B is for Buttons

My jelly bean vending machine put to much better use!

B is for buttons which are one of my most favourite things in life. Big, little, bright or just white they give personailty and meaning to the simplest of projects. I adore collecting buttons and spend many hours sorting them all into different tins and jars including an old Jelly Bean vending machine! I simply find it very hard to throw them away. Here is a little list of some interesting and fascinating facts about buttons.

• Buttons have been around as early as 2,000 BC with the Egyptians

• Button comes from the French word ‘bouton’ which means bud, or knob.

• The first button hole was not invented until 1400’s, loops were used prior to that.

• Napoleon Bonaparte is credited with putting buttons on his sailor’s sleeves to stop them from wiping their noses on them!

• In 1844 the mayor of New York, James Haroer, set up the first uniformed police force. The uniforms has large copper buttons hence the name cops or coppers!

• In the 1800s hotel bellboys were referred to as buttons, no doubt for the many buttons on their uniforms.

• Button is a proper name!

• The richest and most lavish buttons were made in the 1700s and showed off the wearer’s wealth.

• In the mid 1800’s young American girls collected buttons on a string known as a charm or love string. The legend said that when they had collected 999 they would see their future husband.

• London barrow boys, costermongers, became the first Pearly Kings and Queens of London. There were 28 families, one for each borough. You cannot call yourself a true Pearly unless you are related to one of those families.