Well, if you were Myra, you would think of some creative way to display them! If you were getting them ready for entering Competition you would use a 9 x 12 inch acid-free mat board. You may cut your own or purchase one at a Button Show. You would follow the instructions as described in the National Button Society “Blue Book” for the award you had chosen to do.
On the other hand if you were readying the buttons for display, you might choose to place them in glass jars, screw on the top and tie an attractive ribbon around the neck of the jar and display them in various places around your house. They are your buttons and you have finally got rid of that old pile of buttons!
Let me caution you. Buttons must breathe to survive over the years. Placing plastic buttons with metal buttons will “kill” the buttons eventually. The outgas from the plastic, erodes the metal buttons and disintegrates the plastic buttons. so what should you do with your buttons? You may place them on acid-free cards, any size, and attractively arrange the buttons on them, frame them and hang them on your walls. They have then become wall art. Need ideas? Look around you, at wallpaper, magazines, books, your own photos or art work. Copy them onto acid-free copy paper and glue onto the cards with acid- free glue sticks. Then arrange your buttons by punching holes into the mat board using an awl and you may sew the buttons to the cards or you may use plastic-coated wire to attach them. Do not use anything that will attract moisture as that may cause your buttons/shanks to rust. This will also cause your buttons to be destroyed over time.
Another way to display your buttons is by making button jewelry and wearing the necklaces, bracelets, rings or pins. Never remove the button shanks as you destroy the value of your buttons if you do. For button jewelry or ideas, visit the Keep Homestead Museum gift shop. There are many pieces of button jewelry on sale in the shop.
Many people collect buttons as their hobby. We have had representatives from Martha Stewart’s “Living Magazine” visit the Keep Homestead Museum. Our museum is listed on her website. We have had other button collectors from around the world visit us.
Enjoy the new exhibit which emphasizes the many different ways that Myra used to creatively display her buttons as “wall art.” Sometimes she used themes such as birds, fans, and much more. Other times she incorporated wallpaper for background display. Other times she used original art work such as paintings or pen and ink drawings that friends of hers created. Myra was a charter member of the Monson Button Club and all the members shared their creativity with each other. But there is now so much artwork in the marketplace that you do not have to be an artist to put your buttons on display. Many of the scrapbook products are easily adapted for use with your pile of buttons. If you have any questions ask the docents in the Button Room, they will be happy to assist you. And remember now you can do something with that old pile of buttons you have and use them to enhance yourself, or your home!
Illustrated Poem from above:
Monday’s child is fair of face
Tuesday’s child is full of grace
Wednesday’s child is full of woe
Thursday’s child has far to go
Friday’s child is loving and giving
Saturday’s child has to work for a living
The child that’s born on the Sabbath Day
Is bonny and blithe and good and gay.
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