What a find!

I have to confess that I have a large fascination with carved Mother of Pearl buttons. I bet you know the feeling about little obsessions. They inspire us to collect things that we find important. It was not a surprise to anyone here at the RBCottage that I would find a way to share my admiration for these little iridescent orbs.


After a little research, I found that these wonderful little pieces of history have a very interesting history that led me to Iowa. Iowa? (Yes, really!) Did you know that there is a Pearl Button Museum in Muscatine, Iowa? This small town harvested freshwater mollusk shells from the Mississippi after a German button maker, John Frederick Boepple immigrated to the area. The button factory opened in 1891 and by the end of the 19th century, the area produced 1.5 billion (with a B!) buttons. Of course, later the plastic button, depletion of the mussel beds, and environmental pollution of the Industrial Age, led to the decline of production of these beautiful pieces.

Thankfully, many of these buttons have survived for over 100 years. And the carving on some are phenomenal. In the first pic, you will see my finds from The Roseberry Cottage. The other pictures are from antique stores, ebay, and sweet customers that send me little bits and pieces. The next to the last picture has a bracelet we finished not too long ago.


Needless to say, our collection of these beauties is quite extensive and growing. I have been thinking that it is time for me to do a necklace. I actually want to do two different button necklaces: one that has buttons all the way around and another that has chain on a little less that half of it. There is also this really neat button (last picture) that will make a beautiful design for a bracelet. Something with a double strand of freshwater pearls coming from each side. Stay tuned. I can't wait to get them done to share them with you and see what you think.

Oh, I almost forgot one of the most important things about this post...You can win one of our a Sterling Antique Mother of Pearl bracelets at the MakeMinePink.com's Christmas in July. Very easy to sign up and easy to get in to win. Let us know if you sign up!

Oh Horsefeathers!

Well, it has been three weeks since I came home and am still not caught up! Small wonder with the sweet little goodies I found hither and yon. There was so much to see and too little time. One absolutely wonderful side trip I got to make was with Susie and Patty to the town of Sandwich on the Cape. It was really neat for personal reasons: my first American ancestors had began their adventure there in Sandwich circa 1650. How beautiful it is!

Joyce had recommended that we go to a shop that happened to be located there and I had seen in magazines. Oh my, it was absolute confection. A quaint and lovely beyond measure little shop called Horsefeathers. When we initially got there, the shop was closed but we got to ooh and aah at the sweet garden. You just knew from the garden that there were treasures to be had in that shop. Patty had hopped out and peeked in the window to confirm our suspicions. Needless to say, it was like sugar to a sweet tooth...we had to go back...absolutely had to go back. Luck was with us because about an hour later, it was open! It was well worth the wait. More about that in another post where I will have another picture.

So...I have been working on one of my little confections purchased there. The large mother of pearl button is from Horsefeathers. I painted some little roses and then sealed it against the test of time. You are among the first to see it and I would love to honestly know what you think!