More Buttons, Buttons, Buttons in June 2020
This June 30th presentation is the last one for a little while. If you find a wonderful button over the summer - either an online purchase or maybe a gift from a friend... send it along and we will post it. Otherwise have a wonderful summer and stay safe!
Sincerely, Susie Smith, a webmaster (Linda Doyle does the meeting and more news part! A team effort)
For the past two months most of Canada and North America were under a Shelter in Place Mode which means we are concerned with the COVID-19 pandemic. The Province of Ontario is starting to open up, but it may be necessary NOT to zoom about as we normally do. Large gatherings will not be happening and even small meetings are discouraged.
The Ottawa Valley Button Club members thought it would be fun and educational to play with our buttons during April and May... and we will continue in June if we have members sending in button photographs. Just Send your submission to [susan@wein.ca]. And each day we will place one on this webpage and on our FACEBOOK page, as well as Buttonbytes page is apprpropriate.
Email Susie Smith with a date that you would like to volunteer.
June 30, 2020
Sue Dickout presents our last set of buttons for June.
More glass in metal. The variety of such buttons never ends. Be sure to look through your collection and see which ones speak to you!
June 29, 2020
Susie Smith presents:
At every button show I look for these white metal- chrome buttons. But I have no idea when they were first made. I do know that chrome, at first, was extremely expensive. Carolyn Webb started me on this quest. Anyone have any info?
June 27, 2020
A Challenge by Diane Close
Can you make a card of ABCs out of your button collection? Send them to Susie and we shall see - let's say by September 1, in time for our September meeting.
June 26, 2020
Sue Dickout presents
More glass in metal — these are design under glass, mostly reverse painted. The centre one has pearl chips under the surface.
June 25, 2020
Sue Dickout presents
Imitation gemstones (glass) set in metal.
June 24, 2020
OVBC Presents
Imagine how pleased we were with our display at the Almonte, Ontario's Fibrefest a few years ago! A great way to interest the public in buttons!
June 23, 2020
Marion Warburton presents:
These buttons are not everyone's favourites, but being a fabric junkie, I can't resist them. And I'm always amazed by the things people wore on their ties. My favourite is the fabric version of David's painting "Napoleon crossing the Alps".
June 21, 2020
Joanne Irons agrees that Antique Shops can have treasurers:
The antique shoppes are open and I stopped by one of my favourite stores this week. The owner had a treasure for me: 9 matching waistcoat buttons. I would suggest Birmingham Trade buttons, no markings found. Beautiful stamped sterling rim around iridescent pearl with centre red glass stone. The backs are a rich golden gilt in very fine condition. They did come in a faux alligator button box of the era, but it is not original to these buttons, the top slit would have fit a tie clip.
This was posted on Buttonbytes FB and two readers commented:
Sharon Micenko: I think the top slit would originally have held a bar brooch with six buttons for an old shirtwaist lady's blouse.
Chris McGann; yes, correct the top slit is for a bar pin...dah! 3 holes for buttons and 3 holes for the loop connectors...Button On & thanks for looking...Joanne Irons
June 18, 2020
Susie Smith presents
How do you sort your buttons? I love wine glasses and vases; then when hunting in antique stores I look for China Hands; and finally devil egg plates, candy boxes and even Stouffer Lasagna containers!
June 17, 2020
Marion Warburton presents:
This is what people were wearing in 1960. I was surprised to see imported black glass, the whole middle section is glass. Maybe plastic never did take over completely.
June 16, 2020
Sue Dickout presents:
Amazing variety of sun, moon and stars. And comets!
June 15, 2020
Joanne Irons
n 1998 I took my mother and daughter to New Mexico. Oh, how that place calls my name. We travelled around the state, hit a few markets and silversmith's shops. Most of these buttons were collected during that trip. The pewters were probably added later. But back you could buy the silver buttons for around a dollar.
June 13, 2020
Sue Dickout presents:
Glass overlay — the simple concept of adding a second colour of hot glass to a still warm glass button results in some of the most beautiful buttons possible. And the variety is amazing!
June 12, 2020
Joanne Irons presents:
When my daughter Julie, was just a baby, she loved the Lullaby "Rocking Horse Dreams". That song inspired this collection of Rocking Horse buttons.
June 11, 2020
Joanne Irons presents
What to do with all those shoe buttons that you find in button boxes?
June 10, 2020
Susan Dickout presents
First, some steel shapes to go with Susie Smith's presentation yesterday. The ones with more surface work are likely a little younger than hers. The lyre is my favourite!
Second, here are some watchcock pieces that I have collected since the last time I wrote about them (OVBC Newsletter, February 2014; NBB October 2014). On the left is a bracelet made of two watchcocks, and on the right two watchcock buttons. One is silver plated. These are all made from pieces from English watches. The button below is made from a watchcock or “oignon” from a French or continental watch, and still contains its original jewels. Remember when watches were advertised with jewels in the movement? These pieces were all made from 18th or early 19th century watches, and were individually carved and pierced.
June 9, 2020
Susie Smith presents
This is a page from a July 1958 Just Buttons magazine. I knew I had one of these so I copied the page and put it on half card. Then I have spent several years (and shows) hunting for the buttons. They are plain steels and come is several shapes. One of my favourites is the clover leaf!
June 8, 2020
Diane Close presents:
There are just so many different bone buttons. Shapes and sizes, plus colours. I had them all in a box but when I dumped them out some surprises appeared. Also fun to sort through stuff I haven't looked at for a while!
June 6, 2020
Roxann Blazetich-Ozols presents:
Lampwork Buttons – Here are some contemporary hand made glass buttons created by Kirsty Naray in Ajax Ontario. Who doesn’t love pansies!
June 5, 2020
Micheline Gravel presents:
These pretty clear colored glass crystal buttons were manufactured under the name “Altaglass”. They were made in Medicine Hat, Alberta and were produced between 1950-1951 by a Czechoslovakian glass blower named John Furch, who emigrated to Canada in 1949. The colors are so pretty and reminiscent of colors used in stained glass windows.
What distinguishes an Altaglass button from other clear colored glass buttons is the shape of the shank. It is rounded, like an dome.
They are fun to find and collect!!
June 4, 2020
Sue Dickout presents
These are fun — mostly brass, with cut steel trim. Look at all the different shapes of steel pieces! Round, crescent and marquis are the most common, but look at the acorn, salamander and clover. The button on the lower right is something different. It looks like a steel decoration of a head, but it’s actually lustred black glass. Always have to use that magnet!
June 3, 2020
First I have a hardware button for you — hinges, with screws. Two different sizes, two different tints, engraved top piece and with a twinkle liner.
Second, one of my very favourite buttons. Enamel background set in silver, with a silver net over the top, set with marcasites. These are not cut steel, but natural pyrite crystals.
June 2, 2020
Susie Smith Presents
TinTypes are may favouite thanks in part to OVBC member Melanie Macdonald. Melanie told my husgand that I like TInTypes and she had a number for sale from a collection she purchased. She suggested he may like to get them for me for a birthday or anniversary gift... Well he was thrilled as it meant he would not have to look for something special and he would be giving me what I liked... (Called Husband Bonus Points) So sure enough I now have a fantastic collection of TinTypes. Here is one of my favourites.
