Last of the 2014 Junk

 2014 was a stormy year in many ways but the junking was good and, as always, an island of relaxation to swim to.  I stopped at The Super Skanky Thrift on New Year's Eve and scored a big poke sack of sewing stuff.  When I got back to the office a tin of buttons I treated myself to from eBay had been delivered.  I would be spending New Year's Eve digging for buried treasures!

 The fun of a poke sack is you never know what will turn up in the tangled mess.  One of these patterns is 1953 and the other is 1949 and both are complete.

 Clearly what I call a "real" button box, including all the non-button this and that.  I ended up pulling 6 thimbles out of here, among other things.

 I have not seen a sewing tape like this before.  Does anyone know the purpose of the attached triangle??

 I didn't see these coming!  Sugar cubes, toothpicks and matches, perhaps souvenirs of Miss Howard's career.

 Hmm...  this looks interesting...  These were in the sewing sack, NOT the button tin.

 Yarn winders and a tiny floral tin.  I'm so easy. 8+)

 A vintage box of Brother sewing machine accessories.  Unfortunately I can't find any information about what model they go with but it appears to be a very complete and little-used set.

 I am tempted to keep the tiny oil can.  The spout is in one of the paper bags.  It is so complete, though, that I won't break it up and will list it and see if someone recognizes and needs it. There is even a replacement light bulb.

And now, about those buttons.  All are vintage except the three that are center left.  They were interesting so I included them in the photo.  Be sure you click this picture bigger because this was a great Bakelite and celluloid score and proof there is treasure in those poke sacks.  Most of these were in the sewing sack, NOT the button tin!  Thank you, Miss Howard.  Apparently you didn't actually use your sewing machine very much but you knew to save the buttons!

Rituals

 Getting a tin of buttons is always like a treasure hunt to me, and even more so when they arrive in a tin that looks like this one.  As I unpacked it and open up the tin I realized I follow a little ritual every single time.  First I open up the tin and poke through it picking up this button and that button and getting an idea for what is inside.

 Next, I pour them all out into a shallow tray.  The size depends on the amount of buttons and sometimes it is a cookie pan or even a lasagna pan.  Just something shallow where I can comfortably dig and they don't roll away from me.

 I bring out several highball glasses, one for MOP, one for glass and one for the "special" plastics I know I want to add to my collection.  I also get out a colander for what I think of as "ordinary" plastic buttons.  I'm sure special and ordinary mean completely different things to different button lovers!
As I sort I have a seam ripper nearby to remove threads and I pick out the trash, pins, broken buttons and sometimes non-button treasures.  Sorting an authentic button tin can be dirty business, especially one with this may old shoe buttons!  In fact, I don't think I have ever gotten a button box with so many shoe buttons and leather buttons.  You just never know what you will find and it isn't done until you have picked up every.single.thing. and looked at both sides.

 I place two denture tablets in the bottom of each glass.  It works magic on buttons!  I add hot water and let them sit an hour or two then rinse in a wire sieve.  The colander gets set down in a dishpan of soapy water and swished.  I never submerge wood, two-piece metal, leather or tight-tops.  They generally get a wipe with a damp towel or sometimes a damp toothbrush if they are really dirty. 

Once everything is washed and rinsed I let it dry overnight and then start sorting again to match up sets and string them together.  Next post I will show you the "treasures" I found!
Do any of your collections involve rituals?