So Many Buttons

This Saturday was the annual Garden State Sheep Breeders Festival.  David came with me again this year, and we had a nice time.  We found the pocket beagle puppies in the first barn.  They were only six weeks old.

 

There were also some "guard llamas" for sale.

 

But I have to admit that I was there for the buttons.  Last year, we found a wonderful vintage button vendor, and David bought all the buttons for his sweater there.  This year, David wore his sweater, and I had on my Owls sweater, so the button lady warmed up to us immediately.  In fact, she said that she mentioned David (and his railroad buttons) in a lecture she gave recently.

I spent probably an hour looking through her wares.  This is one of the three tables she had at her booth.

 

I got a lot of buttons.  Every time I needed buttons this past year I thought about the button lady and wished that I could choose something from her collection.  So I thought I'd buy up this time around, and I'm hoping I'll have the right buttons for my projects this year.

One thing I especially like about this vendor is her button samplers. I bought one set from her last year. These are buttons that are all different, but are similar in size and shape and go together well.  This was the inspiration for the buttons I used on my Owls cardigan.  I bought a few more samplers this year.

I also got two cards of buttons.  The button lady said that she bought them from a 92-year-old woman, who had put together and decorated all the cards herself.  There were probably 40 cards in the box, and I'm guessing there were a lot more in the collection.

 

 

Looking closely at these cards, I can see a lot of hand made details, including the initials in the corner. It warms my heart to see how she cared for these buttons. I hope I'll find a really nice way to use these buttons soon!

Finally, David pointed out that this was a fiber festival, so I felt like I needed to get some yarn.  This is the merino superwash sock yarn from Stranded in Oz, and I had a nice chat with the dyer before I picked up this skein.

 

I've actually been doing a good job working through my handpainted yarn, and I thought I could use a little more.  I'm thinking about quickly turning these into a pair of Heel-Hat Socks. Doesn't that look like a fun pair of socks to knit?

Comments

[Liz K]

SCORE! The button cards are amazing!

[Mildawg]

The buttons are precious!

[Kirsten]

I'll have to check out the button lady next year! It looks like you found some great things. We didn't manage to get there until about 2:30 this afternoon. Luckily there was still plenty of goodness left and we got to hold a cute puppy too! (Oh, and a bunny or two.)

[Jillian]

love your OWL cardigan!

[Kim]

The buttons are my crack. Great seeing you on Saturday!

[Brenda]

I need to find a button lady out here on the west coast! You got some amazing finds, and I love the two button cards.

The sheep farm near us has guard llamas. Apparently, the guard llama is the bane of the coyote's existence.

[Antoinette]

I have no idea how you left without smuggling that puppy out. He is sooooooo cute!

[stacey]

Oh, that puppy! And a great picture of you snuggling it! The buttons are amazing!

[nova]

I have never thought of myself as one with a button addiction; but, after seeing all the button choices, I am thinking that I might have a problem because I want them all.