One of my favorite things about living in the high desert of Northern Nevada was that when I needed a break, I could go outside, walk around, and look for stuff.
I discovered that with practice I was able to spot small things that did not belong, like say buttons. While searching for buttons, I also had to keep my eye out for larger things that did belong, like rattlesnakes. But that’s another post.
There is a Civil War era fort in the area, Fort Winfield Scott, and I’ve found things dating to the Civil War, like round bullets, but my favorite finds are the illusive desert button. (I really wanted to find a cavalry coat button, but that particular find eluded me.)
This is part of my collection of desert buttons, which I have found walking the area shown in the photograph. How these buttons got to where I found them under sagebrush and along dried up streams is a mystery. They are old. Some from the 1800s and early 1900s. They were scattered over a large area (a couple of square miles) so I don’t think they were the result of clothing rotting in a single “dump”.
Mother of pearl and shell were favorite button materials of the day, and most of the buttons I’ve found are made of that material. Here are three buttons with a “fisheye” around the holes, and the fisheye is obviously hand carved.
These shell buttons are probably manufactured.
This button looks manufactured until you turn it over and see that the shank is hand carved and not very even.
Here are two wood buttons I found, with the thread still attached.
This is a rivet from a pair of Levi’s. I also found the fly buttons, but have put them in a safe place that I can’t remember. Heh.
And these are my newest buttons, age-wise. They are made of glass and didn’t fare as well as the shell buttons did.
One of the things I miss most about the desert is walking and looking and letting my mind drift. Now that I’m in Montana, I venture outside and look at my flowers and watch the cows, but it’s not the same as walking the desert, because there’s no surprises in my own backyard. I miss finding cool stuff when least expected.
Do you collect anything? What do you do when you need a quick break from the day?
I lived in Nevada growing up. I was allergic to sagebrush so it was…. rough. I now live in the Pacific Northwest and love all the critters, plants, and little wonders. I enjoy exploring, but find I don’t do it as often as I’d like.
I can’t imagine what it would be like having a sagebrush allergy in Nevada. Yikes! The Pacific NW is gorgeous—and no sage.
I enjoy walking outside to clear my mind. I’m always looking on the ground for coins. I will pick up a penny or any other coin. ?
Coins are fun to find—even pennies. Love checking the date.
I’m curious. It looks like a Charleston sweetgrass basket that you have your buttons in.
Hi Janice. It’s a pine needle basket.
Lovely collection.
I have a collection of heart-shaped items. I usually only bring them out at Valentine’s Day.
That sounds fun, Denise.
I collect baskets, blue things, hearts, and small boxes. And of course Books!
Collecting blue things is intriguing, Paula.
these are so cool. must have been relaxing and fun to find these. I used to collect snowmen (because they could be up all winter) and Boyds Bears. Now I just collect fabric for sewing/quilting
I have that same habit—collecting fabric. Yay!
I collect books and fabric for future quilts.
That makes three fabric collectors. 🙂
What fun discoveries, Jeanie! Make you imagine who wore the clothing they belonged to, doesn’t it? I’m glad someone found them who understands their value. As much as I love the 1800’s, I’m not sure I would have recognized the value of the buttons you found.
My favorite part is the imagining, Karen. So many untold stories out there.
I collect lighthouses, teapots, and Precious Moments. And, of course, books!!!
Lighthouses. How cool!
I collect ceramic and glass eggs, stemware, little frogs, match books (not many of them around anymore) and various other items too small to mention.
I would love to see your egg and frog collections. What fun!
I collect thimbles from different places. I have a thimble case my brother in law made for me. I would love to fill it up with thimbles but I don’t think that would happen because most of the family really don’t travel anymore.
What a great way to commemorate different places visited.
I have a very lot of books i also collect autographed pictures of so many people. From movie stars,tv stars, sports and writers.
Collecting signed photos is a neat hobby. I bet it’s fun to page through your collection.
I love buttons and have gifted two of my grands with button jars so they can add to their collections.
That’s lovely, Melanie!
I am not really a collector but I have accumulated a whole lot of angels, mostly glass and ceramic. One from South Carolina is made from a cotton boll. There are also ones made from sea shells from Florida and Hawai’i.
We do have sage in the PNW in central Washington and Oregon as well as Southern Idaho. An allergy to it would not be good.
That’s true about the sage in those areas, Alice. I wasn’t thinking. Your angels sound fascinating. 🙂
I loved your post, Jeannie! I collect way too many things, but your button pics made me smile. I have an old tin full of buttons my grandma collected, and a big jar of buttons my mom saved. They mean so much to me!
Buttons are so much fun, Shanna. I have a button can from my mom, too.
I collect way too many things: old books, new books, book marks, ornaments from places we have visited and traveled among other things.
At an auction many years ago I acquired a button collection. There were 4 boxes and a book on button collecting dated 1942. The top box the auctioneer opened just had old black coat buttons in it, nothing exciting. No one was interested and I think I paid $3 for the lot. What a surprise when I opened the other boxes. There were all types of buttons, categorized by type, and many mounted on cards, just one button worth much more than I paid for them. I knew nothing about button or collecting them, but what an interesting hobby. There are jets, carnival glass buttons, shell, glass, brass (military, fire, police), Story book characters/scenes, enamel portraits, etc. It is fun to pull them out every so often and look through them, but I have never really gotten into actively collecting them. I have jars and tins of buttons from my grandmother, aunt, and mother. They always salvaged buttons from worn clothing as do I. I can often find what I need by looking through them.
The desert really is a place to find “treasures.” Everything is right there out in the open, seldom covered by plant life. Rain storms shuffle the layers and bring new treasures to light all the time. You never know what you will find even going back over areas you have already visited. As much as I love lush green areas, they keep their secrets well. Without serious focused digging it is hard to find anything. Thank you for sharing your buttons with us.
That was one of the big changes that came with moving to Montana—greenery covering stuff. I am so envious of your button coup! So cool!
I collect vintage and antique dolls and also vintage and antique glassware.
I bet your collections are beautiful!
I collect, or maybe I just accumulate books. When I need a break I go outside and look around at my flowers for new blooms.
Books are the best collectibles in my opinion. I, too, love looking at flowers.
I collect books. When I need a break, I look out the backdoor or window at nature. We feed the stray cats. We have a lot of them that like our yard as a safe place. Tonight, I was able to watch two kittens playing. It is always fun and relaxing. Thank you so much for sharing. God bless you.
What fun watching kittens. Kudos for feeding the cats!
Really very interesting about the buttons. Thanks for sharing!
I collect many things including: Barbie dolls; sea glass, Currier & Ives prints, etc