Have you ever really thought about buttons? We all need them to fasten our clothes. But are we missing something?
Buttons tell stories, bring back memories, help recall special moments and document history. They can be tiny works of art too!
I recently found my grandma’s old button tin. I remember playing with it as a child in the 1960s.
I took the tin with me when I visited my 87 years old mum, Connie, in her care village. Connie has severe short-term memory loss but as soon as she saw the tin she came alive. She told me about eating the shortbread from the tin. It was the first Christmas after the war and the biscuits were a real treat. She was 12 years old.
There is artistry, beauty and creativity running between our fingers every time we button our shirt.
Over several garden visits, we sat together in the gazebo and made button pictures together. How the stories flowed about summer dresses and cardigans, winter coats and baby matinee jackets. She was able to match many buttons with the items of clothing they had originally belonged to. I was fascinated and amazed by how well her memory was working!
We linked the button pictures to her favourite music and here are the pieces of unique art she has chosen to share on Arts in Care Homes Day! Connie hopes you like them and her choice of music!
