My button collection in my Mom’s old cookie jar
When I was a little girl, I loved to visit my Grandma Magdalena’s house. I was always fascinated by her latest sewing projects. She instilled a love of sewing in me and one of my favorite things to look through were her buttons.
Now I have my own button collection and am fortunate that it includes a few of my grandmother’s buttons that were in her treadle sewing machine that I have. They, of course, are my most treasured buttons and have their own special keeping place and once in a while, are used on a very special project. However, I also have collected additional buttons over the years and they are stored in my mother’s old cookie jar.
The buttons Eloise chose for her bolero
The interesting thing is, guess what our granddaughters love to play with… yes, you guessed, my button collection. They are fascinated with my buttons and will painstakingly look through them to determine if there is a mate to a button they like.
This summer I have enjoyed watching them every Monday and we usually have a few projects/activities when we are together. It has been a very fun summer and it’s hard to believe school starts this next week.
One Monday last month, Eloise and I had an entire day together because Belen was at a Writer’s Camp. Eloise asked if she could play with my button jar and was keen to find several favorites. I told her I would make her a button bracelet, but she found too many buttons for a bracelet, so we decided to make her a bolero instead.
Sewing the facing to the inside of the bolero
I had some old jeans that I had in the bag for “good will” and I cut the legs apart and was able to selvage enough denim to use for her bolero.
In a collection of patterns that I use for the girls, I found a cute little bolero pattern that was just what I had in mind.
Eloise was very interested in what I was doing and patiently watched the project progress.
The monogram we put on the back of the bolero
I thought it would be fun to add a monogram to the back of the bolero and let Eloise choose a thread color. She decided to use a variegated thread which provided an interesting look as you can see from the photo.
Bolero with Eloise’s favorite buttons
When the bolero was finished, we sat and visited while I sewed on Eloise’s “favorite” buttons. She was so excited to try it on and wanted to make sure that I put a “Nana” label on it.
Eloise trying on her bolero for the first time…
Finally, Eloise was able to put on her “Beautiful Button Bolero”. She was so proud of it; it was fun to watch.
Later that evening we were invited to Andy’s for dinner and she was very anxious to show both Andy and Belen what we made that day. It was so rewarding seeing her delight with her new bolero!
Eloise modeling her new bolero for Daddy and Belen
Belen was pleased for Eloise and asked me if we could make her a button bracelet so the next week when the girls came, we did just that.
Belen modeling her new button bracelet.
She chose 4 buttons and we added her initial as well for her button bracelet. Belen was delighted with the finished new piece of button jewelry. I was most delighted with her smile!
I hope you are making some fun projects over the summer and getting to spend time with your favorite people as well.
Happy Sewing,
Jane
B’s button bracelet
