It's raining buttons!
Collecting buttons isn't a hobby for me.
Growing up in Brazil in the late 70's/early 80's, saving and reusing what you had was more than a trend, it was a way to make ends meet. Be it a button, a piece of fabric, a bit of yarn left over, my grandmas had their leftover supplies neatly organized for the next crochetted granny square bedspread (maternal grandma), or freestyle quilt (paternal grandma). You would think they were best friends, but I don't think they got together more than a couple of times in my lifetime. But they truly influenced how I feel towards the resources I'm given.
Fast forward a "few" years. I moved to the USA in my 20's to finish school, got married, and by 2011 I had 3 children under 5, the youngest being around 3 months of age. Suddenly I had the chance to acquire what was left of the stock of a store that had closed its doors in the Fashion District in NYC many years ago. The store closed because of the influx of cheaper Chinese buttons in the district and the owner, who had also been a tailor, couldn't compete with them in price, as many of his buttons came from Europe. Unfortunately, that's all I know about the store.
With the business of family life, it took me months to even open the big dusty boxes that contained smaller boxes, that contained little paper bags where the shiny buttons were. I felt as if they were a treasure, I was in awe! Little by little I organized them and by advice of a friend opened Buttons4all. It makes me so happy to ship these buttons to places so far away, where people like me see the value and quality of a product well made.
Buttons4all had to close before Superstorm Sandy hit, we were in the direct path of the storm and the buttons were put in storage. After reconstruction, it took me time to get back on track and reorganize, but now we are back!
As I mentioned before, I deeply value the resources I'm given, and while I could totally hoard these buttons and admire them all day (yes, I still look at them like they are shiny treasures), I prefer to spread the love and let them shine in your hands.
I hope you find something to treasure at Buttons4all!
Elisana
