A Button Bought in BeanBlossom

After finishing the straps of a necklace I'd been working on for some time, I was in search of a button to use as a clasp. Button clasps are one of the simplest connectors for needlewoven necklaces, but I often macramé the straps instead when making loops on toggle clasps.

At a place in BeanBlossom, Indiana—boasting both antiques and charm—I spotted a basket of buttons marked 10 cents apiece. Digging through the assortment, I found a likely candidate. It was the right size, nicely patterned in a bronze color that perfectly matched the beads I'd used in the necklace. The owner was gracious when I apologized for my meager purchase, even offering it to me free of charge. Little details can make all the difference and that single button was well worth the dime.

There's something satisfying about reusing a button—even though brand-new buttons are certainly plentiful. A button's provenance gives it meaning, but I find the hidden history behind recycled buttons nearly as intriguing as knowing they came from Grandmother's wedding dress.

When I found it, it was just a button in a basket. Now it's a detail on what I hope will become someone's cherished necklace, acquiring a new history—my part in the story quickly forgotten.