To Grandmother's House We Go

In the corner of Nana's sewing room, next to the little old desk and the White machine sits a giant glass jar filled with buttons. Round ones and square ones, some in mother of pearl, others in nautical brass or 60s bright orange plastic. Some with sparkling stones, some long since parted from a brown plaid coat, some with peculiar letters, anchors or entangled monograms. They've been there for as long as I can remember, always a source for the creative pursuits that dotted the timeline of my childhood.

This Thanksgiving I found myself somewhat bored between the potatoes and the pie, and the kitchen was so bustling that my dishtowel-wielding hands were never called into action. So I thought I'd take a turn through those old buttons. Mischievously I lifted the glass lid, somewhat effortlessly compared to the way I'd struggled with its weight as a little girl. What resulted is the collection above: pink, bright, cheery, mismatched.

Nana let me take them home as an early Christmas present. Thrilled, I thought to pair them up with the cardboard house (from Michael's) I decorated last week to look a little like a teeny watercolor sketch I did this summer (it's pictured in the border above). I suppose a photo shoot featuring buttons and glitter "snow" is entirely ridiculous. But everyone has their quirks. Besides, they've inspired a "Homemade Christmas" theme for my projects this holiday season. Think houses, hearth and a reliance on classic craft supplies - plain old paper and scissors, glitter, buttons and string. Of course there's a craft tutorial in the works for you all! To be posted as soon as I finish final exams.