Button Button Whose Got Buttons?

We were out yesterday shopping and stopped in at a few Antique Shops in town and was looking for old buttons.  I was shocked!  One store had “Antique Buttons” in a quart jar and was asking $100. for them.  Yes, the decimal is in the right place.  These were not that old either.  In the second store she had an Old Mason jar with the zinc lid on it, the jar had a blueish tint to it full of old buttons for $18.50, and she sold them to me for $15.

I like old buttons, the look, feel, and the uniqueness of them.  As I went thru the buttons I found some big (size of a silver dollar) silver and rhinestone buttons and even some metal ones.  The metal ones were painted white.  I also found a few mills that were used during WWII.  You find such wonderful things.  

I will be hitting some Estate Sales and Thrift stores for buttons.  The one Antique store was a little loco to think $100 was a good price for buttons.

What do you like to collect?  What attracts you to them?  Do you use them or just look at them?

I do use the buttons from time to time.