People Profiles

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Button Bytes Light Profiles:   BARBARA ORMAND, of Buda, Texas

     Barb Ormand started collecting buttons about seven years ago as an offshoot to a passion for dollmaking. In her quest for just the right buttons, she bought them by the jarful, then would start sorting them out. They were so interesting, she said, that she had to go to the library to start learning about them.

     Moonglows are a particular love of Barb's because of the rich colors, and the shimmering look that the clear glass top layer gives the button. As a more modern button, they are fairly plentiful, and they have a variety of colors and special features, such as paste, pierced, shaved tops, and so on.

     One of Barb's best finds was made thanks to her willingness to take a chance. Over the phone, a woman offered her a bracelet, "she said they were all glass buttons on the bracelet, sewn onto stretchy gold fabric," Barb said. She sent out a check for $12, and in turn received a bracelet with 30 moonglow buttons, as well as two other glass buttons.

      There are two elusive moonglows that Barb wants to add to her collection. "I would love to find the dolphin moonglow with the starfish around it," she said. "I had one and I broke the shank pulling it off the card when I was a beginner," and she's trying to replace it. She's also looking for the telephone moonglow.

     Moonglows aren't her only love in the button world. She also has a collection of dog buttons.

     "I know it is a common subject, but it is also a subject that some very old buttons have on them and it seems to be continuous from the early time until today that man and dog have strong relationships," Barb said. Because they come in so many shapes, forms, and materials, she enjoys looking for unique additions to her collection.

     The music-related buttons she also collects are somewhat harder to find, she said. She hunts for musicians, musical instruments, treble clefs and so on, because, she said, "My whole family plays instruments, sings, etc. and we all love music."

     Her family also enjoys helping Barb add to her collection. When one of her three sons was 16 years old, he gave her Buster Brown and his dog Tige. "He saw me oohing and ahing over it when I had an approval box and snuck in my room, got the name and address of the lady in New Jersey or New York, contacted her and arranged to pay her out for this button and wrapped it in a wrapping paper tube with rocks inside," she said.

     She was so touched that he went the extra mile to get it and surprise her, that it is her favorite button. "I will always treasure it," she said. The others that her sons and friends have brought back from various trips also mean a great deal to her.

Here's one of Barb's bracelets.

     "It certainly is an added bonus to be able to have so many new friends, even though I only have talked to most of them on the internet," she said.

     With an estimated 3,000 or more buttons, Barb decided last summer to get into a button business. Today, she sells some buttons, as well as other antiques and collectibles on the 'net. "I also make jewelry that is woven or beaded from buttons being careful not to ever damage a button," she said.

     "The hours are longer and the pay is less, [than her former occupation in the health field] but it is emotionally satisfying," she said.

Button Bytes Light Profiles:   SUZANNE SHAW of Ypsilanti, Michigan

     Suzanne's always liked buttons, she said, but she's really becoming a serious collector now, thanks to her encouagement from Button Bytes.

     While she really enjoys collecting mother of pearl and clear glass buttons, she also does her best to find buttons that look like Daisy. Not the flower, her Yorkshire Terrier! Her "must find" button was one she saw once at a show. "I don't know the name but is a wonderful bakelite large button that depicts a Scotty that looks more like a Yorkie," she said.

     Her generosity lead to one of her best finds.

     "A friend was over and noticed a pitcher and glass set that I had received from my mother before she passed away," Suzanne said. "It's not something that my kids want, and I'm moving to a much smaller place," so she gave it to her friend. As a thank you for the lovely gift, the friend brought her buttons over to let Suzanne pick some out, including "some wonderful carved pearls."

     With hundreds of buttons, Suzanne is having fun sharing them with her grandchildren. She has three children, two step children, and four grandchildren.

     She isn't looking for any buttons in particular, "I'm enjoying just learning about all kinds of buttons," Suzanne said.