My Old Fashion Button Machine.
It took me quite awhile to write about my shop not because I have nothing to say. Friends and family who knows me would disagree strongly as I am extremely vocal and loves lively discussions about anything under and above the sky !
It is just that my tale would be one which I am still soaking in the marvel of it. Indeed one word to sum it up would be… serendipity.
I was never crafty nor was I creative in the first place. I remember loving art and crafts lessons but failed miserably as I just simply can't draw to save my life. I dabbled in small projects but never patient enough to see it through. It is like this part of the world always eluded me and I am always hovering around the edges , trying to get a foot in.
How did I manage to opened a shop here on Etsy and being moderately successful, I am still wondering about it! It wasn't planned nor was it a dream when I was young. Life simply has a way of it's own, leading one to one's path if one allows it.
I started out as a nurse which till now, I considered one of the best decision I ever made in my life. It taught me so much about humanity and also to live responsibly and instill a strong sense of discipline in me. These all I would later find out it is essential in a seller.
Then 18 years ago, I had a button off one of my favorite shirt and was pretty sad about it. I remembered my mother is a seamstress, used to have a horde of buttons so I asked her to help me make some. I had no idea how to make a button and she was so amused. She pointed to this green colored metal machine and told me that this was what she had used to make buttons. I was astonished! The past 30 years living at home, I have no idea what that machine was for! I remembered when I was a kid, I used to pretend it was an orange juicer and played juice seller with my brother!
My mother then showed me how to make buttons and instantly I fell in love with this machine and what it could made. When I got married, my mother gave it to me as a wedding gift which to me will always always be something I will protected and keep for the rest of my life.
In the mist of it all, I had a fabric and lace store running (I am truly blessed isn't it !) . It wasn't at all hard to think of what to make, the problem is I have no time for all the designs I had planned to list! To me, button making is more than just a craft, it is like a traditional passed on to me by my mother. When I make them, I think of her, when I sell them, I hope I am doing her proud. One day maybe I will be able to pass it to my daughter when it time and meanwhile it is really fun to see her pretending that it is a juicer! Serendipity indeed!
I am constantly, ceaselessly working on new designs , I love sourcing fabrics from all over the world to use in my work. I wish I can create all that is in my head but sometimes time is a factor as I am also a full time mum to an amazing 14 years old daughter . But all will come to pass. The support from my customers is something I am forever grateful for and spurns me on!
I plan to slowly introduce more products in my store and I hope you will like them. Thanks for supporting handmade !
Love Jessie
