As cute as a button...

How do you feel about buttons?

Are they something just there to hold your clothes together?

Or do you have a fascination with them? 

One of Great Aunt Violet's button tins. Love her coronation Oxo tin.

Happy hours spent delving into Grandma's button box, finding all the different sizes, shapes & colours; trying to see how many you could match up. There is something tactile about holding a button and they are a great way to change the look of an item of clothing.

Looking back through time, there have been some amazing buttons, some of today's modern ones seem tame in comparison. Our favourites are the really old ones. Let's have a little peek into the past...

Dorset Buttons

source: neheleniapatterns.com

Used for several centuries as a way of making a decorative button. Originally, the disc was made from the horn of Dorset sheep.This was then covered with a piece of cloth and overworked with linen thread. During the industrial revolution, the horn was replaced by metal rings which were easier to work with and cheaper.

circa 1770-1779

source: V&A  collections

The 1700's  saw some amazing embroidered buttons and steel buttons became popular too...

Cut Steel Button circa 1795

source: V&A collections

Mother of pearl buttons come in all shapes and sizes

Mother of pearl buttons were popular especially in the late 19th century when they were first mass produced. They are famously worn by the Pearly Kings & Queens in England.

Mini Pearly Princes & Princesses

source: sisterwolf.tumblr.com

Following the death of Prince Albert, jet buttons became popular and were referred to as mourning buttons. A cheaper version was made in black moulded glass.

jet buttons or "mourning buttons"

source: lucietales.blogspot.fr

Mass produced glass buttons

source: buttonsandoffal.tumblr.com

Glass buttons were also popular in the first half of the 20th century. Love the comment at the bottom of the card..."Will not break in mangling".

Art-Deco Bakelite buttons

source: vintagebuttonemporium.com

The 20th century also saw new materials such as Bakelite and plastic being used as a cheap alternative to some of the traditional materials. They could also be moulded into interesting shapes & dyed in a multitude of colours.

Elsa Schiaparelli - The Circus Collection 1938

source: V&A collections

1950's rhinestone buttons - for that little bit of bling...

source: rubylane.com

We have some vintage buttons arriving in the shop this week. Do have a look and maybe buy your own piece of history...

Such wonderful scent from these, so uplifting, like spring in the air.

The last of the lavender....

© petit pica

The weather is definitely getting more autumnal now, chilly early mornings and evenings. So this weekend I decided it was high time I harvested that last of the lavender. To me, this signals summer is finally over; time to tidy up the garden ready for winter. I have to admit, I have put it off this year as I’m not particularly looking forward to the cold weather. We had an unusually cold winter last year so I’m hoping that this year will be milder.

Today is a very overcast, rainy day, ideal for keeping cosy in the house and stripping the lavender. Collecting the lavender is a job I really enjoy; it’s like an aromatherapy session. The perfume that comes from the basket is heavenly, and when I strip the steams, it can be quite heady. The oil seeps into hands so I can smell it for ages afterwards. It is time consuming and, as Kelly is away at the moment, I had to tackle the task alone. Not that I'm complaining, it's quite therapeutic.

© petit pica

The vintage lavender tin was a present from my daughter M, found at a vide grenier. For those that don’t know, these are a bit like car boot or yard sales. I love it’s design and kaleidoscope of colours. The Pip Studio plate was a present from Kelly. It’s normally on display in the Petit Pica attic but it proved ideal for pouring the lavender buds into the tin.

Of course, after all that “hard” work, a reward is needed - a cup of tea and macaroons. There were three of each but I couldn't resist eating one on the way back form the shop!  I LOVE these but I did limit myself to only two. As Kelly wasn't here to help me eat them, M finished them off when she came home from school.

© petit pica

We are very fortunate to have a patisserie/ chocolaterie shop in our local village. They make amazing cakes and chocolates. These macaroons are so crumbly on the outside and gooey inside. Really yummy! They have so many interesting flavours to choose from. Today I chose framboise/rose (raspberry/rose) and cassis/violet (blackcurrant/violet), my current favourites.

And what is this lavender for? It will be used in some items for the shop but you will have to wait a little while for the reveal.

À bientôt,