When my Grandma passed away about a year ago, her granddaughters were able to chose some of her jewelry to keep and remember her by. I picked a couple pairs of earrings and a brooch that belonged to her mother, my great grandmother, and a tin full of really old buttons.
I already had a few buttons that belonged to my dad’s mom, so I was excited to have a collection from both sides of my family. I’m sentimental about family things, so I knew I’d want to do something with these old buttons rather than hide them away.
My amazing sister, Ali, was visiting us this week and I thought this would be a fun project for us to tackle together. We pulled out the buttons late one night, when Evie woke up. I got her out of bed and let her join us for a bit. She was so excited by these buttons!
After Evie went back to bed, Ali and I got busy arranging the buttons on this interesting white burlap. It’s mounted on heavy paper and I’ve never seen anything like it (I got it at Bettertex fabrics in SoHo). It a nice heavy weight and the color is interesting with the white fibers on the yellow paper. I’m sure a stiff burlap or a grasscloth would work similarly.
I cut the fabric down to size and ironed it flat. Then we arranged the buttons by color in horizontal lines, but tried to be a little loose about placement so that it didn’t look overly thought out.
The top row is green, then yellows/golds, two rows of whites and creams, blues, blacks/browns/purples and then reds/pinks.
I’m happy with the way this easy project came out. I like that it is colorful and has great texture. And I love that it is something that can be studied. There are lots of pretty and unique buttons. Many of them are connected to childhood memories I have of my grandmothers.
This space is still very much a work in process, but the buttons are a fun, graphic addition. Seeing them every day makes me smile.
What a lovely project! Well done. x
What a lovely idea! I love your gallery wall too.
Fabulous idea!! I may need to get collecting and give it a try. It looks awesome on your gallery wall!
Genius! I, too, have quite a collection of buttons from both grandmas, and I had no idea what to do with them. Really great work.
I love this idea! So simple and cool.. and sentimental. Lovely.
OH I love that! So beautiful. You are so talented!
i have way too many buttons i've been wanting to do a project with for over a year, love this idea!
love, love, lovity love, love LOVE it!
I love it. What a wonderful idea. I may take your lead. Could be fun to do with my granddaughter. I also love your wall of art. I have to get busy and hang some pictures (old and not so old) that I have recently had framed. They hold many memories and need to be on the wall rather than stored in a closet. Thanks for the push.
Such a perfect idea. And the graphic look is amazing!
This is so great. I feel really inspired to take on a similar project now!
so perfect!
Absolutely LOVE the fabric of your bolsters. Would you share your source? Beautiful!
I love how that turned out! It is a great reminder of your past & would make me happy to have hanging up.
so beautiful!!
So neat!
My grandmother passed away recently, and she did the same with us girls. we got to draw straws for her jewelry. I got a beautiful collection of her pins. I did something very simmilar to what you made! It is a great way to remember those whom we love.
This is so neat, such a great idea! And a cute baby to boot!
This is the cutest idea ever! Absolutely must steal it ;)
Love it! Such a fresh take on something many of us probably have lying around. I have a tin of buttons from my grandmother too…I think I feel a project coming on!
What a unique and meaningful piece of art! It looks positively lovely hanging on your gallery wall. Very inspiring!
I love this! It's simple yet has such great memories behind it! Great idea and DIY!
That is SUCH a great idea! I love the meaning behind it… I want to make one!
xo,
Kate
http://www.cinnamonink.blogspot.com
What a brilliant way to display your collection/memories. I really love how it turned out, with the lines & colors. Thanks for sharing your great idea.
I love the modern look of your piece especially on the wall with the more traditional art….it is a really great mix!!! Congratulations on such a creative use of meaningful materials!!
Hi Jenny. This is such a great idea and a wonderful way to remember special loved ones. I also have to say that Evie is the cutest little gal! I had to smile when I saw those pictures of her playing with the buttons!
I LOVE THIS!!! What a beautiful display. Definitely want to add this to my "do to someday" list.
Thanks for sharing!
this is so beautiful and simple! and that gallery wall…. oh, i cannot wait to see more! xo
This looks darling! But, lovingly, I have to tell you that those buttons are choking hazards for your sweet baby. Those little darlings can put tiny objects in their mouth before you even realize it. (Sorry, not trying to scold, just the mother in me.)
Thanks for your concern, Carey! We don't normally have small objects like this in Evie's reach and we know buttons are not toys. She was being monitored very closely for the two or three minutes that we let her touch and look at the pieces.
Thanks!
What a great idea! This is what I love most about blogs. Sometimes I stumble upon something so amazingly inspirational, I can't help but wish I had thought of it first!
What an awesome idea! I have a bag full of my Grandma's old buttons, I may have to copy your idea. I love it! Great job!
Sweet diggity, this is an awesome idea. Love it.
Just stunning! :))))))))
Wonderful!! Love it!
What a wonderful project! I love that it is so simple but so full of meaning. And it looks great on your wall!
What a wonderful way to keep a memory alive … and visible. It's great that you and your sister did it together, too. And … it looks perfect on your wall with the other items.
I love this… what a sweet daily reminder of your grandmother. I have my late grandmother's sewing box and may need to check it for old buttons! Evie is too cute, too!
I love this! My grandma had loads of buttons, and I have a ton of "spares" from clothes I don't even own anymore. Thanks to you I now know what to do with them!
I love this! A friend and I were just talking about how delightful that tin of buttons that our mothers & grandmothers always had. I forwarded the post to inspire a project with them. Thanks for the great idea!
Beautiful and unique!
What a lovely idea! I love the meaning behind it!
fabulous!
What a beautiful and original way to remember your grandmother! Nicolex
I love this. When my great-grandmother died I ended up with her buttons and sewing notions, and I don't know how to display them. This has given me some ideas though! Well done.
OK…I had to comment on this one! Awesome idea.
Hello, In the picture with the long flower pillows – where did you get those or what fabric is it??? I have been looking for FAB floral fabric and have the hardest time finding it!!!!???
Suggestions on great floral fabric (and wallpaper) that doesn't look like a little girls room???
This is a fabulous, fresh idea for buttons! I have a few jars and tins of my grandmothers' buttons sitting around waiting for some inspiration. Thank you for providing just that!
I have found a website to get there blogging for absolutely free.Thanks
Absolutely fantastic. Fantastic!