“Mamma’s Buttons”
Coleen was one of the first people I met when we moved to this little West Coast Island. She became an instant and dear friend. She and I have a lot in common:
- We both are American born farm girls who fell in love with Canadian boys.
- We both left our families and homeland to join and love our husband’s people (just like Biblical Ruth…).
- We both are mammas to only boys…. I could go on and on…
Her Missouri accent is quite different from my Montana one…and I just love it. She says things like, “I want to hug your neck”, and sweetly tells kids, “Look with your eyes and not your hands.”… I just love having coffee with her. She makes me laugh and gives good, wise advice. She is also one of the best story tellers I know {In a good way…not in the lying way, Silly!}.
A few weeks ago we were at a crafting event together. If I recall, I just went to drink coffee. She, however, actually went armed with a craft to accomplish. I noticed she had a large jar of buttons. I glanced at them and said,
“My, those are pretty buttons…” and then I really looked at them…
“Coleen! Those are VINTAGE BUTTONS!”
She laughed and said, “I know. Do you have any craft ideas for them?”
Oh, did I ever!…
After chatting about the plethora of things to do with them, she paused and asked,
“Have you not heard the story of my Mamma’s Buttons?”
I obviously hadn’t… She went on to tell this story…
****
Coleen’s Mamma was a shy, country girl. She developed some health issues when she was first married, and had to have surgery on her stomach. As a result, her belly button had to be removed.
She was young and afraid, and very bothered that she didn’t have a belly button. (“The only other person that didn’t have one was Eve!”, she exclaimed.) She voiced her fears and concerns to her doctor.
He reassured her that all would be well.
The next day he appeared to do his hospital rounds armed with a shoebox.
“Since you no longer have a belly button, perhaps you’d like to start collecting buttons instead,” he gently suggested.
Inside the shoebox was a small collection of buttons.
Throughout her stay at the hospital, orderlies and nurses added to the shoebox collection of buttons. By the time she left the hospital, the box was full to overflowing.
…That was only the start. She collected buttons for the rest of her live long days… {Coleen’s dear Mamma is now at home with Jesus.}
****
After she finished the story, I had a whole new feeling towards those buttons.
“Coleen, you can’t get rid of those buttons…What an incredible story!”
“Oh, Honey,” she whispered in my ear, “I have boxes full!”…
***
When I decided to sew cushions for the couch, I researched and found my favourite style was this one from Pottery Barn.
(Image from Pottery Barn)
Notice that large, single button? It’s the part I love the most…
I knew just the place to go to get one, too!!:)
Coleen has just started the process of figuring out how to sell her vintage buttons (and vintage election campaign buttons, too!). I asked if I could be her first customer…
She came over this morning with a sampling for me to choose from. Oh. Be. Still. My Heart.
They were amazing.
Carefully arranged on thick cardstock paper,
They were attached with safety pins on the back…
{Is it weird that I love the old safety pins, too??}
Coleen told me that her Mamma took these buttons to schools and used them as teaching tools…She pointed out the different colors, materials, shapes, and designs….
Choosing 2 for my pillows was a challenge…But I love them!
…Which ones did I choose, you ask? …I’ll show you tomorrow! (How’s that for suspense??!:)
**P.S. Coleen isn’t a blogger, nor does she have an Etsy shop (yet!). However, if you’re interested in purchasing some buttons from her, you can message her directly at dairyfarmersdaughter@hotmail.com
I love the story behind the buttons. My mom doesn't have a belly button either-due to surgery.
With tears rolling down my eyes, dear friend, I Can say that you got it just right.. I am so happy to be that Coleen you write so beautifully about and am so glad you are telling "the story." Thanks you for your gift. It has blessed the cockles of my heart. Coleen
My Baba kept a jar of old buttons and I remember playing with them when I was little. Now I play with those buttons with my youngest daughter. They are special to me and I hope they will be special to my girls.~ Also I feel blessed to know Coleen …. She truly is awonderful person!
I have just recently found Coleen again. We grew up close to each other. We went to school together. I missed for years her joyful laugh, and her ability to find humor in nearly every situation she encountered. I didn't know the story of the buttons, but am so happy to have read it. My grandmother was a seamstress and collected buttons also. I now have her collection. It means even more to me now, after reading her story.
Such a wonderful story from a Wonderful Lady! Thank you for sharing Coleen's story, now you've got me all excited to see her button collection.
That sounds just like Coleen. We were her youth sponsors at Bethel Church. She was one of our precious kids.
Kim Coursey, an American farm boy who married a Canadian farm girl and moved to Canada.
It was fun to see a tiny assortment of my Aunt Mildred's buttons that I remember well. I always wondered what had happened to them, so happy Coleen has them and that she is sharing them with her friends.I also saw the Pottery Barn button pillow and filed it in the back of my mind to maybe make someday.
Barbara, one of Coleen's first cousins.
What a wonderful story! Thank you for sharing it. I remember Aunt Mildred's buttons as well. Okay, so Barbara, are you Joe's daughter? I am Margaret, Roland's younest daughter.
What a touching story, I'm so glad you shared it. And my gracious, what a treasure trove of gorgeous buttons, what on earth could a girl do with so many lovely buttons at her finger tips? Thank you for visiting my blog, fellow Canadian gal, I do believe I'll be your newest follower! ~Jen