Vintage Vegetable Ivory Buttons...

The three little canvas totes that I listed last

night have vegetable ivory buttons on them.

Mass production of the little treasures began

around the 1870's.

Most jars of mixed buttons have simple honey,

caramel... chocolate... coffee... maple syrup---tone gems!

It's all about food with me...

I could have called them Burnt Sienna, Taupe, Ochre...

Just doesn't have the same ring to it!
Some are carved...

Some are stenciled...

Most are dyed by dipping~
Even the most simple buttons are beautiful...
The natural fading, splitting, chipping make them unique.
Some of the side views show the pretty etching...
Great fun to find one and tilt it to the side

to reveal the pretty patterns...

Can you picture the colors of our walls?

Wheat, muted gold... sandy brown...
(I'll restrain from "French Toast" "Caramel Apple" ha! ha!)

I put them on my Americana-themed needle felts.
The vegetable ivory always looks sweet with wool.

Hope you had fun searching through that jar with me!

I hear the cats batting one around that fell to the floor...

...whoops...
Down the register...
I love my dog!

Much Needed Smiles...

There are those days, weeks... months... when it is

just a bit difficult to smile. My hubby is my dearest

friend~ our children are the most understanding and

supportive teens... so thankful for their love.

Someone very dear to me is fighting stage 4 breast

cancer. I have been at her side to hear the ups, downs &

in-between... mammograms have never detected

the fierce spot that brought the disease to her lymph

nodes and practically every bone from her skull

to her knees. The medicines have kept her fighting

for nearly three years~ but things have started

to deteriorate... options are disappearing.

So many of you share your brave stories...

I pray for you when I pray for her.

Fragile times have brought us close.

Her courage and determination are inspiring.

I am thankful that God gives me strength to walk

through doors I once refused to open...

Even more thankful for the AMAZING

compassion and kindness every health care

provider shares...

That extra special touch.

The understanding glance.

Such special hearts...

Thank you.

I feel selfish when tears cloud over...

I'm not the most sturdy of shoulders...

I did manage to share MANY smiles with her over the

past couple days... My soggy smiles :)

She doesn't mind my tears...

As long as there are smiles and giggles tucked inside~

A new season... in many ways.

Wishing you hope... on your journey~

A different kind of harvest...

I keep a small portfolio of fabric pieces in my purse.

One never knows when the teens will be,

"Just 5 more minutes, mom!"

That's time enough to harvest a pumpkin!

Pumpkins are beginning to brightly dress up

the roadside stands...

Leaves are beginning to turn...

I love to walk through fragrant apple orchards.

Just listed these in my Etsy store~

Tomorrow will bring two more styles of pumpkins!

Fall favorites on this fantastic honey tone fabric...

Hope your weekend is perfect!