Back in 2022 I did a fun post about buttons inspired by a blog reader. Lorraine’s collection was amazing.
You can click here to visit that post 😊.
Another post from the past featured silly covered buttons.
I made them for a quilt I call Bug Bouquet and used my friend Cathy’s button maker. Click here to read about them.
One of my “Crossings” quilts is held together with buttons instead of beads. In 2012 my daughter-in-law Betsy and I collaborated on a project in which we were inspired by each other’s work. We called it “Kirsch Art”. We even had a few exhibits! Click here to read a post about it all. The framed photograph was taken by Betsy of a deserted roadside sign. It inspired my quilt “Where to?”
And the shirt buttons that cross the gap and hold the “broken” pieces of my quilt together were even stitched with arrows.
I recently discovered a Facebook page entitled Button Arts. I find many of the projects they post fascinating. Here are a few of my favorites:
That last one reminded me of a vase I have in my kitchen made by my dear friend Pam.
Click here to visit the Facebook page of Button Arts ~ and be prepared to be inspired.
And while we’re “talking” about fasteners… I made a quilt a few years ago for a small challenge about the sun. Around that same time I’d seen a photograph of a fiber art piece embellished completely with “fasteners”. It was made by a woman named Clara,
and it’s story still makes me smile. To read it please click here.
I was so intrigued that I had to dig through my stuff to find the right embellishments for my sun. If you look closely you’ll see snaps, hooks and eyes among all the beads. I wrote two posts about the making of this quilt and you can read about it by clicking here and here.
I was reminded of Clara’s art recently because Donna made a comment to that past post:
“I was looking for information about Clara online this morning when I came across this delightful blog. I thought you’d like to know that Clara Bleak passed away last Thursday (July, 23rd, 2026). She was 101 years old! She was still displaying and talking about her wallhanging. As far as I know, there are no plans for a service; though she had many friends at Founder’s Ridge.“
Thank you for reaching out Donna. It brought me joy to read that previous post about Clara’s wallhanging all over again. Even though I never met Clara, she was an inspiration to me.
Stacie says
Thank you again, Chris for the fabulous blog. I inherited a large plastic tote of buttons, I believe about 70 quart size. I have often wondered what to do with all the different ones and the button art Facebook site looks like some very interesting and fun ideas. Might be fun to work with my grandkids doing this.
Barbara Young. Wind Lake Wi says
I am a fellow quilter and oil painter. This brings me back to when I was a child and my grandma had this bowl full of buttons we could play with in Milwaukee. After she passed , my Mom had it on our kitchen table full of candy. I painted this in 1983, now I do more quilting. Thank you for bringing back such a great memory.
Barbara Young says
Barbara Young. Sorry wanted to send photo but couldn’t.
Mary Lou cotton says
Chris, we have joined a button club and have started one in Decorah called WIM-Z for button lovers in WI, IA, MN. We are having fun and getting educated about the World of Buttons: crafting, collecting and history. We are looking for members !
I have taken classes from you and love reading your posts. Wish I could do more, but slowing down. God Bless