Blogged down in the details

My new website is still being worked on.  There have been lots of little kinks and plenty of little tweaks I've needed to make.

I got delayed for a few weeks waiting for some information concerning taxes and how they're supposed to be charged.  Once I got that straightened out I still had to install the proper modules and make everything work.

I'm almost there now!  The virtual shelves are getting stocked and the clockworks is starting to tick. :)

I still have to work on the shipping charges and methods, and need to figure out a few more fine details, but...I should be up and ready for business in another week or two.

If you'd like to visit, the URL is http://yourbuttonshop.com/ and if you register for a new account you'll receive a coupon for a 15% discount on your first order of five dollars or more.  The coupon code can be used at Etsy; just include it in your "notes" when you pay with PayPal, or convo me with it when you order.

Help, the item is washable; but the button isn't

If a button isn't washable, but you want to use it on an item that is, there are several ways to be able to use it.

Buttons come with all kinds of care instructions, from "machine washable" to "dry clean only" to "don't even think about cleaning it".  I can't advise you much on the last one, other than to say that usually a little bit of rubbing with a dry tissue is probably good enough to remove most grime.

The problem of course, is how to use a natural wooden or glass button on a garment you want to be able to toss in the machine or have dry cleaned.  The button may not survive, and that makes it less appealing.

So, here's a few suggestions:

Wash by hand.   Most buttons can withstand a bit of water.  It's the rough action of the washing machine (or worse, the dryer) that causes the problem.  Glass buttons that get thrown against the agitator or the metal dryer walls will get nicked or broken.   So, washing the garment by hand in the sink, then line drying it will solve the problem.  Face it, most of us don't get our clothes filthy enough to require scrubbing, and if we did, we wouldn't want to put nice buttons on them anyway.

Cover them.  A little bit of aluminum foil to cover the buttons may help protect them from water damage, and dry cleaning fluids. A layer of paper toweling, bubble wrap, foam, quilt batting or similiar under the foil may also help by serving as padding in case of none-too-gentle treatment.  Afterward, just remove the materials and polish the button a bit with a tissue.

Don't sew them on.  A tiny safety pin instead of stitching will hold on most buttons.  It's invisible with most shanked buttons, but won't be too noticible on drilled ones.  After wearing, simply remove the buttons and have the garment cleaned.  For a more permanent fix, sew the button onto the back of the safety pin, making a thread shank. Then, attach to the garment before wearing.

   As a side note, this method has an advantage, especially for home sewists.  One set of nice buttons can be used on several garments.  If you reuse the same tried-n-true patterns, you can make up two or three of the same blouse (for example), then buy one set of buttons that will work for all three. 

In the case of wooden buttons that can't be soaked, dampen a cloth in a bit of water with a drop or two of wood soap like Murphy's, then just wipe them clean.  Cover (completely seal) them with aluminum foil and hand-wash the garment.

Horn buttons can also be cleaned with a damp cloth, but should not be immersed or left damp for very long.  A tiny bit of cooking oil on a tissue is usually the best way to clean them up and will give them a bit of polish.  Don't rinse the oil off; just leave it to help seal the horn and keep out moisture.


If I think of or hear of any other good methods, I'll post them.  And if you have any suggestions, I'd love to hear them -just post a comment.  In the meantime, don't let finiky care instructions stop you from using and enjoying beautiful buttons. :)