up! One day they will be just the thing!

    I love your little piece! I bet you could sell these buy the dozens...I think they would look sweet on a christmas tree or in a window.

    And, I have to add...

    Behold my heart - a celebration of clutter love!

    That line was perfect!
    XoX

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  17. Hi you! Thank you for visiting and commenting on my blog. I'm glad you enjoyed it! Love this heart and I agree the closing line is...Perfect! What do I hoard? Ummmm....everything! You never know when it will come in useful! And now that I have a basement I have the space to potentially hoard even more!! ha ha!

    Take care

    Ro xxx

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  18. This is great - I love the piece and the post - and your new header and blog layout is fab too - I am in the process (just in my head now) of redesigning my blog and this is such inspiration, xo

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  19. Love your button art and story. I have called myself a pack rat for years.. haha.. but it is a little of this and a little of that.. but I so love paper. I could have a ton of it even when i have just a little scrap left I have to save it!! Did you say that you made a home-made paper bead?? How do you do that?? sounds fun..

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  20. I recognized the "bags of buttons of clothes long gone" story as my own. We are buttons sisters! :D
    Lovely piece.

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  21. This is precious. I think I'll make a bazillion of these and hang them on the tree. Super cute idea!
    Hmmm hoarding? I hoard everything! My entire studio is one huge collection of some sort or another. buttons... I recently bought over 30 pounds for $10-- like I need another button lol

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  22. very cute and clever! You can NEVER have enough buttons, or paper or stamps....you get the idea.
    There are buttons that I find hard to part with.....

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  23. What a wonderful way to use them up! I love your heart! I am afraid I am much in the same predicament... I bet I could make hundreds of these darling ornaments :)) ohhhh I could even make some stars for Christmas ... What a grand idea you have shared!!

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  24. Brilliant!! I too have begun collecting buttons (only this year) and have yet to work out what the heck to do with them. I just love the look and feel of them. I'm such a hoarder - I was doing pretty well at fighting this tendency til I read a book about artists' collections and how all artists are ridiculous hoarders (but in the positive sense) so in a way, it was like I felt a huge wave of permission to just carry on collecting

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  25. I have a button box too, but have squandered most of the good 'uns... I love your heart of buttons tho - very cool! =)

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  26. Good way to convey the importance of buttons. By purchasing buttons that have 1-2" leeway, it may help you keep the close longer and reduce your wardrobe expenses. Thanks for the info.

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  27. What a gorgeous heart! You've inspired me to use some of my stash of buttons and beads and things!

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  28. Well, I am so glad we inspired you to use some of your buttons for this stunning heart! You don't have enough room on your blog for me to list everything that I hoard for my art :-)

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Thank you for your comments - I always love to hear what you think :)

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