As promised, here are a few pictures of the buttons that I won during my night of drunken ebay bidding. Like most things that you buy when you are drunk, I had a touch of buyer's remorse when I opened the boxes.
Most of the buttons are small, nondescript black and white shirt buttons or just big ugly coat buttons. I enlisted my son, Finn, to help me pick out all of the colored buttons. We filled eight of these little red containers with all of our favorites. I love the glass buttons and mother-of-pearl buckle at the bottom of the picture.
The red containers were from the dollar spot at Target (but they aren't selling them anymore). They have strong magnets on the back, and came with a metal strip that mounts on the wall. Instead of using the strip, I put the containers on the side of this metal storage cabinet.
I bought the cabinet for $3 at a yard sale last summer. It is a great place to hide my fabric, patterns, ribbons and anything else I can stuff in there. The bottom was rusty, so I covered it with fringe from an old chenille bedspread. On top of the cabinet, I have even more fabric in a pair of vintage locker baskets.
If I ever clean the rest of my "studio" (more commonly known as the guest room), I'll share some more pictures.
Ah, but the ugly little black ones are great for kids crafts! Reindeer eyes, snowman buttons, you name it.
Posted by: Sarah | February 18, 2007 at 10:04 PM
I love that cabinet!!! And, for $3? That is amazing.
Posted by: Kim | February 19, 2007 at 08:31 AM
love this! we had one when i was a kid, wonder what ever happened to it? great craft studio too.
Posted by: heather | February 19, 2007 at 09:10 AM
Love the storage...am dreaming of making my own crafting space one day. You've done a lovely and thrifty job!
Posted by: Meredith | February 19, 2007 at 12:09 PM
Oh, yard sale season is fast approaching again, and I CAN'T WAIT!!
Posted by: Jennifer | February 20, 2007 at 12:05 AM
If it makes you feel any better I have 5 bags of buttons that I won off Ebay a few weeks ago that I still need to sort through. I have to agree with Sarah even the uglies can be put to good use.
Great cabinet! I am also loving the color of your little bookcase peeking out from the right.
Posted by: MéLisa | February 20, 2007 at 12:47 PM
What great ideas to organize...I love the metal containers and your cabinet full of fabric.
Posted by: Jen | February 23, 2007 at 09:35 AM
I love your idea and wish my Target still has them. Great storage ideas! Here's my thought.....Perfect place for the uglies...send them to me. www.missionmakeover.org. We will figure out how to use them. Our girls make quilts and other items for charity.
Posted by: Sherry | May 02, 2007 at 09:50 PM
p.s. one more thing. I love your storage ideas. I love taking old things and turning the into something else. I have an old metal CocaCola ice chest that I keep my dogs food in. It looks really cool in the kitchen. I need to photo and post on my blog. I love your sight and thoughts.
Posted by: Sherry | May 02, 2007 at 09:52 PM
Buttons - lucky you! I love buttons. Mostly, I display my colored buttons in the old blue canning jars with lead lids. There are too many pearlies (mother of pearl) so they are stored in a glass gallon jar. Old plastic buttons are in a glass rolling pin. Even the ugly old coat buttons have a place in a large, round jar made into a lamp for my 'craft' room. The common black or brown buttons make great eyes for dolls & such. Just passing through but wanted to say congrats! on your button purchases.
Posted by: Jazbo | March 13, 2008 at 08:14 AM
I love your cabinet. I got one just like it for free, rehabbed it (bit of rust) and covered it in chalk paint and sold it in my shop for $225! I love the white better though!
Great pink cooler and I can't believe you got all that stuff at that ladies estate sale, especially the flower stand, I heart!!!
Posted by: Lisa Lee | March 10, 2013 at 10:47 AM