A Prairie Home Quilts

I needed some buttons for 2 projects I was working on the other day so I unearthed some jars of buttons that were hidden away in a tub in the closet. There were several jars of buttons with all the different styles & colors mixed together. I was looking for something in green or purple. The first jar had buttons still on cards so I started to put it back but the lavender buttons in the picture caught my eye. Can you believe 7 pearl buttons for 25¢?

Most of my buttons belonged to Barb, a dear friend who passed away about 20 years ago.  She had all sorts of patterns, fabric & (obviously) buttons stored away in an upstairs bedroom.  She used to tell me that when she retired she planned to take up sewing again.  Sadly she never made it to her retirement and the creative enjoyment she kept telling herself she’d get to “someday.”  After Barb’s husband, Bill, passed away a few years ago, my ex-husband gave me the jars of buttons that belonged to Barb.  I think Barb would be happy that I’m using her buttons.

Barb’s story is one of the main reasons that I started “creating” again.  When my children were younger, I put away my creative side for a time because there just didn’t seem to be enough of me left to be creative after caring for 4 children that are less than 5 years apart in age. [That and the fact that I was a single parent.]

I didn’t want to wait for a “someday” that might never come to find the creator in me that needs expression.  I’m glad I found quilting to express my creative side and be passionate about.

I took time out from my “creating” the other day to sort the buttons  by color  into separate jars & put them out in my sewing room.  I think Barb would have liked that too.