Delight in the beauty that surrounds you

Today was a beautiful day ~  Take a peek at the beauties in my yard... 

(click on photos to enlarge images)

Nature will bear the closest inspection.  She invites us to lay our eye level with her smallest leaf, and take an insect view of its plain.  ~Henry David Thoreau

    

  

   

  

Buttons!

I LOVE buttons!  I have been collecting antique, vintage, modern & studio clothing buttons since 1996.  

I am a member of 

• National Button Society
• Kansas State Button Society
• Missouri State Button Society
• Button Bytes (international on-line study group)
• Evening Star Button Club (local club)
• Heart of America Button Club (local club) 

This week, the Evening Star Button Club will begin to study ceramic buttons.  

Here's a brief sneak preview of our lesson study..... Enjoy!

 

CERAMIC BUTTONS  

Ceramic is a general term used to describe a wide assortment of fired natural clays. 

Ceramic buttons are divided into sub-classes by the National Button Society.   

  

Earthenware

Earthenware includes porous clay (pottery) that may be glazed or unglazed.  The clay may be white, cream, buff, yellow, brown or red.

 

Delft - Holland

 

 Ruskin

Norwalk 

 

 

Zia 


 

Satsuma 

 

Porcelain 

Porcelain includes all white, nonporous hard paste and opaque soft paste ceramic ware such as Arita, Dresden, Kutani, Limoges, Meissen, and Mennecy.

Arita

 Dresden

Kutani

Limoges

 

18th Century Mennecy, hand-painted

Hand-painted

Pate sur pate

Transferware design

Stoneware

Stoneware includes hard, non-porous clay, glazed and non-glazed such as Jasperware and Wedgwood.

Jasperware

18th Century Wedgwood likely set in Boulton steel

Many of these lovely button images can be viewed  at the Peach State Button Club - Button Country  

http://www.buttoncountry.com/Ceramics2.htm

Thank you Button Country!

If you are interested in learning more about buttons please contact me or click on the National Button Society button on this blog.

Plain to Paris

Craft time.. purchased this wooden treasure chest box from a local thrift store and gave it new life...

From Plain to Paris 

(Click images to enlarge view)

  Thanks to Karen - The Graphics Fairy for her precious ballerina images!

I got brave & burnt my tulle edges (behind the ballerina)

Front view - Changed out the original hinge lock with a nice pink ceramic knob

 The other ballerina

 

  The backside - vintage Eiffel Tower post card image, vintage lace trim

Ooh lala... estate sale goodies

Every once in awhile you stumbled upon a GREAT estate sale.  Thankfully that is just what I did.  Last week I stumbled upon an incredible estate sale.  It was late afternoon when I arrived, so one would think all the good stuff would be gone.  To my delightful surprise it was worth the stop...      

Sweet vintage purses, millinery flowers & lace

Lace, tatting, crocheting, lace edges from old table clothes and pillow cases and ribbon.... Eye candy!

Lovely table toppers & pillow cases

More lace, ribbon, two beautifully beaded dress trims, and way in the back barely showing is vintage wallpaper

More lace!  

Yummy hats and a stack of 6 vintage silk curtain panels trimmed in lace

Sparkles

Now that's a great sale... what do you think?

    

Papa & Me... a change of birthdays

For 52 years my Papa (dad) and I shared our birthdays.  His June 10th and mine June 11th.  We were not always together on our birthdays especially in recent years, but we always shared a birthday hug even if it was through the phone.  My dearest Papa passed away on March 7, 2011, so there were no birthday hugs this year.  I miss you Papa, Happy Birthday - Love always, your Baby Girl.   

My First Post

Well, I've done it... this is my first blog post... a long time in coming.  I rarely procrastinate, but I've been dragging my feet to create this blog.  It is such a new venture for me.  Please bare with me as I amble through the learning processes.  

As part of my first blog post I want to thank some special people... 

Linda K. - Thank you for your Apple Tree Friendship, sitting by my side and offering me blog tutorials

Laurie J. - Thank you my new dear friend for your encouragement, references and pointers on establishing my blog

Karla's Cottage & Bird Song - Thank you Karla and all the women that participated in BIRD SONG.  You are all so amazing & talented... sharing your stories and blogs have encouraged me to spread my wings & give this a try

Thank you all so much!