Today I received this email:
“My brother-in-law’s company ‘A Brown & Co Buttons’ is closing down.
104 year old button company specialising in plastic, metal, glass, pearl (real and imitation) and wood buttons is sadly closing down.
We have approx 30 tonnes of buttons that we really don’t want to send to landfill.
We thought maybe artists might be able to use them?”
This is a tragedy – a warehouse full of buttons about to go to landfill – has anyone any suggestions?
The warehouse is in Croydon, near London, UK
Jane Perkins 
Wow, 30 tonnes is a lot! They could advertise an open day for collection to interested school art departments and art schools… but, really, you could clad an entire house in that many buttons! I wonder if Claes Oldenburg would be interested in a slight change of direction?
I wonder if they would be willing to ship to the United States? I sure could use some!
Unlikely I think Jane – but you could contact the factory direct – on the link given
Our school could make wonderful use some of them for a collage project we have planned for the Summer Term (not 30 tonnes though!!). Would this be possible and if so, could I contact someone directly?
Hi Rachel – please see my Blog of yesterday – best to contact the factory direct – as on the link on the blog of March 7