pathtowerhamlets
I never tired of them
As a child in the 60s, I spent wet, drab afternoons sorting through button boxes.
When I talked to people about their childhoods I found out many had done the same sort of things.
Button boxes were biscuit tins filled with the accumulated buttons and beads of many generations. In the one I played with, there were Victorian boot buttons like beady shiny eyes; mother of pearl glimmers; art deco wedding buttons - treasured objects with faceted rainbows waiting to be thumbed back into glory. They could be sorted and re-sorted and could be players in symbolic stories. I never tired of them.
This memory of searching for a button to mend a broken shirt or refresh a tired blouse or just playing with shape and colours could be overlooked easily, but once recalled it seemed to bring an indescribable, comforting pleasure for the people I met.
Children make collections of almost anything: sticks ,stones, shells, sea glass, conkers, elastic bands, string, marbles. One Head of a Tower Hamlets school talked about her passion as a child for collecting crisp packets. Others talked of collecting stamps or tea cards or bus tickets.
All have an interesting beauty which captivates children.
I never tired of them
As a child in the 60s, I spent wet, drab afternoons sorting through button boxes.
When I talked to people about their childhoods I found out many had done the same sort of things.
Button boxes were biscuit tins filled with the accumulated buttons and beads of many generations. In the one I played with, there were Victorian boot buttons like beady shiny eyes; mother of pearl glimmers; art deco wedding buttons - treasured objects with faceted rainbows waiting to be thumbed back into glory. They could be sorted and re-sorted and could be players in symbolic stories. I never tired of them.
This memory of searching for a button to mend a broken shirt or refresh a tired blouse or just playing with shape and colours could be overlooked easily, but once recalled it seemed to bring an indescribable, comforting pleasure for the people I met.
Children make collections of almost anything: sticks ,stones, shells, sea glass, conkers, elastic bands, string, marbles. One Head of a Tower Hamlets school talked about her passion as a child for collecting crisp packets. Others talked of collecting stamps or tea cards or bus tickets.
All have an interesting beauty which captivates children.